Mark Burchill

Mark James Burchill (born 18 August 1980) is a Scottish former professional football player and coach. He played for Scottish clubs Celtic, Dundee, Hearts, Dunfermline Athletic, Kilmarnock and Livingston, and in England for Birmingham City, Ipswich Town, Portsmouth, Wigan Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United. He was capped six times for the Scotland national team.

Mark Burchill
Personal information
Full name Mark James Burchill[1]
Date of birth (1980-08-18) 18 August 1980
Place of birth Broxburn, Scotland
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2001 Celtic 50 (20)
2000 → Birmingham City (loan) 13 (4)
2001 → Ipswich Town (loan) 7 (1)
2001–2005 Portsmouth 24 (8)
2003 → Dundee (loan) 11 (2)
2003 → Wigan Athletic (loan) 4 (0)
2003–2004 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 5 (0)
2004 → Rotherham United 3 (1)
2005 Heart of Midlothian 12 (4)
2005–2008 Dunfermline Athletic 84 (24)
2008–2009 Rotherham United 24 (5)
2009–2010 Kilmarnock 15 (1)
2010–2012 Enosis Neon 42 (7)
2012–2013 Esan United 2 (1)
2013–2015 Livingston 39 (3)
Total 326 (81)
National team
1999 Scotland U19 2 (0)
1998–2001 Scotland U21[3] 15 (6)
1999–2000 Scotland 6 (0)
Teams managed
2013–2014 Livingston (assistant)
2014–2015 Livingston
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 December 2014

Career

Celtic

Burchill was born in Broxburn and grew up in Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland. He attended St Mary's Academy, Bathgate followed by St. Margaret's Academy, Livingston, where his footballing ability became apparent. Burchill began his career at Scottish club Celtic for the 1997–98 season. In his first three seasons with the club he scored 20 Scottish Premier League goals in only 17 starts, with 33 appearances as a substitute. This prolific return saw him gain a place in the Scotland national football team, making his debut against Bosnia-Herzegovina in October 1999. While playing for Celtic against Jeunesse Esch of Luxembourg in the qualifying round of the 2000-01 UEFA Cup, Burchill scored the fastest-ever hat-trick in a European club match.[4] However, successive managers failed to see the Scotland international as a part of the first team picture. The signing of £6 million Chris Sutton further pushed Burchill down the pecking order, and in September 2000 he moved to Birmingham City on a three-month loan, making his debut in a 2–0 home win over Tranmere Rovers.[5][6] Burchill went on to score five goals in 17 games (10 as a substitute) during the spell.[7] Birmingham wanted to complete the deal but were unable to agree personal terms with the player.[8] In February 2001, Burchill chose to go on another three-month loan until the season's end at Ipswich Town,[9] scoring once against Bradford City.[10]

Portsmouth

During the off-season Burchill was signed by Portsmouth for a £600,000 fee.[11] He showed his potential immediately at his new club. After making his debut against Stockport County he scored twice in his next game, against Grimsby Town.[12][13] However, a knee injury suffered after less than a month put him out of action for 10 months.[14] He recovered in time to start the 2002–03 season in fantastic form, but under new manager Harry Redknapp he fell down the pecking order and was made available for transfer.[15] He did however contribute 18 appearances and four goals as they won the First Division Championship and promotion to the Premier League.[16] He was loaned out to Dundee from February 2003 to the end of the season,[17] and helped them reach the Scottish Cup Final, in which they lost narrowly to Rangers.[18] During the 2003–04 season he was loaned out to firstly to Wigan Athletic, and then Sheffield Wednesday.[19][20] However, he failed to score for either club and neither moved to make the deal permanent.[21][22] Starting the 2004–05 season as fifth-choice striker, Burchill went on loan to Rotherham United, hoping to impress enough to restart his career. However, after only a month, and one goal against Crewe Alexandra,[23] he was injured and returned to Portsmouth,[24] where he was pushed further down the pecking order by the return to fitness of long-term injured striker Vincent Péricard.[25]

Hearts and Dunfermline Athletic

On 28 January 2005, Burchill was allowed to leave Portsmouth on a free transfer after spending two years out of favour. He chose to return to Scotland and sign for Hearts, where he remained until the end of the season.[26] On 6 July 2005, he joined Dunfermline Athletic[27] where he scored 12 league goals in 31 games in his first season, despite the club struggling in the bottom half of the table. He signed a year's extension to his contract with the Pars in December 2006.[28] In April 2008, Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre announced that Burchill had been offered a new contract but had decided to leave the Scottish First Division side in order to "pursue other avenues".[29]

Rotherham United and Kilmarnock

On 11 June 2008, Burchill signed a two-year deal with Rotherham United, where he previously enjoyed a loan spell during their Championship campaign.[2][30] He scored his first goal for the Millers in the 1–1 draw away at Dagenham & Redbridge.[31] However, Burchill left after the 2008–09 season.[32] Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies had tried to sign Burchill in 2008 when the player chose to join Rotherham. In July 2009 Burchill joined the Scottish Premier League team in Italy for pre-season training, was reported to be "looking very sharp",[33] and signed a one-year deal with the club in August.[34] He injured his Achilles tendon in a friendly match against Burnley, an injury which eventually required surgery,[35] and resumed training in mid-October.[36] He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw with Hibernian on 12 December 2009.[37]

Enosis Neon Paralimni and Esan United

Burchill became a free agent after his contract with Kilmarnock expired. On 1 September 2010 Burchill, having received several offers to move abroad, agreed to sign for Cypriot First Division side Enosis Neon Paralimni.

