John Burridge

John Burridge (born 3 December 1951),[1] nicknamed Budgie, is an English former goalkeeper who is now working with Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters as their goalkeeping consultant and senior goalkeeping coach for their goalkeeping academy. In his senior career he played for 29 clubs, 18 of them in the Football League, in a career that lasted nearly 30 years. Overall, Burridge played 768 league games in the English and Scottish leagues, and several more at non-league level.

John Burridge
Personal information
Date of birth (1951-12-03) 3 December 1951
Place of birth Workington, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Kerala Blasters (Goalkeeping Consultant)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1969–1971 Workington 27 (0)
1971 → Blackpool (loan) 3 (0)
1971–1975 Blackpool 131 (0)
1975–1978 Aston Villa 65 (0)
1978 → Southend United (loan) 6 (0)
1978–1980 Crystal Palace 88 (0)
1980–1982 Queens Park Rangers 39 (0)
1982–1984 Wolverhampton Wanderers 74 (0)
1984 → Derby County (loan) 6 (0)
1984–1987 Sheffield United 109 (0)
1987–1989 Southampton 62 (0)
1989–1991 Newcastle United 67 (0)
1991–1993 Hibernian 65 (0)
1993 Newcastle United 0 (0)
1993 Scarborough 3 (0)
1993–1994 Lincoln City 4 (0)
1994 Enfield 0 (0)
1994 Aberdeen 3 (0)
1994 Newcastle United 0 (0)
1994 Dunfermline Athletic 0 (0)
1994 Dumbarton 3 (0)
1994 Falkirk 3 (0)
1994–1995 Manchester City 4 (0)
1995 Notts County 0 (0)
1995 Witton Albion 0 (0)
1995 Darlington 3 (0)
1995–1996 Grimsby Town 0 (0)
1996 Gateshead 0 (0)
1996 Northampton Town 0 (0)
1996 Queen of the South 6 (0)
1996 Purfleet 0 (0)
1996 Blyth Spartans 0 (0)
1996 Scarborough 0 (0)
1997 Blyth Spartans 0 (0)
Total 768 (0)
Teams managed
1997–1998 Blyth Spartans (Player-manager)
2016 Global
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Born in Workington, Burridge grew up in the Cumbrian mining village of Great Clifton.[2] He began his professional career at his local club, Workington, signing-up at the age of 15.[2] He played his first league game in 1969.

In 1971, he was transferred to Blackpool, initially on loan at the end of the 1970–71 season,[3] then permanently for the start of 1971–72. It was with the Seasiders that he won his first honour: the Anglo-Italian Cup. Blackpool beat Bologna 2–1, after extra time, at the latter's Stadio Comunale on 12 June 1971. Burridge's performance earned him the praise of the normally highly-critical Italian fans.[4]

In 1975, Burridge joined Aston Villa for £75,000.[3] He was signed by Ron Saunders and spent two seasons at Villa Park, winning the League Cup with them, but eventually lost his place to Jimmy Rimmer. He had a short but successful loan spell at Southend United before joining Crystal Palace in 1978, signed by Terry Venables. In a 4–1 victory over Ipswich Town, after Palace went 4–0 up, Burridge, to entertain the fans, sat on the crossbar.[5] After two and a half seasons at Palace, he joined London rivals Queens Park Rangers, again signed by Venables. He was dropped in favour of Peter Hucker for the 1982 FA Cup Final.

External video
John Burridge back flip and circus warm up.

In July 1982, Burridge joined his seventh club, Wolverhampton Wanderers. In the 1982–83 season in a game at Molineux, Wolves entertained Newcastle United. Prior to the game Burridge had made a bet with a stake of £100, with Kevin Keegan that Burridge would play the game in a Superman outfit.[6] As a result of the bet, Wolves biggest crowd of the season, a crowd of 22500, witnessed Burridge playing the match in a Superman outfit.[6] Burridge helped Wolves gain promotion to the top flight as runners-up, only to be relegated the following season. He left Wolves in October 1984 to join Sheffield United, signed by Ian Porterfield. He also had a loan spell at Derby County, signed by Arthur Cox, shortly before joining the Blades.

Burridge spent three seasons at Sheffield United before joining Southampton in 1987, signed by Chris Nicholl. Two years later, he moved to Newcastle United. After two years at Newcastle United, he moved to Scotland to join Hibernian, where he won a Scottish League Cup winners' medal.[7] After two years in Edinburgh, Burridge returned to Newcastle for a second spell at the club in 1993, signed by Kevin Keegan.

Despite being past 40, Burridge refused to hang up his gloves, and continued moving across the country for short spells at any club that requested his services. Between 1993 and 1997, Burridge played for no fewer than fourteen clubs. They were, in chronological order: Scarborough, Lincoln, Aberdeen, Dumbarton, Falkirk, Manchester City, (where he became, at 43 years, four months and 26 days, the oldest player to appear in the Premier League[8]) Notts County, Witton Albion, Darlington, Grimsby, Gateshead, Northampton Town, Queen of the South, Blyth Spartans, Scarborough once more. These spells usually lasted no more than one or two games as an emergency goalkeeper. He finished his playing career with a brief spell as player-manager at Blyth Spartans in 1997, following a similarly brief spell back at Newcastle United as goalkeeping coach.

