JOHN BURRIDGE, football’s ultimate late arrival | OneFootball

John Burridge’s near 30-year career spanned 29 clubs, his showman image belying a driven professional. According to Superdeporte, his odyssey ended with a Premier League debut in his forties.

The Workington-born keeper started aged 18 at his hometown club and finished at 45 with Blyth Spartans. His restlessness was notorious, even joining six clubs in 1994.

He featured for Queen’s Park Rangers in the 1983 FA Cup run but was overlooked for the final, which Tottenham won after a 1-1 draw and a 1-0 replay. He nonetheless lifted a League Cup with Aston Villa, then another with Aberdeen. Much of his league work came in the second and third tiers, plus sporadic Scottish top-flight and UEFA Cup outings with Hibernian.

The antics were real, from hanging off crossbars to somersault-laden warm-ups. His most famous flourish came in 1983 at Wolverhampton Wanderers when he warmed up in a Superman costume after a £100 wager with Kevin Keegan.

Behind the theatre sat an early adopter. He neither drank nor smoked, prioritised fish and fruit shakes and even swore by baby food. He championed latex gloves in England, striking a deal to sell pairs bought at £12 to team-mates for £15.

In 1994 Brian Horton brought him to Manchester City to work with Toni Coton and Andy Dibble. On 29 April 1995 Coton’s injury saw Burridge replace him at half-time against Newcastle at Maine Road, and he kept it 0-0. The cameo made him the top flight’s oldest debutant at 43 years and 147 days, and the oldest to play in the Premier League era, with Stanley Matthews the overall record holder.

He quit two years later, beyond 45, and required treatment for depression in retirement. Few honoured goalkeeping’s graft quite like Budgie.

Source: Superdeporte