Stoke City legends have led tributes to former winger Harry Burrows, who has died at the age of 85. The career of the player who made 281 appearances and scored 79 goals for the Potters across eight seasons has been detailed.
Terry Conroy, a Stoke icon, highlighted Burrows's most famous attribute. "He was a terrific footballer with a cannonball shot," Conroy said. "It was once measured as the hardest shot in the game." This measurement, taken during his playing days, cemented his reputation for possessing one of football's most powerful strikes.
What was Harry Burrows' impact at Stoke City?
Mike Pejic, who played behind Burrows on the left flank, shared vivid memories of the atmosphere he created. "When I was an apprentice, two or three of us used to stand in the boot room during the match and open the window into the paddock," Pejic recalled. "When it went quiet around the ground you would hear this shout of ‘Harrrrrrrrrrrrry Burrows’ and it rang around the ground." Pejic credited Burrows with teaching him about positional play and passing, describing his left foot as exceptional and his penalty-taking as famously precise, often picking a specific square in the net to target.
Burrows joined Stoke City in March 1965, signed by manager Tony Waddington for £27,000 on his 24th birthday, which was also transfer deadline day. He moved to Alsager and quickly established himself as the club's first-choice left winger at the Victoria Ground. Playing alongside greats like Gordon Banks was, as Pejic noted, a great honour for his teammates.
How did Harry Burrows start his career?
His football journey began unconventionally. Despite having trials offered by Wolves, Burnley, and Liverpool, the young Burrows initially turned them down to continue an apprenticeship as a painter and decorator with his father. A friend's presence at Aston Villa persuaded him to accept a trial there, where his potential was undeniable. Villa manager Joe Mercer eventually convinced Burrows's father to let him sign full-time terms.
By 18, Burrows was a first-team regular at Villa Park. He made history with the club, helping them become the first winners of the League Cup in 1961. He scored in an extra-time second-leg win over Rotherham that season, overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit to win 3-2 on aggregate. He was Villa's top scorer for two out of three seasons and earned a call-up to the England under-23 squad.
Where does this leave the current Stoke City squad?
The current Stoke City side, which sits 16th in the Championship with seven points from six games, will be looking to channel some of the spirit embodied by past greats. They face a trip to face 12th-placed Watford on September 12th. The team has scored nine goals but conceded ten so far this season, leaving them with a minus-one goal difference. A lengthy injuries list includes defenders Aaron Cresswell, Ben Gibson, and Bosun Lawal, as well as forwards Sam Gallagher and Ato Ampah, presenting a challenge for the manager.
Harry Burrows's legacy is one of raw power, dedication, and a unique path to the professional game. His story from a painter and decorator's apprentice to a record-setting winger for two historic clubs remains a distinctive chapter in football history. The next chapter for Stoke City continues at Vicarage Road this weekend.