Blackpool F.C. Hall of Fame

Burridge was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player Jimmy Armfield in April 2006.[9] Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Burridge is in the 1970s.[10]

Managerial and coaching career

In his second spell with Blyth Spartans, Burridge was the club's player-manager. On 15 November 1997, he took Spartans to his first club, Blackpool, in the first round of the FA Cup.[3] The hosts won 4–3.[3]

Burridge 'discovered' Oman international goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi aged 16 in his first spell on the coaching staff of the Oman national football team and was instrumental in the player's transfer to Bolton Wanderers in January 2006. He has also coached English national goalkeepers Tim Flowers, Nigel Martyn and Paul Robinson.

Burridge worked as a goalkeeping coach for Al Ain Football Club in the United Arab Emirates. He was a regular guest for the launch of English Premier League show on the regional sports channel ART Prime Sports and a regular pundit on Starhub, Singapore's Football Channel. He is also a writer in the football column of Singapore newspaper, The New Paper. Burridge had a spell as a backup commentator along with Rob Lee for Ten Sports UEFA Champions League fixtures and resident pundit on The Football Channel in Singapore, before returning to work for the Oman national team as goalkeeper coach. He was dismissed by Oman in January 2011.

As of January 2012, Burridge is working as a television pundit for Ten Sports on their football show C2K on TEN Action along with Joe Morrison and Carlton Palmer.[2] Together they cover UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League football from Dubai.[2]

in September 2015, he was the goalkeeping coach for the LionsXII which plays in the Malaysian Super League.[11]

In August 2016, it was reported that he had joined Global F.C. of the United Football League,[12] although the appointment was short-lived as Burridge did not have the necessary coaching badge.[13]

In July 2019, he was signed by the Indian Super League top division club Kerala Blasters as their goalkeeping consultant for goalkeeping academy.[14]

Attitude to conditioning and innovation
Burridge was one of the first goalkeepers in Britain to wear Latex gloves in football matches.

Unusually for a player in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, Burridge was a teetotaller.[15] He also went against the grain with his diet.[15] In the 1970s Burridge noted players would eat steaks, or even fish and chips for prematch meals, whereas Burridge, studying sport science, and the diets of African tribesmen, sensing something wasn't right with the way footballers generally fuelled and refuelled, and finding fault with the timing of their fuelling, would carb up with quick meals like baby food, pasta and potatoes.[15] He'd drink glasses of water instead of a cup of tea.[15] Perplexing the people of the time period, Burridge would also make fruit smoothies before many had considered the concept of blending fruits for nutrition.[15]

In the 1980s, on winning runs, warming up he'd do somersaults to entertain the fans, which Burridge noted was frowned upon by the echelons in the game though Burridge did not care for their sentiments, or their belief as to what was the correct way to warm up.[15]

In the 1970s Burridge would also be among the first goalkeepers to use Latex gloves;[16] he would also introduce Peter Shilton and Pat Jennings to latex gloves.[16]

Personal life

Burridge is married to Janet, whom he met while with Blackpool. His son, Tom, played ice hockey for Blackburn Hawks.[17] John Burridge's autobiography, entitled "Budgie" was released on 4 April 2011.[18]

Honours

Blackpool

Aston Villa

Crystal Palace

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Hibernian

References
  1. Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan; Bull, David (2013). All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC. Southampton: Hagiology Publishing. p. 265. ISBN 978-0-9926-8640-6.
  2. Smith, Aidan (19 February 2011). "Interview: John Burridge, football veteran". The Scotsman. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  3. Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2009). Blackpool FC on This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-905411-50-4.
  4. Calley, Roy (1992): Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992, p. 80. Breedon Books
  5. Burridge (2011), Kindle location 1421-1447.
  6. Burridge (2011), Kindle location 1701-1715.
  7. Elder, Matthew (16 May 2020). "John Burridge: Hibs team-mate recalls 'mad' goalkeeper on anniversary of key Easter Road milestone". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  8. "Premiership Records -". footballnetwork.org. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  9. Singleton, Steve, ed. (2007). Legends: The great players of Blackpool FC (1 ed.). Blackpool: Blackpool Gazette. pp. 74–77. ISBN 978-1-84547-182-8.
  10. "The Hall Of Fame - 1970's". Blackpool Supporters Association. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  11. Lee, David (18 September 1915). "New goalkeeping coach Burridge: Izwan's good enough for Europe". tnp.sg. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  12. "Global hires new coach, braces for international tournaments". The Manila Times. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  13. Guerrero, Bob (20 January 2017). "Global FC aims for the big leagues of Asia". Rappler. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  14. "@TheBudgie Tweets-Hard at work in Kerala Blasters India". July 2019.
  15. Burridge (2011), Kindle location 1493-1505.
  16. Burridge (2011), Kindle location 1524-1536.
  17. Hockey, Ice (31 December 1996). "Panthers help Devils". The Independent. London. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  18. Burridge, John (2011). Budgie. John Blake Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84358-289-2.
  19. Burridge (2011), Kindle location 3310-3457.

Sources
  • Burridge, John (4 April 2011). Budgie: The Autobiography of Goalkeeping Legend John Burridge. United kingdom: John Blake Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1843584643.
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