Burgin: Edward (Ted)

1958-1961 (Player Details)

Goalkeeper

Born Bradfield, Sheffield: 29-04-1927

Debut v Leicester City (a): 31-01-1959

5’9” 11st 7lb (1959)

He was playing for Lincolnshire side Alford Town when he wrote to Sheffield United for a trial and they signed him on professional forms in March 1949. He toured Australia with the F.A. team in 1951 and was the England reserve for a match with Austria in 1953. He was also in England's World Cup squad in 1954, as Gil Merrick's deputy, although he did not feature in any of their matches. A small but acrobatic goalkeeper, Burgin gained England “B” honours when he respresented England at the Glueckauf Stadion, Gelsenkirchen on 24th March 1954 in a 4-0 win over West Germany "B" and at Ljubljana on 16th May 1954 when England went down to Yugoslavia "B" by 1-2. It is thought that he might have won a full England cap had he not suffered with injuries throughout his career. Future England ‘keeper Alan Hodgkinson was emerging at Sheffield United and after another F.A. Tour to South Africa in 1956, he signed for Doncaster Rovers in December 1957. He made two hundred and eighty-one League appearances for the Blades and three hundred and fourteen in total.He made his debut with Rovers on 21st December 1957 in a 3-2 home win over Rotherham United. Unfortunately he only played five games before he sustained a broken collarbone and, as soon as he was recovered, he quickly moved to Leeds in March 1958 in exchange for Willie Nimmo. After two years at Elland Road he left to join Rochdale in January 1961, playing for them in the 1962 League Cup Finals. It was in the second year of the competition and the Semi-Finals and Finals were both played on a home and away basis. Fourth Division Rochdale were rank outsiders in a competition that included thirteen Division One clubs and all clubs from the other Divisions. They had to go to Second Division Southampton in the First Round, but surprised everyone by holding them to a 0-0 draw. There was an even bigger shock when they won the replay at Spotland by 2-1. Round Two saw a home draw against fellow Fourth Division team Doncaster Rovers and they eased through 4-0. Their reward was a home tie against Second Division Charlton Athletic in the Third Round which they won by the only goal of the game. They had a bye in the Fourth Round and, in the Fifth Round, were again drawn at home against Fourth Division opposition in York City, and again they got through by a single goal margin, winning 2-1. There was First Division opposition in the shape of Blackburn Rovers in the Semi-Finals, but Rochdale surprised everyone by winning the home leg by 3-1 and restricting the home team to 1-2 at Ewood Park. However, the bubble burst in the Finals as Second Division Norwich City won 0-3 at Spotland and 0-1 at Carrow Road and Rochdale, and Burgin, had to be happy to be runners-up. After well over two hundred games for the Spotland club, two hundred and seven of which were in the League, he became Player-Manager at Glossop North End in July 1966. He later served Oswestry, Wellington Town and Burton Albion and worked for the Rochdale Council before retiring to live on the Fylde Coast. A fully qualified F.A. Coach he was the younger brother of Edwin Burgin, the former Yorkshire cricketer.