Frank Burton (footballer, born 1890) facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Frank James Burton | ||
| Date of birth | 7 September 1890 | ||
| Place of birth | Cheadle, Cheshire, England | ||
| Date of death | 8 July 1967 (aged 76) | ||
| Place of death | Northcote, Auckland, New Zealand | ||
| Playing position | Full-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| Kilburn | |||
| 1910–1912 | Queens Park Rangers | 0 | (0) |
| 1912–1921 | West Ham United | 114 | (6) |
| 1921–1925 | Charlton Athletic | 97 | (0) |
| 1925–? | Grays Thurrock United | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 1927–1928 | Real Oviedo | ||
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Frank James "Bronco" Burton (born September 7, 1890 – died July 8, 1967) was an English professional footballer. He played as a full-back, which is a defensive position. Frank Burton is best known for his time with West Ham United and Charlton Athletic. He also played for Queens Park Rangers and Grays Thurrock United. Later in his career, he became a head coach for the Spanish club Real Oviedo.
Contents
Early Football Days
Frank Burton was born in Cheadle, Stockport. He started his football journey playing for a team called Kilburn. In 1910, he joined Queens Park Rangers (QPR). However, he didn't play any first-team matches for QPR.
Joining West Ham United
In the summer of 1912, Frank moved to West Ham United. He made his first appearance for West Ham on October 5, 1912. It was a home game against Plymouth Argyle, which West Ham won 3–1. In his first season, he mostly played for the reserve team. By the second half of the 1913–14 season, he became a regular player. He played as a left-back and formed strong defensive partnerships. He scored four goals during this time.
Serving During World War I
Frank Burton's football career was paused because of World War I. He bravely served as a serjeant in the Royal Fusiliers from 1914 to 1918. He was involved in major battles like Ypres, the Somme, and Cambrai. During his service, he received six injuries. He was awarded special medals for his bravery, including the French Croix de Guerre and Médaille militaire. Even during the war, he still played some matches for West Ham in the wartime London Combination.
Returning to Football After the War
After the war ended, West Ham United joined the Football League for the 1919–20 season. This was a big step for the club. Frank Burton was part of the team that played in the Second Division for the first time. He scored West Ham's first-ever goal in the Football League from a penalty kick. This happened in a 4–1 win against Lincoln City on September 6, 1919.
Winning Trophies with West Ham
Frank also helped West Ham win the London Football Association Professional Charity Fund Cup twice. They won in 1919 and 1920. Both finals were against their rivals, Millwall. In 1919, they had to replay the final. West Ham won the replay 3–1. In 1920, a 1–0 victory secured the cup.
Moving to Charlton Athletic
In May 1921, Frank Burton joined Charlton Athletic. He moved with his West Ham teammate Dan Bailey. Frank's arrival was important because Charlton Athletic was becoming a professional club. He was part of the first team to play in the Football League for Charlton.
FA Cup Run and Other Successes
Frank played a key role in Charlton's exciting FA Cup journey in 1922–23. They beat strong teams like Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion. They reached the fourth round, where they faced Bolton Wanderers. Bolton won that game 1–0 and went on to win the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium against Frank's old club, West Ham. That season, Frank also won the London Challenge Cup with Charlton. They beat Crystal Palace 2–1 in the final. He played his last season for Charlton in 1924–25. He made 97 league appearances for the club.
Later Career and Coaching
After leaving Charlton, Frank Burton joined Grays Thurrock United in 1925. He played for them and also worked as a player-trainer. This meant he helped train the team while still playing.
Coaching in Spain
On August 20, 1927, Frank became the head coach of Real Oviedo in Spain. He was the second English manager for the club. He coached Real Oviedo until January 1928.
Playing Style and Nickname
Frank Burton was a versatile player who could play in either full-back position. He earned the nickname "Bronco" while playing for West Ham. This nickname came from his unique running style and movements on the field. People thought he moved like a cowboy's horse!
