Deon Burton
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography Deon John Burton (born 25 October 1976) is a football coach and former professional footballer who played as a striker and who is the manager of EFL Championship club West Bromwich Albion's under-23 team. His numerous clubs in English football included Portsmouth, Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday. He represented Jamaica internationally, including at the 1998 World Cup, and was named Jamaican Sportsman of the Year in 1997.
Club career
Early career
Born in Reading, Berkshire,<ref name="Hugman1011"/> Burton began his professional career with Portsmouth, with whom he made his debut in the 1993–94 season, playing in two games. Burton would play intermittently for Portsmouth over the next three seasons and scored the goal that kept the club in the First Division in a 1–0 final day win against Huddersfield Town in May 1996.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 1997, former Portsmouth manager Jim Smith signed Burton for Premier League club Derby County in a £1 million move.<ref name=3rdPompey>Template:Cite news</ref>
Derby County, return to Portsmouth and loans
Burton would again struggle to establish a starting role at Derby, playing intermittently there with loans at other clubs including Stoke in February 2002,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and a second spell at Portsmouth, which began in August 2002.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He returned to Derby in September having broken a bone in his foot,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but later signed for Portsmouth in December 2002 for a fee rising to £250,000 and Portsmouth were promoted at the end of the season.<ref name=3rdPompey/> Burton stayed shortly at Portsmouth, but, unable to establish a starting role, was loaned to Walsall and Swindon Town, where he scored once against Wycombe Wanderers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In July 2004 he signed for Brentford,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> playing for them in the 2004–05 campaign and helping the club to the League One play-off semi-finals against Sheffield Wednesday as their top scorer.
Rotherham United
In July 2005 he joined Rotherham United on a free transfer, signing a contract for two years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After scoring 14 goals in the first half of the season, including a hat-trick in a 4–0 victory against Blackpool,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Burton put in a transfer request in December 2005.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday bought Burton from Rotherham United in January 2006 for a fee of £110,000,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> after he had failed to turn up at the Yorkshire derby between Rotherham and Doncaster Rovers on New Year's Eve.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He scored his first goal for Wednesday in March 2006 against Queens Park Rangers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
He went on to play a crucial part in Sheffield Wednesday's Championship survival and returned to play against his old club Derby County on the final day of the 2005–06 season, captaining the Wednesday side to a 2–0 victory with another former Ram, Marcus Tudgay, scoring the first goal.
His good form for Wednesday led to a recall to the international stage. Named as a standby for the friendlies against Ghana and England, he was eventually called up as a replacement for Watford striker Marlon King who was sent home for a breach of discipline.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Burton made a second-half appearance as substitute in the 6–0 defeat to England.
Despite only scoring one goal with four months of the 2006–07 campaign gone, Burton's second half of season form was excellent. He scored 12 more goals, making him the club's joint top scorer for the season, alongside Steve MacLean.
Burton reached a milestone 100 career goals at club level on 26 December 2007, scoring a penalty against Burnley at Turf Moor. On the last day of the season against Norwich, with Wednesday needing a win to guarantee survival, Burton cancelled out Darren Huckerby's opening goal with a penalty, before scoring his second, and Wednesday's third, later in the game, which was won 4–1 by Wednesday.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> These two goals brought his tally for the season to nine goals in all competitions, again making him the club's top scorer for the 2007–08 season. Burton scored his first goal of the 2008–09 season on 25 November 2008, in Wednesday's 0–2 away win at Blackpool.
