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List of Burnley F.C. players

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Burnley Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Burnley, Lancashire. Founded on 18 May 1882, the club was one of the first to become professional (in 1883), putting pressure on the Football Association (FA) to permit payments to players.[1] In 1885, the FA legalised professionalism, so the team entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1885–86, and were one of the twelve founding members of the Football League in 1888–89.[1] Burnley have played in all four professional divisions of English football from 1888 to the present day.[2] The team have been champions of England twice, in 1920–21 and 1959–60, have won the FA Cup once, in 1913–14, and have won the FA Charity Shield twice, in 1960 and 1973.[2][3] Burnley are one of only five teams to have won all four professional divisions of English football, along with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Preston North End, Sheffield United and Portsmouth. They were the second to achieve this by winning the Fourth Division in the 1991–92 season.[4][5]

A black and white image of a former Burnley player
Bert Freeman scored 115 goals in 189 appearances for Burnley between 1911 and 1921.

Jerry Dawson holds the record for the greatest number of appearances for Burnley. Between 1907 and 1929, the goalkeeper played 569 times for the club.[6][7] George Beel scored 188 goals during his Burnley career and is the club's record goalscorer.[7] Seven players who have made at least 100 appearances for Burnley went on to manage the team: Jimmy Adamson, Frank Casper (also as caretaker manager), Steve Davis (as caretaker manager), Adrian Heath (as player-manager), Brian Laws, Brian Miller, and Harry Potts.[8][9][10] Potts became the club's longest serving manager with 745 competitive matches.[8][11] During his playing career, Adamson won the Footballer of the Year award in 1962—the only time a Burnley player has won this award.[12] Northern Irishman Willie Irvine is the only player in the club's history to be crowned top goal scorer of the first tier (in 1965–66).[13] When Bob Kelly moved from Burnley to Sunderland for £6,500 in 1925 (equivalent to £340,000 in 2025[a]), he broke the world transfer record.[14]

All players who have played 100 or more first-team matches for the club, either as a member of the starting eleven or as a substitute, are listed below. Each player's details include the duration of his career with Burnley, his typical playing position while with the club, and the number of matches played and goals scored in all senior competitive matches.

Key

More information Pre-1960s, 1960s– ...
Positions key[b]
Pre-1960s 1960s–
GK Goalkeeper
FB Full back DF Defender
HB Half back MF Midfielder
FW Forward
U Utility player
Close
More information Symbol, Meaning ...
Symbol Meaning
‡ Player still at the club
* Player represented his country at senior international level during his time at the club
Close

