David Burrows (footballer)

David Burrows (born 25 October 1968) is an English former professional footballer who played as a left-back.

As a player he notably played in the Premier League for Liverpool, West Ham United, Everton and Coventry City. Whilst a Liverpool player he won the Football League, the FA Cup and twice won the Charity Shield and he played his part in the earlier stages of Everton's successful FA Cup campaign in 1995. He also played in the Football League for West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday as well as the England Under-21 and B teams.

Playing career

Burrows completed an apprenticeship at West Bromwich Albion and signed professional forms with the club as a 17-year-old in 1985, after a period in the Tipton Town youth team. He spent three years at The Hawthorns, playing 46 times and scoring one goal. He was signed by Liverpool for £550,000 in October 1988, making his debut two days later in a 0–0 draw against 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 teammates 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 more regularly and won his first honour with Liverpool when they clinched the League title, finishing nine points clear of Aston Villa. He spent just a single year at Upton Park, appearing 35 times scoring twice; in his second West Ham game in a 5–1 League Cup win against Chesterfield and in a 3–1 home win against Manchester City

Burrows spent just six months at Everton, playing 23 times, before he was on the move again, this time to Ron Atkinson's Coventry City, in March 1995, or a fee of £1.1 million. Atkinson said at the time he knew of "no better English left-back". "If he plays to his best form, there's no reason why he shouldn't make the squad for the European Championships." He again made a quick début, appearing two days after signing in a 0–0 league draw with Southampton at the Dell. He suffered frequent injury during his four years at Highfield Road, He spent less than two years at Birmingham, playing 30 matches. Burrows' time at Birmingham was marred with disagreements with managers Trevor Francis and Steve Bruce. A training ground incident in February 2002 involving Bruce and Burrows resulted in him being thrown out of the club.

David Burrows (footballer)

Playing career

Honours

References

External links