Eric Burgess (footballer)

Eric Robert Charles Burgess (born 27 October 1944) is an English former footballer who played as a defender in the Football League for Watford, Torquay United, Plymouth Argyle and Colchester United. He was a member of the Colchester team that won the 1971 Watney Cup.

Eric Burgess
Personal information
Full name Eric Robert Charles Burgess[1]
Date of birth (1944-10-27) 27 October 1944 (age 79)[1]
Place of birth Edgware, London, England[1]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Watford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1963–1965 Watford 3 (0)
1965–1968 Torquay United 75 (0)
1968–1970 Plymouth Argyle 15 (0)
1970–1972 Colchester United 47 (9)
Wealdstone
Total 140 (9)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career edit

Burgess, born in Edgware, London, began his career with Watford where he made three first-team appearances between 1963 and 1965.[2] Unable to break into the first-team at Vicarage Road, he joined Torquay United and established himself as a regular. He made 75 league appearances for the club[3] until 1968, when he joined Plymouth Argyle on a free transfer, making his debut on 10 August of the same year. His stay with Plymouth was dogged by injuries following cartilage damage sustained in his first season at Home Park. Burgess managed only 15 appearances for the club, prior to being transferred to Colchester United.[4][5]

Burgess made his debut for Colchester coming on as a 70th-minute substitute for Brian Hall in a 4–2 victory against Newport County on 20 February 1971.[6] The only silverware of his career came with Colchester as they won the 1971 Watney Cup, playing in the final against West Bromwich Albion which the U's won 4–2 on penalties following a 4–4 draw in regular time.[7] Burgess made 47 appearances and scored nine goals for Colchester,[8] but was forced to leave the professional game through recurrence of the injuries picked up when at Plymouth.[5]

After leaving Colchester, he signed for Wealdstone,[1] and later ran a ladies fashion and promotional merchandise business.[9]

Honours edit

Colchester United
All honours referenced by:[10]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Colchester United – Player profile". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  2. ^ "WATFORD:1946/47-2011/12". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  3. ^ "TORQUAY UNITED:1946/47-2006/07 & 2009/10-2011/12". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  4. ^ "PLYMOUTH ARGYLE:1946/47-2011/12". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Greens on Screen Database". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  6. ^ "Colchester United – Match details – Colchester Utd 4–2 Newport County". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  7. ^ "Colchester United – Match details West Bromwich Albion 4–4 (2–4 pens) Colchester Utd". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  8. ^ "COLCHESTER UNITED:1950/51-1989/90 & 1992/93-2011/12". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  9. ^ "Where are they now?". WFC.net. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  10. ^ "Watney Cup". Coludaybyday. Retrieved 7 April 2013.