Bert Burridge

Life and career Burridge was born in Beamish, County Durham, in 1898. but in November he signed for Third Division North club Darlington from Northern Alliance club Annfield Plain. Despite interest from "clubs in higher spheres", he was reported as preferring to remain near home. In the 1924–25 Football League season, Darlington were promoted to the Second Division as champions of the Northern Section. Burridge was not a regular member of the side, but his versatilityhe could play across the half-back line or as a forwardmeant he was able to establish himself as first reserve, and the supporters included him among those to receive a presentation in appreciation of the team's success.

Burridge became one of a number of new signings from the lower leagues made by Second Division champions Sheffield Wednesday ahead of their First Division campaign. He played only rarely in his first season with Wednesday, and although the £2,000 proceeds of his sale helped Darlington financially, his absence significantly weakened their team and they were relegated in 1926. By November 1927, he was playing more regularly for the first team, and the Derby Daily Telegraph assessed his strengths as "resolute tackling and robust defensive work". In 1928–29, Burridge appeared twice as Wednesday won the League championship and contributed to their reserve team winning the Central League title. In his last season with Wednesday, he again appeared twice as they retained their title,

A year later, he moved back into non-league football. By then playing at centre half, he captained Macclesfield to the 1931–32 Cheshire County League championship and appeared less frequently the following season as they retained the title. After a season as a first-team regular with another Cheshire League, club, Hyde United, Burridge made his debut for Hurst in a Cheshire League match against former club Macclesfield. He remained with Hurst as a player into the war years, making more than 100 appearances in all competitions, and was appointed player-manager in 1935 and acting secretary in 1937.

Burridge died in 1977 at the age of 79.