Burke, Ronnie
Birth Date
13th August 1921
Birthplace
Marske, Yorkshire
Occupation
Forward
Biographical Text
Ronnie Burke was Exeter City's top scorer in 1955/56. Joining the club from Rotherham United, and later playing for Tunbridge Wells, he had started his professional career with Manchester United as a twenty-five-year-old after the Second World War. He also played for Huddersfield Town.
Playing as an amateur for St Albans City after the war, he earned his first professional contract with Manchester United in August 1946 aged 25. He quickly made his mark in the first-team netting 16 goals in just 28 league appearances. Transferred to Huddersfield Town in June 1949 he added 6 goals in 27 league starts before a March 1953 move to Rotherham United where he scored on 56 occasions in only 73 games (including all four in a 4-2 win over Bury in March 1955).
Approaching his 34th birthday, Ronnie signed for Exeter City in June 1955 for a fee of £1,300 and he made his first start for the Grecians on the opening day of the season in a goalless draw against Colchester United. Going on to appear in thirty league games during his first season he scored ten times to finish as the club's top scorer. His second season was less successful as he scored four times in a dozen league appearances and did not play beyond February 1957 by which time he was in the process of moving back to the Watford area where he had grown up.
Leaving Exeter at the end of the season, he had spells with Tunbridge Wells Rangers and Biggleswade Town before retiring.
Ronnie died in Watford in December 2003.
Playing as an amateur for St Albans City after the war, he earned his first professional contract with Manchester United in August 1946 aged 25. He quickly made his mark in the first-team netting 16 goals in just 28 league appearances. Transferred to Huddersfield Town in June 1949 he added 6 goals in 27 league starts before a March 1953 move to Rotherham United where he scored on 56 occasions in only 73 games (including all four in a 4-2 win over Bury in March 1955).
Approaching his 34th birthday, Ronnie signed for Exeter City in June 1955 for a fee of £1,300 and he made his first start for the Grecians on the opening day of the season in a goalless draw against Colchester United. Going on to appear in thirty league games during his first season he scored ten times to finish as the club's top scorer. His second season was less successful as he scored four times in a dozen league appearances and did not play beyond February 1957 by which time he was in the process of moving back to the Watford area where he had grown up.
Leaving Exeter at the end of the season, he had spells with Tunbridge Wells Rangers and Biggleswade Town before retiring.
Ronnie died in Watford in December 2003.
Appearances
Exeter City league games only
42
42
Goals
14
Collection
Files
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