Charlton Athletic
Burton joined Championship side Charlton Athletic on loan on 27 November 2008 with a view to a permanent move, Wednesday manager Brian Laws citing Burton's poor start to the 2008–09 season for the move as well as not being able to give the player assurances over his long-term future at Hillsborough.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 2 January 2009, Burton was named as a permanent Charlton player, joining the club on a free transfer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gabala
In 2010, Burton joined Azerbaijan Premier League outfit Gabala under the management of Tony Adams signing a two-year contract.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After two years and 15 goals in the 50 league games, Burton left Gabala at the end of the 2011–12 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Gillingham
On 7 August 2012, Burton signed a one-year deal at League Two club Gillingham, turning down the offer of a deal at an unnamed League One side.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He made his debut for Gillingham on 18 August 2012 in 3–1 win over Bradford City.<ref>"Gillingham 3–1 Bradford" BBC Sport. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.</ref> He scored his first goal for the club on 25 August in a 2–1 win away to Dagenham & Redbridge.<ref>"Dag and Red 1–2 Gillingham" BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.</ref> While with the Gills Burton scored 13 goals in all competitions and won the League Two title,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but was not offered an extension to his contract and left the club.<ref>Deon Burton disappointed to leave Gillingham but insists he is not bitter about the decision</ref>
Later career
Burton signed for League Two club Scunthorpe United on a one-year deal on 22 July 2013 after impressing on trial.<ref name="Scunthorpe United bring in striker Deon Burton">Template:Cite news</ref> He joined League Two team York City, managed by his former Scunthorpe manager Russ Wilcox, on a one-month loan on 30 October 2014.<ref name="York City sign Scunthorpe United striker Deon Burton on loan">Template:Cite news</ref> He made his debut two days later in a 1–0 away win over Cheltenham Town, but after being ruled out for two to three months with a medial ligament injury sustained in his second appearance for the club, the loan came to an end on 12 November 2014.<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2014/2015"/><ref name="Deon Burton out for two to three months with medial ligament injury">Template:Cite news</ref>
Burton was released from Scunthorpe in January 2015 and then joined Eastleigh the following month.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
After a short spell at Eastleigh, Burton signed for Brackley Town on 8 August 2015.<ref>Veteran Deon Burton Joins Brackley</ref> He then moved on to Worcester City in September 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He retired from football at the end of the 2015–16 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Burton now runs a football training company called Deon Burton Training Academy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Coaching career
In 2018, Burton joined West Bromwich Albion as a youth coach.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In July 2020, Burton was named as the manager of the U23 team after he had impressed when he took over on a temporary basis when Michael Appleton left the role to join to Lincoln City in September 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 13 May 2022, Burton lead West Brom U23 to victory in the 2021–22 Premier League Cup, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s on penalties in the final.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
International career
Burton made his debut for the Jamaica national team on 7 September 1997 in the latter stages of their 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. He finished with four goals from five games, an exploit which won him Jamaican Sportsman of the Year Award for almost single-handedly getting the country to the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals. However, he failed to score in France.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also appeared in each of Jamaica's games as they finished fourth in the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup but he failed to score.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was also in the squad that failed to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and was again included on the roster for the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
He was included in the qualifying squad for the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup, making substitute appearances<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but was dropped from the squad after qualification.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Burton had to wait three years for his next international involvement – coming against the country of his birth England. Good form for Sheffield Wednesday meant that he was recalled for a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago on 27 March 2008.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He came on as a second-half substitute for Marlon King in a 2–2 draw. He kept his place in the squad for the next friendly game against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 3 June, again coming off the bench for King in the second half, to score his side's fourth goal a minute later and also to cross for Ricardo Gardner to score the fifth and final goal in the 87th minute of a 5–1 victory.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cupTemplate:Efn | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Portsmouth | 1993–94<ref name="Rothmans1994-95">Template:Cite book</ref> | First Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994–95<ref name="Rothmans1995-96">Template:Cite book</ref> | First Division | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 8 | 2 | ||
| 1995–96<ref name="Rothmans1996-97">Template:Cite book</ref> | First Division | 32 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 35 | 7 | ||
| 1996–97<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 1996/1997">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | First Division | 21 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 24 | 4 | ||
| Total | 62 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 13 | ||
| Cardiff City (loan) | 1996–97<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 1996/1997"/> | Third Division | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | |||
| Derby County | 1997–98<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 1997/1998">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 29 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 32 | 3 | |
| 1998–99<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 1998/1999">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 21 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 27 | 12 | ||
| 1999–2000<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 1999/2000">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 19 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 21 | 4 | ||
| 2000–01<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2000/2001">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 32 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 37 | 6 | ||