List of players

More information Name, Nationality ...
List of Burnley F.C. players with at least 100 appearances[c]
Name Nationality Position Burnley career Appearances Goals Notes Refs.
Ted Adams  EnglandGK1936–19431180
Jimmy Adamson  EnglandHB/MF1947–196448618[d]
Jock Aird  Scotland*FB1948–19551430[e]
Ade Akinbiyi  NigeriaFW2005–2006, 2007–200912231[18]
Graham Alexander  Scotland*DF/MF2007–201117724[19]
Joe Anderson  ScotlandFW1920–192312672
John Angus  England*FB/DF1955–19725214
Scott Arfield  Canada*MF2013–201819322[20]
Gordon Armstrong  EnglandMF1998–20031134
Reg Attwell  EnglandHB1946–195426911
Tom Bamford  EnglandFB1909–19201570
Ashley Barnes‡  EnglandFW2014–2023, 2025–present32057[21]
Fred Barron  EnglandHB1898–191142314
Alf Basnett  EnglandHB1919–19261575
George Beel  EnglandFW1923–1932337188[f]
Arthur Bell  EnglandFW1902–190910429
Arthur Bellamy  EnglandMF/FW1959–197225029
Marlon Beresford  EnglandGK1992–1998, 2002–20033500
Adam Blacklaw  Scotland*GK1954–19673830
Robbie Blake  EnglandMF2002–2005, 2007–201028272[22]
Billy Bowes  ScotlandFW1891–190129584
George Boyd  ScotlandMF/FW2014–201712312[23]
Tommy Boyle  England*FB/HB1911–192323643[g]
Graham Branch  EnglandU1998–200729918
Chris Brass  EnglandDF1993–20011601
George Bray  EnglandHB1937–19522599
Ian Brennan  EnglandDF1970–198021214
Lee Briscoe  EnglandDF/MF2000–20031197
Ian Britton  ScotlandMF1986–198913010
Bob Brocklebank  EnglandFW1936–194512838
James Brown  ScotlandHB1927–19352415
Josh Brownhill  EnglandMF2020–202521132[25]
Jack Bruton  England*HB/FW1925–192917644
Steven Caldwell  Scotland*DF2007–20101195[26]
Mo Camara  GuineaDF/MF2003–20051041
Clarke Carlisle  EnglandDF2007–20121529[27]
Frank Casper  EnglandFW1967–197627589[h]
Albert Cheesebrough  EnglandFW1952–195915840
Jackie Chew  EnglandHB/FW1946–195424841
Ralph Coates  England*MF/FW1963–197126132
Doug Collins  EnglandMF1968–197621719
Paul Comstive  EnglandMF1987–198910323
John Connelly  England*FW1956–1964265104
Mike Conroy  ScotlandFW1991–199310141
Paul Cook  EnglandMF1999–200316915
Andy Cooke  EnglandFW1995–200020261
Jack Cork  England*DF/MF2010–2011, 2017–202426711[28]
Ian Cox  Trinidad and Tobago*DF2000–20031315
Jonathan Cretney  EnglandHB1905–191117710
Benny Cross  EnglandFW1920–192825561
Josh Cullen‡  Republic of Ireland*MF2022–present1407[29]
Tommy Cummings  EnglandFB/DF1947–19634793
Steve Davis  EnglandDF1987–199118112
Steve Davis  EnglandDF1989–1990, 1991–1995, 1998–200338847[i]
Jerry Dawson  England*GK1907–19295690[j]
Ray Deakin  EnglandDF1985–19912476
John Deary  EnglandMF1989–199527527
Joe Devine  ScotlandHB/FW1925–193012129
Arthur Dixon  EnglandFB1900–19071838
Martin Dobson  England*MF1967–1974, 1979–198449776
Mick Docherty  EnglandDF1967–19761741
Michael Duff  Northern Ireland*DF2004–20163838[30]
Chris Eagles  EnglandMF/FW2008–201114325[31]
David Edgar  Canada*DF2009–20141144[32]
Alex Elder  Northern Ireland*DF1959–196733017
Roger Eli  EnglandFW1989–199413231
Wade Elliott  EnglandMF2005–201128223[33]
Maxime Estève  FranceDF2024–20261001[34]
David Eyres  EnglandMF1993–199721555
Andy Farrell  EnglandU1987–199433123
Paul Fletcher  EnglandFW1971–198035286
Brian Flynn  Wales*MF1972–1977, 1982–198425027
Alex Forrest  ScotlandHB1927–19331164
John Francis  EnglandFW1990–1992, 1993–199622646
Bert Freeman  England*FW1911–1921189115[k]
Steve Gardner  EnglandDF1987–19901150
