WE’VE produced hundreds of shows and published a couple of thousand articles since The Anfield Wrap was launched four years ago.
And I reckon in all that time no-one’s EVER mentioned David Burrows.
“Who?” you might well say, depending on when your Liverpool-supporting days truly began. And given the number of players that have been and gone since he last graced the red shirt in 1993, no-one can be blamed for forgetting a lad from Dudley who was solid but unspectacular in defence for the Reds and routinely depicted as a bit of a dope in the fanzines of the time.
For those that don’t remember Bugsy, as he was dubbed, he was a fairly unremarkable left back signed from West Bromwich Albion by Kenny Dalglish for £550,000 in 1988.
And while you may well not have heard of him, he is in fact a league title and FA Cup winner with the Reds, lifting the former in 1990 and the latter in 1992.
In total, he made 193 appearances for Liverpool, scoring three goals.
And it’s one of his goals — his first goal for the Reds, three years into his Liverpool career — that prompted a flashback, and then this piece. Derbies involving Howard Kendall were already on my mind with the sad news that Everton’s most successful manager passed away on Saturday.
So when I was looking at what happened in the Reds’ history this week and saw David Burrows’ face staring back at me — it’s 27 years ago today, October 20, since he signed for Liverpool — my first thought was him scoring against Howard Kendall’s Everton at Anfield on an August Saturday afternoon in 1991.
The Kop was still standing then, and myself a few lads from school had followed the usual routine of getting in early, finding our spot — just to the left of centre, slightly outside the post, the equivalent of about 40 rows back — and getting settled on a crush barrier before the rest of the crowd filed in and made giving your legs a rest impossible.
Getting there hours and hours before kick off seems mad now but I enjoyed it then: booing their lot, cheering ours, and going through a full repertoire of songs for the Liverpool players as they blammed balls goalwards in the build up to kick-off.
Then, in the Derby, it wasn’t uncommon to see Blues on The Kop. And that’s what happened to me just before kick off. Shortly before the sides positioned themselves for the first whistle, I heard a shout from lower down and to my left.
“Gareth!”
“Gareth!”
I was looking left and right but could see no sign of who was trying to attract my attention.
“GARETH!”
And then I spotted him, a big dopey smile growing across his grid as he surveyed my scowl. It was a lad I sometimes played footie with who was a bit of a dirty bastard in the tackling stakes truth be told.
“What the fuck are you doing in here?” I asked.
“Waheyyy! Kopites are gobshites!” came the reply, accompanied with a swaying flick of the Vs as he struggled to retain his balance atop a crush barrier.
Unsurprisingly, it annoyed me all this. This grinning gimp in our end, in our ground, giving it all that. The cheek.
“Ey! We’re going to batter yous today,” he said, an assertion met with a two-fingered return fire from yours truly.
This Blue was still trying to wind me up and get my attention as the game got underway, delighted to have got under my skin, and seemingly convinced that with Peter Beardsley on board (I still wasn’t happy about that, thanks Graeme) the Blues were going to have their day.
And that’s where good old David Burrows comes into it.
He wasn’t the most cultured full back ever to grace the Anfield turf and his days were quickly numbered under Souness. But say what you like about him (and everyone did) the lad could strike a ball with power if not always accuracy. Put it this way, if you knocked around with Bugsy you wouldn’t be taking him on in those pissed-up ‘who can hit the ball the hardest’ competitions when you’re on holiday.
And so — with said Bluenose still swaying around giving it the big one in my peripheral vision — Burrows swung his boot and released a shot packed with venom, one that took a deflection on its way into the net past Neville Southall. Boom! 1-0.
Just 48 seconds had been played. And you’ve never seen two people’s demeanours switch so fast. Gone was the smug smile from the Bluenose, replaced with an ashen fury coupled with shock that you could spot a mile off as he was surrounded by thousands of happy Red faces going mad. Gone, too, was my frown, replaced with a mocking grin, clenched fists, outstretched arms and a shout of “AHHHH” in the general direction of my park footie associate.
And the Blues never recovered from that. The Kop was bouncing, as you would expect after a start like that, and the Reds went on to win 3-1, Dean Saunders and Ray Houghton adding to Burrows’ goal before Mike Newell pulled one back for Everton.
Not a peep was heard from my ‘friend’ for the rest of the game.
As for Burrows, given his relative forgotten man status, it’s kind of apt that his most significant strike in the red doesn’t appear to exist on the internet as things stand. Shame though.
Because of how the game panned out, The Kop even had time to take the piss about Beardsley, singing his name and applauding him on — and off — the pitch but also trotting out “what a waste of talent” to get up the noses of the blues.
These days, after spells at West Ham, Everton (ha!), Coventry City, Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday, Burrows is apparently living in France.
And for your derby goal alone (and that Bluenose’s reaction), merci beaucoup, David.
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Pics: PA Images
First thing…made up with this post.Why? Read on.
David Burrows. ..the last of generation who lived with the fanbase outside of large walls and security.
Dave lived in Little Neston on a rather nice housing estate which was nether posh or average but still a community,myself and my wife had bought a three bedroom semi on the same housing estate back in 1989.
The local pub was called the Harp, old miners pub dating back to the 1700s.
Dave use to drink here at least twice a week, it was perfect for him because it was out the way and very small, so everyone knew each other.
I used to walk from our house to the Harp in two minutes, so it was my local and of course when Dave moved into the area it was a perfect bolt hole for him. Ray and June Oldfield owned and ran the Harp..old school owners and real community player’s.. Dave was just a local.
