Frank Burton

Frank James "Bronco" Burton (7 September 1890 – 8 July 1967) was an English professional footballer who played as full-back for West Ham United and Charlton Athletic in the Football League, and also for Queens Park Rangers and Grays Thurrock United. He was later head coach of Spanish club Real Oviedo.

Life and career Born in Cheadle, Stockport, Burton played for Kilburn before joining Queens Park Rangers in the close season of 1910. He did not appear for the QPR first team before joining West Ham United in the summer of 1912. He made his debut for West Ham on 5 October 1912 in a 3–1 win at home to Plymouth Argyle, replacing the injured Harry Forster. He appeared mostly for the reserves in 1912–13 and became a regular for the first team in the second half of 1913–14, initially at left-half before settling into the left-back position. He totalled 50 appearances in the Southern League First Division, forming full-back partnerships with Jim Rothwell and then Billy Cope. He scored four goals during this period, against Southampton home and away during the 1913–14 season, and against Bristol Rovers and Southend United in 1914–15.

Burton's career was interrupted by World War I and he saw service between 1914 and 1918, as a serjeant in the Royal Fusiliers, including the Sportsmen's Battalions. He fought at Ypres, the Somme and Cambrai, and sustained six injuries during the conflict. He was treated for shrapnel wounds at the Welsh Metropolitan War Hospital, Whitchurch, in 1916. Burton's move to Charlton had coincided with the club's conversion to professionalism and he was a part of the first line-up to compete in the Football League, alongside the likes of Arthur Whalley and Harold Halse. He participated in Charlton's FA Cup run in 1922–23, which saw them beat Manchester City, Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion to reach the fourth round. They were matched against Bolton Wanderers in a heavily attended fixture at The Valley, in which a number of spectators were injured after a section of the railings collapsed. Bolton won the game 1–0 and would go on to win the first final at Wembley Stadium against his former club West Ham. The season also saw Burton gain honours in the London Challenge Cup, with a 2–1 victory over Crystal Palace in the final. He made 97 league appearances in his four seasons with the club.

Burton joined Grays Thurrock United as player-trainer for the 1925–26 season.

On 20 August 1927, he became head coach of Real Oviedo in Asturias, Spain, becoming the club's second manager after fellow Englishman Fred Pentland. The club at that point were competing in the Regional Championship of Asturias. 1921–22 Football League Second Division

1922–23 Football League Second Division 38 0 6 0 44 0 1923–24 Football League Second Division 19 0 4 0 23 0 1924–25 Football League Second Division 15 0 0 0 15 0

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