Burridge Bert Image 1 Darlington 1922

Description

Beamish, County Durham born wing half Bert Burridge began his football career with Oxhill Villa in 1914 prior to the First World War. He was playing for Houghton Rovers in the North Eastern League in 1919 and for Northern Alliance club Annfield Plain in 1920 but in November 1921 he signed for Third Division (North) club Darlington making his Football League debut against Rochdale in January 1922, soon establishing himself as a regular for The Quakers. Despite interest from “clubs in higher spheres”, he was reported as preferring to remain near home. In 1924-25 Darlington were promoted to the Second Division as Champions of The Third Division (North) and although Burridge was not a regular member of the side, his versatility – he could play across the half-back line or as a forward – meant he was able to establish himself as first reserve, and the supporters included him among those to receive a presentation in appreciation of the team’s success.

After 7 goals in 96 appearances for Darlington, Burridge became one of a number of new signings from the lower leagues made by Second Division Champions Sheffield Wednesday ahead of their First Division campaign in the 1926 close season. He played only rarely in his first season with Wednesday making 4 appearances, and although the £2,000 proceeds of his sale helped Darlington financially, his absence significantly weakened their team and they were relegated in 1926. By November 1927, he was playing more regularly for the Wednesday first team, and the Derby Daily Telegraph assessed his strengths as “resolute tackling and robust defensive work”. He made 18 appearances that season before returning to the fringes.

In 1928-29, Burridge appeared twice as Wednesday won the League Championship and made a greater contribution to their reserve team winning the Central League title. In his last season with Wednesday, he again appeared twice as they retained their League title, and then joined Second Division Oldham Athletic for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 1930 after 26 appearances for The Owls. However his opportunities at Boundary  Park were hardly more plentiful and he made only 6 first team appearances during 1930-31 for The Latics.

A year later, he moved back into non league football. By now playing at centre half, he captained Macclesfield to the 1931-32 Cheshire County League Championship and appeared less frequently the following season as they retained the title. After a season with Hyde United in 1933-34, Burridge made his debut for Hurst in a Cheshire League match against former club Macclesfield. He remained with Hurst as a player into the war years, making more than 100 appearances in all competitions, and was appointed player-manager in 1935 and acting secretary in 1937.