Arlen Birch

Biography

Returning to the Bucks for the 2021/22 season, right-sided defender Arlen brings experience gained as part of Chorley’s history-making 2020/21 side, who reached the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Born in Wrexham but raised in Ellesmere, Arlen is a former England Under-18 international who started his career with Everton, where he was a teammate of current Bucks goalkeeper Russell Griifiths.

Arlen the Toffees in 2015 and was offered an opportunity at Burnley. He played for their Under-23s side without breaking into the first team, and left Turf Moor in August 2018 to sign for AFC Fylde.

Again teaming up with Griffiths, Arlen enjoyed a fine season on the Lancashire coast, ending it with an FA Trophy winners medal when the Coasters defeated Leyton Orient at Wembley, a week after losing the Vanarama National League play-off final to a Salford City side featuring Bucks colleague Nathan Pond.

Without a club in the early months of the 2019/20 season, Arlen signed for thw Bucks in October 2019 and was one of their most consistent performers in that campaign.