Mick Burke
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mick" Burke is an English former rugby league
footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He represented both England and Great Britain whilst playing club football for Widnes
.
After playing rugby union
in his youth, he turned professional and started playing for Widnes
in 1978. Playing mostly on the wing in his first season, Burke helped his club to win the Lancashire Cup
, the BBC2 Floodlit Trophy
and the Challenge Cup
. He also kicked the winning penalty goal in a close match against a touring Australian side. That season Burke not only broke Ray Dutton
's goal-scoring record, with 140 goals from his 47 games, but also Harry Dawson's long-standing points record for a season. Mick amassed 316 points, beating the old record by 34 points. The following season, Burke took over the fullback role at Widnes. He made his international debut for Great Britain in 1980 against New Zealand.
In his club's 1981 Challenge Cup
final victory, Burke scored a try and kicked four goals and was named man-of-the-match, winning the Lance Todd Trophy
. In 1982 he was man-of-the-match in Widnes' Premiership
final win against Hull. Burke had earned a spot in the Great Britain side that toured Australia and New Zealand in 1984.
Burke was also one of the original thirteen former Widnes players inducted into The Widnes Hall of Fame in 1992.
while at Widnes in 1984 against Wales, and won caps for Great Britain
while at Widnes in 1980 against New Zealand, in 1981 against France (sub), and France; in 1983 against France, in 1984 against Australia (3 matches), New Zealand (3 matches), and Papua New Guinea, in 1985 against New Zealand (3 matches), and in 1986 against France.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He represented both England and Great Britain whilst playing club football for Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
.
After playing rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in his youth, he turned professional and started playing for Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
in 1978. Playing mostly on the wing in his first season, Burke helped his club to win the Lancashire Cup
Lancashire Cup
There are many Lancashire Cup competitions.In particular:-* The Lancashire Senior Cup, an association football competition.* The Lancashire Cup, one of the Rugby league county cups played from 1905 to 1993.* The Lancashire Cup ....
, the BBC2 Floodlit Trophy
BBC2 Floodlit Trophy
The BBC2 Floodlit Trophy was a competition for British rugby league clubs held between 1965 and 1980. It was designed specifically for television, and the then director of BBC2, broadcaster David Attenborough, was instrumental in its creation...
and the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
. He also kicked the winning penalty goal in a close match against a touring Australian side. That season Burke not only broke Ray Dutton
Ray Dutton
Raymond "Ray" F. Dutton is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Widnes, playing at , i.e...
's goal-scoring record, with 140 goals from his 47 games, but also Harry Dawson's long-standing points record for a season. Mick amassed 316 points, beating the old record by 34 points. The following season, Burke took over the fullback role at Widnes. He made his international debut for Great Britain in 1980 against New Zealand.
In his club's 1981 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final victory, Burke scored a try and kicked four goals and was named man-of-the-match, winning the Lance Todd Trophy
Lance Todd Trophy
The Lance Todd Trophy is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in rugby league football's Challenge Cup Final.The trophy was introduced in 1946, in memory of Lance Todd, the New Zealand-born player and administrator, who was killed in a road accident during the Second World War...
. In 1982 he was man-of-the-match in Widnes' Premiership
Rugby League Premiership
The Rugby League Premiership was a competition for British rugby league clubs that operated between 1973 and 1995. As the Super League Premiership the competition continued to operate until 1997....
final win against Hull. Burke had earned a spot in the Great Britain side that toured Australia and New Zealand in 1984.
Burke was also one of the original thirteen former Widnes players inducted into The Widnes Hall of Fame in 1992.
International honours
Mick Burke won a cap for EnglandEngland national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
while at Widnes in 1984 against Wales, and won caps for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
while at Widnes in 1980 against New Zealand, in 1981 against France (sub), and France; in 1983 against France, in 1984 against Australia (3 matches), New Zealand (3 matches), and Papua New Guinea, in 1985 against New Zealand (3 matches), and in 1986 against France.