Harry Burrows
Personal information
Full name Henry Burrows[1]
Date of birth (1941-03-17) 17 March 1941[1]
Place of birth Haydock, England[1]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Wigan Boys
1956–1958 Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1958–1965 Aston Villa 147 (53)
1965–1973 Stoke City 245 (68)
1967Cleveland Stokers (loan) 9 (3)
1973–1975 Plymouth Argyle 19 (3)
Total 420 (127)
International career
1962 England U23 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Henry "Harry" Burrows (born 17 March 1941)[2] is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Aston Villa, Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City.[1][3]

Career

Burrows was born in Haydock and attracted the attentions of First Division clubs, Burnley, Liverpool, and Aston Villa whilst playing for Wigan Boys.[3] He turned them all down including an offer from Stan Cullis at Wolverhampton Wanderers instead turning his attentions on becoming an apprentice with the National Coal Board (NCB).[3] Villa manager Joe Mercer persuaded Burrows to sign part-time in March 1958 and he made his debut in 1959–60 as Villa won the Second Division title.[3] He played and scored in the final of the inaugural League Cup in 1961 as Villa beat Rotherham United 3–2.[3] Burrows won an England U23 cap against Greece and finished as Villa's top goalscorer in 1961–62 and 1962–63, although the departure of Mercer ended a golden period in Villa's history.[3] The signings of new manager Dick Taylor all earned a higher basic wage then the existing Villa players which caused friction and one by one the players departed and Villa would end up languishing in the Third Division.[3]

Burrows was a highly prized asset at Villa Park and his transfer to Stoke City for £27,000 on transfer deadline day in March 1965 was seen as a coup for Tony Waddington.[3] His infamous 'cannonball' like shot soon made him a terrace favourite at the Victoria Ground.[3] He scored 17 goals in 1966–67 as Stoke let a good start to the season come to nothing and they finished in 12th place.[3] He was joined top league goalscorer in 1967–68 with 15 goals as Stoke finished 18th. He top scored again in 1969–70 with 14 and played 45 games in 1970–71 as Stoke lost out to Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final. Injuries led to Burrows being released on a free transfer in the summer of 1973 and signed for Plymouth Argyle.[3] He helped Argyle gain promotion to the Second Division in 1974–75 but with his knee still causing him trouble he decided to retire.[3]

Style of play

Burrows could play in all forward positions but was most regularly played as an out and out winger. He was renowned for his pace and powerful left foot shot.

Post-retirement

On his retirement Burrows returned to Staffordshire and ran a carpet business, a pub and a post office and occasionally turned out in charity matches.[3] Burrows lived for a number of years in the Staffordshire village of Abbots Bromley where he is still the president of the local football club, the Abbots Bromley Stags.

Career statistics

Source:[4]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aston Villa 1959–60 Second Division 100010
1960–61 First Division 1120063175
1961–62 First Division 341343344220
1962–63 First Division 391632845022
1963–64 First Division 401620114317
1964–65 First Division 2262053299
Total 14753115231518179
Stoke City 1964–65 First Division 1030000103
1965–66 First Division 36910524211
1966–67 First Division 421710104417
1967–68 First Division 421520514916
1968–69 First Division 3544400398
1969–70 First Division 341430103814
1970–71 First Division 34581102[lower-alpha 1]1457
1971–72 First Division 10120004[lower-alpha 2]0161
1972–73 First Division 2000000020
Total 245682151336128577
Cleveland Stokers (loan) 1967 United Soccer Association 9393
Plymouth Argyle 1973–74 Third Division 920010102
1974–75 Third Division 1010020121
Total 1930030223
Career total 4201273210391861497156
  1. Appearances in Texaco Cup
  2. Appearances in Anglo-Italian Cup

Honours

Aston Villa

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. "Harry Burrows AVFC stats". Jörn Mårtensson. Retrieved 26 August 2007.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN 1-874287554.
  4. Harry Burrows at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  • Harry Burrows at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
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