Francis Burns (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Francis Burns


fullname = Francis Burns
nickname =
height = height|ft=5|in=9
weight = 10 st 10 lbs
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1948|10|17
cityofbirth = Glenboig
countryofbirth = Scotland
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Left-back
youthyears = 1964-1965
youthclubs = Manchester United
years = 1965-1972
1972-1973
1973-1981
1981-1982
clubs = Manchester United
Southampton
Preston North End
Shamrock Rovers
caps(goals) = 121 00(6)
021 00(0)
273 00(9)
16 00(0)
manageryears =
managerclubs =
nationalyears = 1969
nationalteam = Scotland
nationalcaps(goals) = 001 00(0)
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Francis Burns (born in Glenboig, North Lanarkshire, 17 October 1948) is a Scottish former footballer.

Playing career

Manchester United

Burns was a talented left-back and captained Scotland Schoolboys and won Scottish Youth international honours. He joined Manchester United in 1965 and made his first team debut in September 1967. There, he made 121 league appearances, scoring 6 goals and won one Scotland cap on 5 November 1969, against Austria. He played in six of the matches in Manchester United's run to the 1968 European Cup final, although he lost his place in the final to Shay Brennan. During his time at Old Trafford he underwent three cartilage operations.

outhampton

Burns was signed by Ted Bates for £50,000 for Southampton in 1972. Unfortunately, his injury jinx continued and he required a further cartilage operation as well as suffering a serious thigh injury. He was unable to displace Joe Kirkup as the first-choice left-back and towards the end of the season he lost his place to up and coming youngster Steve Mills. He made 21 league appearances for the Saints, before moving back to Lancashire.

Preston North End

He became former United teammate Bobby Charlton's first signing as manager of Preston North End in 1973, making his debut for the Deepdale club against Aston Villa on 25 August 1973 and ended his first season being named as the club's Player of the Year. He made a total of 314 appearances (including 2 as substitute) and scored 9 league goals for Preston.

hamrock Rovers

He moved to Shamrock Rovers in October 1981 making his debut on the 11th at Glenmalure Park. In total he made 20 appearances which included a League Cup Final loss on New Years Eve. His experience and motivational qualities were a big help to that young Hoops side.

After football

In February 1987, he emigrated to Perth, Western Australia where he set up an industrial cleaning business as well as coaching in local football.

References

*cite book | author=Duncan Holley & Gary Chalk | title=The Alphabet of the Saints| publisher= ACL & Polar Publishing | year=1992|pages=pp. 54-55 id=ISBN 0-9514862-3-3
*cite book | author=Duncan Holley & Gary Chalk | title=In That Number - A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC | publisher=Hagiology | year=2003|pages=pp. 489-490| id=ISBN 0-9534474-3-X