Gordon Burness
Encyclopedia
Gordon Burness was a Scottish-Canadian-U.S. soccer wing forward
who earned a cap with both the Canadian
and U.S.
national teams. He began his career in Scotland before moving to Canada and then the United States where he spent six seasons in the American Soccer League
.
. At some point, he transferred to Brechin City
. He then left Scotland for Canada where he played for Toronto Scottish. In 1925, he signed with the Brooklyn Wanderers
of the American Soccer League
. After two season, he transferred to the Boston Wonder Workers
, winning the 1927-1928 league title with them. Burness began the 1929-1930 season with Boston, but moved to the New Bedford Whalers
after only four games. He played ten with the Whalers, then transferred to the Pawtucket Rangers
for one game in the 1929-1930 season. He then played nineteen games of the 1930 fall season in Pawtucket, before transferring to the Fall River Marksmen
for the final six league games. The Marksmen merged with the New York Soccer Club
in 1931 to form the New York Yankees
. Burness remained with the renamed team for the 1931 spring season. However, the team had already began games in the U.S. Open Cup under the name Marksmen, so Burness and his team mates won the Open Cup as the Fall River Marksmen
. That cup went to three games and Burness scored one of the two Fall River goals in the 2-0 final game victory. He then finished his professional career with the Boston Bears in the 1931 fall season.
, in a 6-1 loss to the United States
on November 8, 1925. He scored the lone Canadian goal in the loss. A year later, he became one of a handful of players to earn a cap with two countries when he played for the U.S. in a 6-2 win over Canada on November 6, 1926.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who earned a cap with both the Canadian
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
and U.S.
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
national teams. He began his career in Scotland before moving to Canada and then the United States where he spent six seasons in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
.
Club career
Burness began playing with Forfar Athletic in the Scottish Football LeagueScottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
. At some point, he transferred to Brechin City
Brechin City F.C.
Brechin City Football Club is a Scottish football team based in Brechin, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and play in the Second Division in the 2010–11 season...
. He then left Scotland for Canada where he played for Toronto Scottish. In 1925, he signed with the Brooklyn Wanderers
Brooklyn Wanderers
The Brooklyn Wanderers was a U.S. soccer team which was a founding member of the National Association Football League in the late nineteenth century. It later joined the American Soccer League.-History:...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. After two season, he transferred to the Boston Wonder Workers
Boston Wonder Workers
The Boston Soccer Club was a member of the American Soccer League. They were renamed the Boston Bears for the Fall 1929 ASL season.In 1925, the ASL and the St. Louis Soccer League boycotted the National Challenge Cup, now known as the U.S. Open Cup. The "Wonder Workers", as they were dubbed, had...
, winning the 1927-1928 league title with them. Burness began the 1929-1930 season with Boston, but moved to the New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers was the name of three United States soccer teams based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The first Whalers played in the Southern New England Soccer League between 1914 and 1918. The second Whalers played in the American Soccer League between 1924 and 1931 before merging into Fall...
after only four games. He played ten with the Whalers, then transferred to the Pawtucket Rangers
Pawtucket Rangers
J. & P. Coats was an American soccer club team of the J. & P. Coats Company based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island having been founded in 1900.The club played won the Rhode Island League in 1914 then was an inaugural member of the semi-pro Southern New England Soccer League...
for one game in the 1929-1930 season. He then played nineteen games of the 1930 fall season in Pawtucket, before transferring to the Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen was a United States soccer club, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. They originally played as Fall River United before becoming known as the Marksmen after their owner, Sam Mark. During the 1920s and early 1930s they were one of the most successful soccer clubs in the United...
for the final six league games. The Marksmen merged with the New York Soccer Club
New York Soccer Club
New York Soccer Club was the name of a New York soccer team that, in 1930, played briefly in the American Soccer League. Between 1923 and 1930 they had been known as the New York Giants. In 1930 they merged with the Fall River Marksmen to become the New York Yankees. Then in 1931 this club absorbed...
in 1931 to form the New York Yankees
New York Yankees (soccer)
New York Yankees were a New York soccer team that played briefly in the American Soccer League. They were formed following the merger of Fall River Marksmen and New York Soccer Club. Although the Yankees survived only a short time, they beat Celtic in a prestige friendly and effectively won the...
. Burness remained with the renamed team for the 1931 spring season. However, the team had already began games in the U.S. Open Cup under the name Marksmen, so Burness and his team mates won the Open Cup as the Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen was a United States soccer club, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. They originally played as Fall River United before becoming known as the Marksmen after their owner, Sam Mark. During the 1920s and early 1930s they were one of the most successful soccer clubs in the United...
. That cup went to three games and Burness scored one of the two Fall River goals in the 2-0 final game victory. He then finished his professional career with the Boston Bears in the 1931 fall season.
National team
Burness earned his first cap, with CanadaCanada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
, in a 6-1 loss to the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
on November 8, 1925. He scored the lone Canadian goal in the loss. A year later, he became one of a handful of players to earn a cap with two countries when he played for the U.S. in a 6-2 win over Canada on November 6, 1926.