David Burrows (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Burrows | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Left-back | ||
David Burrows (born Dudley, 25 October 1968) is a retired English footballer who played in the last Liverpool team to win the League championship in 1990.
Playing career
"Budgie", as he was known as a youngster, completed his apprenticeship at West Bromwich Albion and signed professional forms with the club as a 17 year-old in 1985. He spent three years learning his trade at The Hawthorns, playing 46 times and scoring one goal. He attracted the attention of the bigger clubs and by 1988 he was on the move.
A pacey and incisive left back, Burrows cost Liverpool £550,000 when manager Kenny Dalglish signed him from W.B.A on 20 October, 1988. Burrows made his debut for the Reds just two days later, in the 0-0 league draw with Coventry City at Anfield. Vying for a place with Steve Staunton, meant that Burrows' first team opportunities were limited in his first season at Liverpool.
Burrows, an England under-21 international, joined his team-mates in mourning for the 96 fans who lost their lives at the Hillsborough disaster in April 1989. He along with the rest of Liverpool Football Club were commended for the way they conducted themselves after the disaster and he attended numerous funerals and comforted the victims' families and friends. At this time he was not regularly featuring in the team, with the equally inexperienced Steve Staunton enjoying an extended run at left back which lasted through to the end of the season, including the 3-2 FA Cup final victory over Everton in which Barry Venison was selected for a place on the substitute's bench ahead of Burrows.
The following year, with Staunton more frequently deployed in midfield and manager Dalglish prepared to rotate his squad more, Burrows played on a more regular basis and won his first honour with Liverpool when they clinched the League title, finishing nine points clear of Aston Villa. When Dalglish quit in 1991 and was replaced by Graeme Souness, Burrows found his chances more restricted, though he did score his first Liverpool goal on 31 August, 1991 in a 3-1 victory over Everton at Anfield. Later that season he was picked by Souness for the 1992 FA Cup Final, which Liverpool won, beating Sunderland 2-0 at Wembley.
With Souness bringing in his own players, Burrows left for West Ham United on 17 September, 1993, along with Mike Marsh, as part of the deal that took Julian Dicks to Anfield in a move which surprised many Liverpool fans. Burrows had appeared 193 times for the Reds, scoring three goals.
Burrows made his West Ham debut on 18 September 1993, just a day after joining them, in the 2-0 league win over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. He spent just a single year at Upton Park, appearing 35 times scoring twice. He was used a bargaining tool for the return of Tony Cottee from Everton.
Burrows joined Everton on 6 September, 1994, but his time at Goodison Park was short lived. He spent just six months at Everton, playing 23 times, before he was on the move again, this time to Coventry City.
Burrows joined Ron Atkinson's Coventry side on 2 March, 1995 in a deal worth £1.1 million. The 26 year-old again made a quick début, appearing for the first time just two days after signing in the 0-0 league draw with Southampton at the Dell. His four years at Highfield Road were riddled with injuries, although Burrows still made 130 appearances.
In 2000 he couldn't regain his place in the City line-up after returning from injury and unable to agree a new deal with the club, he moved again to Coventry's Midland rivals Birmingham City, whom he joined on 28 June, 2000, on a free transfer.
He made his debut on 9 September, 2000 in the 1-0 league victory over Sheffield United at St Andrews. His spell at Birmingham was yet another short lived venture, as he spent less than two years at the club, playing just 30 matches.
On 8 March, 2002, Sheffield Wednesday signed Burrows on a free transfer and yet again he made a quick début, this time the following day, in the 0-0 league draw (his third 0-0 debut) with Gillingham at Hillsborough.
Injuries once again dogged Burrows as he injured both his collarbone and hamstring whilst at Sheffield Wednesday, forcing him to quit the professional game on 8 May, 2003, at 35 years old.
Retirement
Burrows briefly played some amateur football before emigrating with his wife and three children to live in South-West France. He now plays recreational football in the Dordogne.
Honours
- Charity Shield: 1989, 1990
- Division 1 (Level 1): 1990
- FA Cup: 1992
Runner-up
- Division 1 (Level 1): 1989
- Charity Shield: 1992
External links
- 1968 births
- Living people
- People from Dudley
- English footballers
- West Bromwich Albion F.C. players
- Liverpool F.C. players
- Everton F.C. players
- Coventry City F.C. players
- Birmingham City F.C. players
- Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players
- West Ham United F.C. players
- Premier League players
- England under-21 international footballers
- England B international footballers
- The Football League players