Lee Grant  EnglandGK2005–2006, 2010–20131270[36]
Tony Grant  EnglandMF2001–20051663
Billy Gray  EnglandFW1953–195713032
Billy Green  EnglandGK1903–19081530
Neil Grewcock  EnglandMF/FW1984–199124232
Joey Guðjónsson  Iceland*MF2007–20101097[37]
Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson  Iceland*MF/FW2016–202422815[38]
George Halley  ScotlandFB/HB1913–19221535
Billy Hamilton  Northern Ireland*FW1979–198425177
Peter Hampton  EnglandDF1984–19871342
Ted Hancock  EnglandHB/FW1933–193612331
Ray Hankin  EnglandFW1973–197613947
Roger Hansbury  EnglandGK1983–19851030
Jon Harley  EnglandDF2005–20081263[39]
Gordon Harris  England*MF1958–196831381
Gerry Harrison  EnglandMF1994–1998, 20001463
Jack Hays  EnglandHB/FW1939–195115413
Adrian Heath  EnglandMF/FW1992–1995, 1996–199714835[l]
Tom Heaton  England*GK2013–20192000[41]
Jeff Hendrick  Republic of Ireland*MF2016–202013910[42]
Jack Hill  England*FB1923–192819813
Jimmy Hill  ScotlandHB/FW1889–189716242
Jack Hillman  England*GK1890–1895, 1898–19021880
Kevin Hird  EnglandDF/MF1984–198610030
Teddy Hodgson  EnglandFW1911–191913762[m]
Bill Holden  EnglandFW1950–195519978
David Holt  EnglandDF1980–19831104
Ron Hornby  EnglandHB/FW1934–194913519
Ashley Hoskin  EnglandMF/FW1985–198910513
Jamie Hoyland  EnglandMF1994–19981054
Tommy Hutchison  ScotlandMF1983–19851145
Micah Hyde  Jamaica*MF2004–20071142
Billy Ingham  EnglandMF1969–198026631
Danny Ings  EnglandFW2011–201513043[44]
Willie Irvine  Northern Ireland*FW1960–196814897[n]
Joe Jakub  ScotlandDF/MF1973–1980, 1989–19932559
Leighton James  Wales*MF/FW1970–1975, 1978–1980, 1986–198939981
Brian Jensen  DenmarkGK2003–20133100[45]
David Jones  EnglandMF2013–20161313[46]
Michael Keane  England*DF2014–20171087[47]
Bob Kelly  England*FW1913–192529997[o]
Steve Kindon  EnglandMF/FW1967–1972, 1977–197922558
Sandy Lang  ScotlandFB1885–18951343[p][q]
Les Latcham  EnglandDF/MF1960–197118412
Brian Laws  EnglandDF1979–198316015[r]
Dick Lindley  EnglandFW1908–192015246
Glen Little  EnglandMF/FW1996–200428336
Archie Livingstone  ScotlandHB1893–19001813
Andy Lochhead  ScotlandFW1958–1968266128
Matthew Lowton  EnglandDF2015–20232033[50]
Doug MacFarlane  EnglandU1903–190812534
Phil Malley  EnglandMF1984–19881136
Dean Marney  EnglandMF2010–201822110[51]
Harry Mather  EnglandFB1938–19553290
Chris McCann  Republic of IrelandDF/MF2005–201326831[52]
Andy McCluggage  Ireland*FB1925–193121324
Colin McDonald  England*GK1948–1950, 1951–19612010
John McGreal  EnglandDF2004–20071061
Jimmy McIlroy  Northern Ireland*MF/FW1950–1963497131[s]
Tom McLintock  ScotlandFB1893–190325415
Dwight McNeil  EnglandMF/FW2018–20221477[54]
Ian Measham  EnglandDF1988–19932302
Ben Mee  EnglandDF2011–2012, 2012–202237612[55]
David Merrington  EnglandDF1962–19711262
Brian Miller  England*DF/MF1954–196745537[t]
Hugh Moffat  EnglandHB1904–191021413
Mark Monington  EnglandDF1989–19941016
Willie Morgan  Scotland*MF/FW1961–1968, 1975–197623222
Jonathan Morley  EnglandHB/FW1908–191210817
Tony Morley  EnglandMF/FW1976–1979, 19881077
Billy Morris  Wales*FW1939–195223053
Tommy Morrison  Ireland*FW1894–1895, 1897–1902, 1906–190719528
Eddie Mosscrop  England*FW1912–192219820
John Mullin  EnglandMF1992–1995, 1998, 1999–200111311
Joe Neenan  EnglandGK1985–19871040
Billy Nesbitt  EnglandHB/FW1911–192319220
Doug Newlands  ScotlandHB/FW1955–195910423
Keith Newton  EnglandDF1972–19782537
