Mickey Burns
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Edward Burns | ||
| Date of birth | 21 December 1946 | ||
| Place of birth | Preston, England | ||
| Playing position | Striker (retired) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1964–1965 | Preston North End | 0 | (0) |
| 1965–1969 | Skelmersdale | ? | (?) |
| 1969–1974 | Blackpool | 179 | (53) |
| 1974–1978 | Newcastle United | 145 | (39) |
| 1978–1979 | Cardiff City | 6 | (0) |
| 1979–1981 | Middlesbrough | 61 | (24) |
| Total | 391 | (116) | |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Michael Edward "Mickey" Burns (born 21 December 1946 in Preston, Lancashire) is an English former professional footballer.
Contents |
[edit] Career
A former England amateur international, Burns was signed to Blackpool from the very successful amateur side Skelmersdale United in 1969 by Les Shannon. Burns gained a teaching degree from the De La Salle College of Education at Hopwood Hall in Middleton, Greater Manchester. He was a striker with pace and could score goals. Indeed, he was the Seasiders' top scorer in three of his five seasons at Bloomfield Road.
He scored on his league debut, on 9 August 1969, in a 2–1 home win over Portsmouth, and helped the Tangerines to win promotion back to Division One.
On 10 June 1972, Burns scored four goals in a Blackpool's 10–0 win over Lanerossi Vicenza in the Anglo-Italian Cup, en route to an unsuccessful defence of their title in the final against Roma.[1] He had scored the extra-time winner in the previous year's final that brought the cup to his home county of Lancashire.
He was unpopular with a section of the home fans, who regarded his playing style as too individualistic,[2] and in the summer of 1974, he asked for a transfer. Newcastle United came in for his services for a £166,000 fee.[2]
It was with the Magpies that he played in the 1976 League Cup Final in which they lost to Manchester City.
After four years at St James' Park, Burns had a short spell at Cardiff City as a player-coach but he never settled at the club and was allowed to return to the North East to close out his career with Middlesbrough.
[edit] Blackpool F.C. Hall of Fame
Burns was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player Jimmy Armfield in April 2006.[3] Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Burns is in the 1970s.[4]
[edit] Post-retirement
Upon retiring, Burns joined Middlesbrough's coaching staff. He later became the PFA's education officer, a post he left in 2003.[5]
[edit] Honours
Blackpool
- Division Two promotion: 1969-70
- Anglo-Italian Cup winner: 1971
[edit] References
- ^ 1972 Anglo-Italian Cup Final - RSSSF.com
- ^ a b Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2009). Blackpool FC on This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1905411502.
- ^ Singleton, Steve, ed. (2007). Legends: The great players of Blackpool FC (1 ed.). Blackpool: Blackpool Gazette. pp. 78–81. ISBN 9781845471828.
- ^ "The Hall Of Fame - 1970's". Blackpool Supporters Association. http://www.bsaweb.info/HOF70.aspx. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
- ^ "Caught in Time: Blackpool win promotion to the First Division, 1970" - TimesOnline
[edit] Further reading
- Calley, Roy (20 October 1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992. Breedon Books Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 187362607X.
- Singleton, Steve, ed. (2007). Legends: The great players of Blackpool FC (1 ed.). Blackpool: Blackpool Gazette. ISBN 9781845471828.
- Joannou, Paul (1983). A Complete Who's Who of Newcastle United. Newcastle United Supporters Club. ISBN 0950887609.
- Canning, Tommy; Paul Joannou (23 October 1989). Ha'way the Lads!: Illustrated Story of Newcastle United. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 1851582576.
- Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Breedon Books. ISBN 1859834620.