Coaching career

Livingston

On 25 March 2013, Burchill was named as a player/assistant manager of his home town club Livingston with Richie Burke to become the manager.[38] However, Burchill was not eligible to play during the end of season 2012–13 due to international clearance not being received on time. He made his competitive debut for Livingston on 27 July 2013 in a Scottish Challenge Cup match against Berwick Rangers.[39]

Burchill was appointed caretaker manager of Livingston in December 2014.[40] As manager he led the club to success in the 2014-15 Scottish Challenge Cup and also saved the side's Scottish Championship status on the final day.[41] Midway through the following season, Burchill was sacked with the club sitting second bottom in the Championship.[41]

Managerial statistics

As of 19 December 2015

Team Nat From To Record
GWDLWin %
Livingston December 2014 December 2015 45 14 8 23 031.11
  • Statistics include games as caretaker before permanent appointment.

Honours and Achievements

Player
Portsmouth

Manager
Livingston

Personal life

His father's cousin is the Simple Minds musician Charlie Burchill.[42]

References
  1. "Mark Burchill". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  2. "Striker Signs for the Millers". Rotherham United F.C. 11 June 2008. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  3. "Scotland U21 Player Mark Burchill Details". www.fitbastats.com.
  4. "Brown worried by Old Firm game". The Independent. 26 August 2000. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  5. "Burchill joins Birmingham". BBC Sport. 22 September 2000. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  6. "Birmingham 2–0 Tranmere". BBC Sport. 23 September 2000. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  7. "Mark Burchill". Soccerbase. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  8. "Burchill's City move is dead". BBC Sport. 22 December 2000. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  9. "Burchill completes Ipswich deal". BBC Sport. 22 February 2001. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  10. "Reuser brace stuns Bantams". BBC Sport. 4 March 2001. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  11. Bateman, Stephen (24 August 2001). "Pompey Finally Close Burchill Deal". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  12. "Games played by Mark Burchill in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  13. Lyon, Sam (29 August 2001). "Prosinecki is as big a genius as Moravcik; says Mark Burchill". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 30 September 2010 – via The Free Library (Farlex).
  14. Stewart, Colin (22 September 2001). "Burchill's season over after training accident". The Scotsman. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  15. "Pompey will sell Burchill". BBC Sport. 26 December 2002. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  16. "Games played by Mark Burchill in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  17. "Dundee land Burchill". BBC Sport. 13 February 2003. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  18. Gordon, Phil (1 June 2003). "Amoruso lands the treble for Rangers". The Independent. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  19. "Burchill seals Wigan deal". BBC Sport. 20 August 2003. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  20. Goss, Patrick (24 December 2003). "Owls swoop for Burchill". Sky Sports. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  21. Fudge, Simon (22 September 2003). "Burchill returns to Fratton Park". Sky Sports. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  22. "Iron Willed". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 20 January 2004. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  23. "Rotherham 2–3 Crewe". BBC Sport. 27 September 2004. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  24. "Burchill forced to leave Millers". BBC Sport. 18 October 2004. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  25. "De Zeeuw injury confirmed". BBC Sport. 14 September 2004. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  26. "Hearts are next stop for Burchill". BBC Sport. 29 January 2005. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  27. "Dunfermline sign striker Burchill". BBC Sport. 6 July 2005. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  28. "Burchill signs contract extension". BBC Sport. 22 December 2006. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  29. "Burchill, Simmons to leave Pars". BBC Sport. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  30. "Striker Burchill joins Rotherham". BBC Sport. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  31. "Dagenham and Redbridge 1 Rotherham United 1". Yorkshire Post. 26 September 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  32. "Millers release striker Burchill". BBC Sport. 17 July 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  33. Wright, Angus (29 July 2009). "Burchill on verge of joining Kilmarnock". The Scotsman. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  34. "Killie Net New Striker". Kilmarnock F.C. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  35. "Kilmarnock crock Mark Burchill set for surgery". Daily Record. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  36. "Burchill back in training". Sky Sports. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  37. "Kilmarnock 1–1 Hibernian". BBC Sport. 12 December 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  38. "Livingston appoint new management team". Livingston F.C. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  39. "Berwick Rangers 3-2 Livingston (aet)". BBC Sport. 27 July 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  40. Manager John McGlynn departs Livingston 'by mutual consent', BBC Sport
  41. "Livingston sack manager Mark Burchill". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  42. "BBC Radio Scotland - Saturday Supplement". www.bbc.co.uk.
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