Tom Nicol  ScotlandFB/FW1891–189614944
Peter Noble  EnglandU1973–198030180
Kurt Nogan  WalesFW1995–199710842
Geoff Nulty  EnglandMF1968–197415324
James O'Connor  Republic of IrelandMF2004–200814911[56]
Brian O'Neil  EnglandMF1961–197028225
Vince Overson  EnglandDF1979–1986, 1996–19982647
Louis Page  England*FW1925–1932259115
George Parkin  EnglandHB1924–19291282
Gary Parkinson  EnglandDF1994–19971635
Martin Paterson  Northern Ireland*FW2008–201315137[57]
Andy Payton  EnglandFW1998–200317681
Chris Pearce  WalesGK1987–19922360
John Pender  Republic of IrelandDF1990–199522211
Mike Phelan  EnglandDF/MF1980–198521413
Brian Pilkington  England*MF/FW1951–196134077
Walter Place  EnglandU1886, 1890–19001299[p][u]
Walter Place  EnglandFW1893–190018736
Ray Pointer  England*FW1957–1965270132
Nick Pope  England*GK2016–20221550[59]
Harry Potts  EnglandFW1937–195018150[v]
Adrian Randall  EnglandMF1991–199514410
Jerry Reynolds  ScotlandFB1895–19001240
Gilbert Richmond  EnglandFB1932–19391932
Connor Roberts‡  Wales*DF2021–present1308[60]
Alick Robinson  EnglandHB1933–19452219
Jimmy Robson  EnglandFW1956–1965242100
Billy Rodaway  EnglandDF1971–1981, 1986–19873033
Jay Rodriguez  EnglandFW2007–2012, 2019–202531076[61]
Harry Ross  ScotlandFB1899–19041112
Derek Scott  EnglandDF1975–198535829
Bobby Seith  ScotlandFB/HB1949–19602386
Jason Shackell  EnglandDF2012–20151364[62]
Les Shannon  EnglandHB/FW1949–195928144
Frank Sinclair  JamaicaDF2004–20071021
Len Smelt  EnglandFB1919–19262480[w]
Albert Smith  EnglandFW1905–190810721
Cecil Smith  WalesFW1932–193611953
Dave Smith  ScotlandFB/DF1950–19611081
Dick Smith  EnglandFW1904–191018575
Fred Smith  EnglandFB/DF1959–19701071
Malcolm Smith  EnglandFW1976–198010220
Paul Smith  EnglandDF/MF1994–20011285
George Sommerville  ScotlandGK1926–19321240
Junior Stanislas  EnglandMF2011–20141018[65]
John Steel  ScotlandHB1925–19311525
Trevor Steven  EnglandMF1981–198310216
Alan Stevenson  EnglandGK1972–19835430
Jimmy Strong  EnglandGK1946–19542850[x]
John Talbut  EnglandFB/DF1957–19661601
James Tarkowski  England*DF2016–20222197[67]
Charlie Taylor  EnglandDF2017–20242201[68]
David Taylor  ScotlandFB1911–19242505
Gareth Taylor  Wales*FW2001–200310637
Joe Taylor  EnglandFB1893–190735214
Steve Taylor  EnglandFW1980–1983, 1987–198918052
Dave Thomas  EnglandMF/FW1967–197217923
Mitchell Thomas  EnglandDF1999–20021120
Ian Thomas-Moore  EnglandFW2000–200521650
Steven Thompson  ScotlandFW2008–201110018[69]
Harry Thomson  Scotland*GK1959–19691410
Jim Thomson  ScotlandDF1968–19813646
Sammy Todd  Northern Ireland*DF1962–19701282
Kieran Trippier  EnglandDF2011–20151857[70]
Chris Vinnicombe  EnglandDF1994–19981144
Sam Vokes  Wales*FW2011–201926764[71]
Colin Waldron  EnglandDF1967–197635618
Ross Wallace  ScotlandMF2010–201516514[72]
Stephen Ward  Republic of Ireland*DF/MF2014–20191134[73]
George Waterfield  England*FB1923–19353945
Billy Watson  England*HB1909–192538020
Walter Weaver  EnglandFW1919–192411618
Paul Weller  EnglandMF1993–200428813
Dean West  EnglandDF1999–20041786
Ashley Westwood  EnglandMF2017–20231817[74]
Winston White  EnglandMF1988–199112821
Mark Winstanley  EnglandDF1994–19991825
Doug Winton  ScotlandFB1947–19591981
Chris Wood  New Zealand*FW2017–202216553[75]
Arthur Woodruff  EnglandFB1936–19522920
Kevin Young  EnglandMF1979–198415612
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Notes