| 2001–02<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2001/2002">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 19 | 3 | ||
| 2002–03<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2002/2003">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | First Division | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 3 | ||
| Total | 125 | 25 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 3 | — | 143 | 31 | |||
| Barnsley (loan) | 1998–99<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 1998/1999"/> | First Division | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Stoke City (loan) | 2001–02<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2001/2002"/> | Second Division | 12 | 2 | — | — | 3Template:Efn | 2 | 15 | 4 | ||
| Portsmouth | 2002–03<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2002/2003"/> | First Division | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 4 | ||
| 2003–04<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2003/2004">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 16 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 18 | 4 | |||
| Walsall (loan) | 2003–04<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2003/2004"/> | First Division | 3 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| Swindon Town (loan) | 2003–04<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2003/2004"/> | Second Division | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | |||
| Brentford | 2004–05<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2004/2005">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | League One | 40 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2Template:Efn | 0 | 50 | 10 |
| Rotherham United | 2005–06<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2005/2006">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | League One | 24 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 14 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 2005–06<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2005/2006"/> | Championship | 17 | 3 | — | — | — | 17 | 3 | |||
| 2006–07<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2006/2007">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Championship | 42 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 44 | 13 | ||
| 2007–08<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2007/2008">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Championship | 40 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — | 45 | 9 | ||
| 2008–09<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2008/2009">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Championship | 17 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 18 | 1 | |||
| Total | 116 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | — | 124 | 26 | |||
| Charlton Athletic | 2008–09<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2008/2009"/> | Championship | 20 | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 5 | ||
| 2009–10<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2009/2010">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | League One | 39 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3Template:Efn | 1 | 44 | 14 | |
| Total | 59 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 67 | 19 | ||
| Gabala | 2010–11<ref name=SW>Template:Cite web</ref> | Azerbaijan Premier League | 28 | 9 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 9 | ||
| 2011–12<ref name=SW/> | Azerbaijan Premier League | 21 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 6 | |||
| Total | 49 | 15 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 54 | 15 | ||||
| Gillingham | 2012–13<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2012/2013">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | League Two | 40 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 13 |
| Scunthorpe United | 2013–14<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2013/2014">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | League Two | 29 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1Template:Efn | 0 | 33 | 6 |
| 2014–15<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2014/2015">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | League One | 5 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Total | 34 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 6 | ||
| York City (loan) | 2014–15<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2014/2015"/> | League Two | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Eastleigh | 2014–15<ref name=SW/> | Conference Premier | 12 | 2 | — | — | 1Template:Efn | 0 | 13 | 2 | ||
| Brackley Town | 2015–16<ref name=SW/> | National League North | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Worcester City | 2015–16<ref name=SW/><ref>Template:Cite web Template:Cite web Template:Cite web Template:Cite web Template:Cite web</ref> |
National League North | 23 | 5 | 4 | 4 | — | 2Template:Efn | 0 | 29 | 9 | |
| Career total | 632 | 148 | 44 | 10 | 24 | 8 | 12 | 3 | 712 | 169 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaica<ref>Template:NFT player</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 1997 | 9 | 4 |
| 1998 | 13 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2000 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2001 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 62 | 13 | |
Honours
Stoke City
- Football League Second Division play-offs: 2001–02<ref name="Games played by Deon Burton in 2001/2002"/>
Portsmouth
- Football League First Division: 2002–03<ref name="Hugman1011"/>
Gillingham
- Football League Two: 2012–13<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Scunthorpe United
- Football League Two runner-up: 2013–14<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Individual
- League Two Player of the Month: December 2013<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
As a coach
West Bromwich Albion U23
- Premier League Cup: 2021–22<ref name=":0" />
References
External links
- 1976 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Reading, Berkshire
- English men's footballers
- English expatriate men's footballers
- Jamaican men's footballers
- Jamaican expatriate men's footballers
- Jamaica men's international footballers
- Men's association football forwards
- Portsmouth F.C. players
- Cardiff City F.C. players
- Derby County F.C. players
- Barnsley F.C. players
- Stoke City F.C. players
- Walsall F.C. players
- Swindon Town F.C. players
- Brentford F.C. players
- Rotherham United F.C. players
- Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players
- Charlton Athletic F.C. players
- Gabala SC players
- Gillingham F.C. players
- Scunthorpe United F.C. players
- York City F.C. players
- Eastleigh F.C. players
- Brackley Town F.C. players
- Worcester City F.C. players
- English Football League players
- Premier League players
- Azerbaijan Premier League players
- National League (English football) players
- Black British sportsmen
- Expatriate men's footballers in Azerbaijan
- 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
- 1998 FIFA World Cup players
- 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
- English people of Jamaican descent
- Sportspeople of Jamaican descent
- Jamaican expatriate sportspeople in Azerbaijan
- West Bromwich Albion F.C. non-playing staff
- 20th-century Jamaican sportsmen