Born in
Maidstone,
Kent, Since the beginning of the
2007–08 season, when the rule was introduced, the club's disciplinary record has significantly improved, and the club has earned praise throughout the game. After finishing as the top goalscorer for Barnet in the
2007–08 season with 15 goals, Birchall struggled for form in 2009 and was released in May after scoring only two league goals in the
2008–09 season. Birchall signed for
Conference South side
Dover Athletic in July 2009. Birchall made his league debut for Dover in the first game of the season against
Maidenhead United, before scoring his first league goal for the club in the following fixture against
Bishop's Stortford. Birchall scored both goals against
Aldershot Town to take Dover to the
FA Cup 3rd Round for the first time in their history. Birchall became the club's goalscoring record holder, and the
Conference South record holder, at the end of the 2010–11 season with a total of 45 goals in 49 appearances. He also was the top goal scorer in the FA Cup that year and went on to receive the award at Wembley. Birchall again attracted interest from clubs higher up the football pyramid and in July 2011 Dover Athletic received substantial undisclosed bids from
League Two sides
Swindon Town, newcomers
AFC Wimbledon, and local rivals
Gillingham, for whom he signed a three-year deal on 12 July 2011. He was seriously injured during a pre-season
friendly, however, and missed the entire
2011–12 season. Birchall finally made his competitive debut for Gillingham on 14 August 2012, coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 away win against
Bristol City in the
League Cup. He scored his first goal for the Gills in their 4–0
FA Cup win over
Scunthorpe United on 3 November, but after playing only 21 games in 2 seasons he was released by the club at the end of the 2013–14 season. Soon after, Birchall signed for
Bromley. He scored his first competitive goal for the club in a 5–1 win over
Uxbridge in the
FA Cup. His first league goal for the club was a 90th-minute winner against
Bishop's Stortford on 9 December. ==Coaching career==