burke_thomas
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| Name: Thomas Burke |
Nationality: Wales |
| Position: half-back |
Signing Information: Transferred from: Liverpool Cambrians, 09/1886, £ |
| Birthdate: 00-00-0000 |
Years at Club: 1886-1890 |
| Age: () |
Debut: 30/10/1886 v Fleetwood Rangers (A) 2-2 (FA Cup 1st Round) |
| Birthplace: Wrexham, Wales |
Previous clubs: Wrexham Grosvenor, Wrexham February FC, Wrexham Olympic, Liverpool Cambrians |
| Height: |
Farewell to Manchester United: Transferred to Wrexham Victoria, 05/1890, £ |
| Weight: |
Passed Away: 09/02/1914 |
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One of the leading figures of Welsh football in the 1880s, Tom Burke represented the Principality eight times in an era when there were only three international games all year. His first cap was in 1883 versus England, his last in 1888 against Scotland. He also represented his county, Denbighshire, on several occasions in the mid-1880s.
Tom was a rugged half-back who started out as a youth with Wrexham Grosvenor in his hometown. In 1881, the club amalgamated into Wrexham AFC where he was a member of the team that won the Welsh Cup in 1883. That year, the club changed its name to Wrexham Olympic and Burke became captain, serving the club with distinction, even in goal if necessary! He was much beloved by the fans as demonstrated by one occasion when he turned up a few minutes late and received an ovation.
He finally left in January 1886, joining the newly formed Cambrian, a side made up of Welshmen in Liverpool. Only a few months later, however, he was part of the Welsh exodus into Newton Heath where, at one point, the lineup contained eight men from the Principality. The club lured them with jobs in the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, Tom bagging a painting gig.
Burke earned two Manchester Senior Cup medals with Heath, even scoring in the 1888 final. He was ever-present in the 1888-89 Football Combination, but eventually lost his first-team place in 1889-90 to countryman Roger Doughty, thus playing in only five Football Alliance matches.
Not satisfied with becoming a reserve, the midfield hard man went back to playing for a team from his hometown, Wrexham Victoria, who gave him his debut on October 17th, 1891, against Shrewsbury Town... as a goalkeeper! According to a local paper, he was "the right man in the right place". That said, Burke continued to dwell in Manchester after retirement. In fact, he lived on Lightbowne Road, Moston, and worked for a firm of decorators for 20 years. Unfortunately, as he was fond of mixing his own colours - and that required adding white lead to paint - Tom eventually died from lead poisoning on February 9th, 1914. Thanks to Charbel Boujaoude for his tireless researching effort & the correct information on Thomas Burke. Biography kindly provided by Charbel Boujaoude. |
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Season
Goals |
Season
Apps |
| 1 |
1886-1887 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| TOTALS |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
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