Kirkbride won caps for Cumberland while at Workington Town making his début against Lancashire at Derwent Park in 1967, playing in the 17-15 victory over Australia at Derwent Park in 1967, and while at Castleford playing at second-row in the 3-42 defeat by Yorkshire at Hull Kingston Rovers' stadium on 1 October 1969, and Left-Second-row in the 15-21 defeat by Yorkshire at Whitehaven's stadium on 14 September 1970.[4]
Club career
Kirkbride made his début for Workington Town playing Second-row alongside fellow CumbrianFrank Foster in the 11-10 victory over Widnes at Naughton Park in the last game of the 1963–64 season on Tuesday 12 May 1964, he joined Halifax in 1968 for a fee of £6,000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £165,900 in 2013),[5] he made his début for Halifax against Leigh Miners Welfare[1] in the Challenge Cup on Saturday 3 February 1968, he joined Castleford in 1969 for a fee of £5,750, he joined Salford in 1971 for a fee of £6,000.[6]