John Burridge

John Burridge (born 3 December 1951), nicknamed Budgie, is an English former goalkeeper who is now working with Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters as their goalkeeping consultant and senior goalkeeping coach for their goalkeeping academy.

In his senior career he played for 29 clubs, 18 of them in the Football League, in a career that lasted nearly 30 years.

Overall, Burridge played 768 league games in the English and Scottish leagues, and several more at non-league level.

Born in Workington, Burridge grew up in the Cumbrian mining village of Great Clifton.

He began his professional career at his local club, Workington, signing-up at the age of 15.

He played his first league game in 1969.

Five players from each decade are inducted; Burridge is in the 1970s.

In his second spell with Blyth Spartans, Burridge was the club's player-manager.

In 1971, he was transferred to Blackpool, initially on loan at the end of the 1970–71 season, then permanently for the start of 1971–72.

It was with the Seasiders that he won his first honour: the Anglo-Italian Cup.

Blackpool beat Bologna 2–1, after extra time, at the latter's Stadio Comunale on 12 June 1971.

Burridge's performance earned him the praise of the normally highly-critical Italian fans.

In 1975, Burridge joined Aston Villa for £75,000.

He was signed by Ron Saunders and spent two seasons at Villa Park, winning the League Cup with them, but eventually lost his place to Jimmy Rimmer.

He had a short but successful loan spell at Southend United before joining Crystal Palace in 1978, signed by Terry Venables.

In a 4–1 victory over Ipswich Town, after Palace went 4–0 up, Burridge, to entertain the fans, sat on the crossbar.

After two and a half seasons at Palace, he joined London rivals Queens Park Rangers, again signed by Venables.

He was dropped in favour of Peter Hucker for the 1982 FA Cup Final.

In July 1982, Burridge joined his seventh club, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In the 1982–83 season in a game at Molineux, Wolves entertained Newcastle United.

Prior to the game Burridge had made a bet with a stake of £100, with Kevin Keegan that Burridge would play the game in a Superman outfit.

As a result of the bet, Wolves biggest crowd of the season, a crowd of 22500, witnessed Burridge playing the match in a Superman outfit.

Burridge helped Wolves gain promotion to the top flight as runners-up, only to be relegated the following season.

He left Wolves in October 1984 to join Sheffield United, signed by Ian Porterfield.

He also had a loan spell at Derby County, signed by Arthur Cox, shortly before joining the Blades.

Burridge spent three seasons at Sheffield United before joining Southampton in 1987, signed by Chris Nicholl.

Two years later, he moved to Newcastle United.

After two years at Newcastle United, he moved to Scotland to join Hibernian, where he won a Scottish League Cup winners' medal.

After two years in Edinburgh, Burridge returned to Newcastle for a second spell at the club in 1993, signed by Kevin Keegan.

Despite being past 40, Burridge refused to hang up his gloves, and continued moving across the country for short spells at any club that requested his services.

Between 1993 and 1997, Burridge played for no fewer than fourteen clubs.

They were, in chronological order: Scarborough, Lincoln, Aberdeen, Dumbarton, Falkirk, Manchester City, (where he became, at 43 years, four months and 26 days, the oldest player to appear in the Premier League ) Notts County, Witton Albion, Darlington, Grimsby, Gateshead, Northampton Town, Queen of the South, Blyth Spartans, Scarborough once more.

These spells usually lasted no more than one or two games as an emergency goalkeeper.

He finished his playing career with a brief spell as player-manager at Blyth Spartans in 1997, following a similarly brief spell back at Newcastle United as goalkeeping coach.

On 15 November 1997, he took Spartans to his first club, Blackpool, in the first round of the FA Cup.

The hosts won 4–3.

Burridge was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player Jimmy Armfield in April 2006.

Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes.

Burridge 'discovered' Oman international goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi aged 16 in his first spell on the coaching staff of the Oman national football team and was instrumental in the player's transfer to Bolton Wanderers in January 2006.

He has also coached English national goalkeepers Tim Flowers, Nigel Martyn and Paul Robinson.