Martin Burleigh

Burleigh was born in Willington, County Durham,[2] and played for the local club, Willington A.F.C., before turning professional with Newcastle United in 1968. Burleigh was an International youth cup winner in 1969 Newcastle defeating Arsenal in the final of the tournament which was held in Rotterdam having already won the Northern Intermediate league and cup double that same season. He played with a Newcastle first XI in Barrie Thomas's testimonial match on 26 November 1968. He made his first-team debut on 26 December 1970, in a 3–0 defeat away to Leeds United in the First Division. Despite conceding three goals on his debut Burleigh gained praise from Leeds manager Don Revie "I thought he had a fine game he had no chance with the goals some of the saves he made showed he has a fine future ahead of him". He was on the substitute's bench for United's 1970/71 European campaign. Burleigh had to wait over a year before making another first team appearance his home debut on 8 January 1972 in a 4–2 victory over Coventry City. An injury to undisputed first-choice goalkeeper Iam McFaul in February 1973 allowed Burleigh a run of games in the first team,[3][4] but the run ended when he broke a finger,[5] after a clash with Mick Channon in a 1–1 draw away to Southampton and he played only twice more playing his final game for Newcastle on 11 May 1974 against Tottenham Hotspur at St James Park. He fell into dispute with boss Joe Harvey and walked out on the club in August 1974 when he considered joining the RAF. In six years with the club he made just 15 first-team appearances in all competitions.[4]

Signing for Darlington for a fee of £8,000 in October 1974 he spent the 1974–75 season with the then Fourth Division club before moving on to Carlisle United, newly relegated to the Second Division, in June 1975.[2] Although a transfer request was accepted in November that same year,[6] Burleigh remained with Carlisle until 1977. He then returned to Darlington for a further two-year spell,[2] in the first of which he was the club's player of the season.[7] He finished his professional career with three seasons at Fourth Division Hartlepool United, for whom he made 96 appearances in all competitions,[1] before moving into non-league football with Bishop Auckland in 1982.[2] and then Spennymoor United in 1983 and Langley Park in 1984.

He went on to work as a painter and decorator in Ferryhill, County Durham.[3]