Tom Burrows (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Burrows was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Southampton
and Merthyr Town
in the years prior to World War I
.
and was employed at Stevens' shipyard
at Weston
before embarking on a career as a professional footballer. He joined Southern League
champions Southampton
in 1904 as third-choice goalkeeper behind George Clawley
and Michael Byrne
. After spending most of the season playing for the second team in the Western League
, Burrows made his debut for the first team in the last match of the 1904–05 season
, a 1–0 defeat by Queens Park Rangers
on 29 April 1905.
A tall, able goalkeeper, Burrows retained his place for the first three months of the following season
before injury allowed Clawley to reclaim the No. 1 shirt, which he kept until his retirement in the summer of 1907. As a result of a serious injury sustained in October 1906, Burrows was unable to step-up on Clawley's retirement, and had to be content to act as cover for new signing Herbert Lock
. Following an injury to Lock (sustained at Watford
's Cassio Road ground), Burrows took over in March 1908 for the rest of the season, but Lock was again preferred for the start of the 1908–09 season. Lock was once again injured at Cassio Road in March 1909, allowing Burrows to take over the custodian's shirt. This was the start of a run of 48 consecutive appearances in goal for Burrows, but an indifferent start to the 1910–11 season allowed Arthur Brown the opportunity to replace him. Burrows was once again recalled in April 1911 for the last month of the season, before moving on in the summer.
He then joined another Southern League club, Merthyr Town
, where he remained as virtually an ever-present until the sart of the First World War.
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and Merthyr Town
Merthyr Town F.C.
Merthyr Town Football Club is a Welsh semi-professional football club based in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. For the 2011–2012 season the club will be playing in the Western Football League Premier Division at Penydarren Park in Merthyr....
in the years prior to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Football career
Burrows was born in PortsmouthPortsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
and was employed at Stevens' shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
at Weston
Weston, Southampton
Weston is a small suburb on the south-eastern side of Southampton, UK, predominantly built on the Weston Grove Estate formerly owned by the Chamberlayne family. It also includes the area that was previously the Barnfield Estate. Weston includes part of Mayfield Park, which was previously the...
before embarking on a career as a professional footballer. He joined Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
champions Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in 1904 as third-choice goalkeeper behind George Clawley
George Clawley
George Clawley was an English professional goalkeeper who played for Stoke, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries...
and Michael Byrne
Michael Byrne (footballer born 1880)
Michael Patrick Byrne was an Irish footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs in the 1910s.-Football career:Byrne was born in Bristol and, after serving in the Irish Guards, joined Bristol Rovers of the Southern League in 1902. The following season, he moved to join the Southern...
. After spending most of the season playing for the second team in the Western League
Western Football League
The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
, Burrows made his debut for the first team in the last match of the 1904–05 season
Southern Football League 1904-05
The 1904–05 Southern League season saw Bristol Rovers win Division One and Fulham reserves finishing top of Division Two. Division Two club Clapton Orient were the only Southern League club to apply for election to the Football League, and were successful after a decision was made to expand the...
, a 1–0 defeat by Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
on 29 April 1905.
A tall, able goalkeeper, Burrows retained his place for the first three months of the following season
Southern Football League 1905-06
The 1905–06 Southern League season saw Fulham win Division One and Crystal Palace finishing top of Division Two. No clubs were relegated from Division One as it was expanded to 20 clubs the following season...
before injury allowed Clawley to reclaim the No. 1 shirt, which he kept until his retirement in the summer of 1907. As a result of a serious injury sustained in October 1906, Burrows was unable to step-up on Clawley's retirement, and had to be content to act as cover for new signing Herbert Lock
Herbert Lock
Herbert Lock was an English professional goalkeeper who played for Southampton and Rangers in the early part of the twentieth century.-Southampton:...
. Following an injury to Lock (sustained at Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
's Cassio Road ground), Burrows took over in March 1908 for the rest of the season, but Lock was again preferred for the start of the 1908–09 season. Lock was once again injured at Cassio Road in March 1909, allowing Burrows to take over the custodian's shirt. This was the start of a run of 48 consecutive appearances in goal for Burrows, but an indifferent start to the 1910–11 season allowed Arthur Brown the opportunity to replace him. Burrows was once again recalled in April 1911 for the last month of the season, before moving on in the summer.
He then joined another Southern League club, Merthyr Town
Merthyr Town F.C.
Merthyr Town Football Club is a Welsh semi-professional football club based in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. For the 2011–2012 season the club will be playing in the Western Football League Premier Division at Penydarren Park in Merthyr....
, where he remained as virtually an ever-present until the sart of the First World War.