  1. [a]
    UK Consumer Price Index inflation figures from 1209–2024 based on data from "Inflation calculator". Bank of England. London. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  2. [b]
    For more information, see formation
  3. [c]
    Statistics are sourced from Simpson (2007), The Clarets Chronicles up to and including the 2006–07 season. Statistics from 2007 onwards are sourced from Soccerbase.
  4. [d]
    Jimmy Adamson was Burnley's captain during their 1959–60 title-winning campaign.[16] Adamson is the only player in Burnley's history to have been named FWA Footballer of the Year, achieving the feat in the 1961–62 season.[12] He was also manager of Burnley from 1970 to 1976.[8]
  5. [e]
    The Scot Jock Aird was the first Burnley player to appear in the FIFA World Cup finals, in 1954.[17]
  6. [f]
    George Beel holds the club goalscoring record with 188 goals.[7]
  7. [g]
    Tommy Boyle captained Burnley during both their 1914 FA Cup triumph and their 1920–21 First Division title-winning campaign.[24]
  8. [h]
    Frank Casper was caretaker manager of Burnley in 1983, and the club's permanent manager from 1989 to 1991.[8]
  9. [i]
    Steve Davis was briefly caretaker manager of Burnley in 2007.[9]
  10. [j]
    Jerry Dawson holds the club record for most appearances with 569.[7]
  11. [k]
    Bert Freeman scored the winning goal in the 1914 FA Cup final. Six years later, Freeman became the first Burnley player to reach 100 league goals—and remains the fastest to achieve this milestone, doing so in just 152 matches.[35]
  12. [l]
    Adrian Heath was player-manager of Burnley from 1996 to 1997.[8] He was the first person in the club's history to hold that role.[40]
  13. [m]
    Teddy Hodgson died while still registered as a Burnley player, passing away from a kidney ailment during his military service.[43]
  14. [n]
    Willie Irvine is the only player in Burnley's history to have been the top scorer in the top flight, achieving the feat in the 1965–66 season.[13]
  15. [o]
    Bob Kelly's transfer from Burnley to Sunderland in 1925 broke the world transfer record.[14]
  16. [p]
    Sandy Lang and Walter Place both appeared in matches for Burnley before the commencement of the Football League in 1888.[48]
  17. [q]
    Sandy Lang was a captain during Burnley's first season in the Football League. He was also the first player in the club's history to make 100 league appearances, reaching the milestone in 1892.[49]
  18. [r]
    Brian Laws was manager of Burnley in 2010.[10]
  19. [s]
    Jimmy McIlroy was voted Burnley's PFA Fans' Favourite in 2007.[53] McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, holds the record for most senior international caps as a Burnley player, with 51.[17]
  20. [t]
    Brian Miller was manager of Burnley from 1979 to 1983 and again from 1986 to 1989.[8]
  21. [u]
    Walter Place scored Burnley's first-ever goal in the FA Cup, in 1886.[58]
  22. [v]
    Harry Potts was manager of Burnley from 1958 to 1970 and again from 1977 to 1979. He is the club's longest serving manager, having overseen 745 competitive matches and recording a club-record 321 wins. He also led Burnley to the 1959–60 First Division title.[8][11]
  23. [w]
    Len Smelt is the oldest player ever to appear for Burnley's first team, aged 41 years and 132 days when he played against Arsenal in 1925.[63][64]
  24. [x]
    Jimmy Strong set a club record for most consecutive league appearances, with 203 between 1946 and 1951.[66]

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