Now myself as a Red had clocked Dave in my local for six months, but the golden rule is leave him alone. .he is at home and happy..loved his hotpot June made and loved his pint or pints with no media.
I had a new born daughter. .first born and my current job did not allow me to support the family financially to ensure a decent living. ..Thatcher. So I started a “Grey Import ” business for video games, one of the lads I supplied was a big mate of Dave, unbeknown to myself Dave was a big Nintendo fan and I imported the latest games from Hong Kong…
So….. knock at my door one evening… there is my customer and Dave Burrows…
Invited Dave in…he bought all my grey imported games and asked why I was doing this.. I explained times are hard second income and new baby in some detail.
Following day the is a knock at the door…it’s Dave with a years worth of clothes for my daughter and an order for more games. ..
I drank and enjoyed his company for a further two years. A LFC player who love a hotpot and Nintendo games and lived amongst us…. salt of the Earth that lad.
Sensational! Brilliant stuff!
Cheers Graham, that’s a great story.
History is being made somewhere somehow everyday, every hour…
But the real historian, like Gareth and Graham here, recorded it in writing for all of us to recall….
Great stuff, both. thanks
Fantastic memories Gareth & Graham. Thanks for sharing those with us.
The goal is at 8.55.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLwlMTYvINI
Different game, that.
I thought Gareth’s memory must have become a little blurred over the years!
Did we really beat Everton 3-1 twice in 1991, with Burrows smashing in a deflected shot from distance in each game?
I apologise if I’m having a senior moment here.
Yeah! Well kind of.
The piece is about this one in the August, when the goal was credited to Burrows: http://www.lfchistory.net/SeasonArchive/Game/1795
And your vid is from this one, from the February before (when we still had Beardsley) and Speedie got the final touch to the shot from Burrows: http://www.lfchistory.net/SeasonArchive/Game/1773
Great story Graham (and loved the piece!)
Burrows was sort of in the middle of the declining quality of our left-backs, from Beglin-Staunton-Burrows-Harkness-Matteo-Stig. Never really sorted that position out have we?!
I remember this game well cos it was at the start of the school year and the lad I sat next to was a bluenose and the number of the classroom was 3:1 so naturally I referred to the classroom as Everton for the rest of the season/school year just to piss him off
what a fantastic story, cheers for that Graham
Also, does anyone remember him having to go in goals in the away game versus Spartak Moscow in which half the team seemed to be sent off and which ended in a shambolic defeat, enlivened only by DB hurling himself around the box, his hands like shovels in gloves several sizes too big for him? In retrospect, it was absolutely brilliant.
my biggest memory was him being the keeper for that match. one of the unsung heroes in my opinion.
Do I remember King Kenny playing him in midfield at White Hart Lane in 1990, where he man marked Gazza outta the game & we won 1-3….
What brilliant story Greame!
Cheers Gareth. I watched burrows first game. If I remember correctly I think it was against Coventry and it was a nil nil draw. Could have been one nil but I think it was nil nil. I remember he hit a shot high into the lop. Interesting that burrows signed and went straight in the team. This was rare but started happening more under KD. Also remember Jimmy Carter and going straight in. I was in the paddock and that was against villa and was nil nil I think. I was about 13/14 and rber thinking he is not very good!
Great article. I enjoy these ones.
Hi Anthony, I was at carters debut as well it was at villa park though so it must have been their paddock you were in. I didn’t know we’d signed him and was staring in disbelief during the warm up. The feeling of disbelief has stayed with me to this day. Much as I love Kenny he gave me that feeling many times over the years. Mostly in good ways to be fair.
Sorry I meant his home debut! Always thought it was villa. Was it Luton at home? I pretty sure it was nil nil and he did sod all!!
Simply stunning piece of reminiscing, thanks Gareth and Graham – :)
I loved on that estate my dad was the local roofer and done a job for him
He would take me to his house regularly for a kick about in the back garden
And one Christmas given a signed lfc ball from him and all the player , the envy of the school yard
Am I right in that he had a serious leg break?
Last I seen of him was Aldo’s tranmere vs Coventry in that FA cup run he was sent off and threw his boots at some of the players as he trudged off
Great fella though
I’m from California (dad is a scouser) and I was at the match in the main stand with my cousin. I was in early as well, just to admire the kop, Before hand I went to the betting shop next to the Clarence pub on Utting Avenue and they had some special on (bet on footie) and get a free bet on the time of the first goal (first 90 people to enter). they only had minute 1 or minute 90 left so I had a go with minute 1. So the joy I felt with the ball hit the back of the net from Bugsy was increased (actually didn’t give a damm about the bet, just happy we scored against Everton). Great times!
Great piece again. I know cos I was there (as Max Boyce used to say) The whole place went mental! Was that his 1st goal for us? We’d been willing him to score & for him to do it against the Bluenoses was extra special!
Cheers lads. … he really was a just a normal decent down to earth lad… he loved living a normal life out side the game… and it was a pleasure to have the odd drink with him.. good company and not up is own arse. Spoke and treated the pub staff with respect. .. I loved that.
Cracker that story, mate – nice one!
Quality article and quality posts from others as a result. Made my day, thanks to all. Wonderful times
I’m pretty sure I remember him being on Record Breakers, attempting to get in the record books for the hardest shot – pretty sure I can picture him with Cheryl Baker and Roy Castle, lining up to boot a ball… Anyone else…?