Robert Burch
Encyclopedia
Robert Keith "Rob" Burch (born 8 October 1983) is an English
footballer who plays for Notts County
as a goalkeeper.
in July 2002 and spent a further five years at the club after signing professional forms.
During that time Burch was loaned out to Conference
clubs Woking
, in 2003, and Stevenage Borough, in 2004, in order to gain some first-team experience.
On 10 December 2004 he joined West Ham United
on a month's loan to act as cover for Stephen Bywater
whilst James Walker recovered from a groin operation; he was given the squad number 41. With Walker returning to fitness, Burch returned to Spurs at the end of the month's loan. In his time at Upton Park
he was an unused substitute on six occasions. Indeed, injuries restricted Burch to just seven reserve team appearances in 2004–05.
On 31 August 2005 he joined Bristol City
on an initial one month loan deal, being given the squad number 23. In his time at Ashton Gate
, Burch acted as understudy to Steve Phillips whilst the club underwent a change of management with Gary Johnson
succeeding Brian Tinnion
. Johnson extended Burch's loan period for a second month to enable him to take a closer look at the keeper. However, Burch sustained a knee injury which saw the arrival of Adriano Basso
at the club and his return to Tottenham Hotspur.
He finally made his Football League
debut on loan at Barnet
when he was signed on an emergency 28-day loan on 30 January 2007. He made his debut for the Bees against Notts County
.
Burch was released from his contract by Tottenham on 19 May 2007 and signed for Sheffield Wednesday
on 2 July. He made his Wednesday debut on 28 August in a 2–1 League Cup
second round victory over Hartlepool United
. He was released by the club at the end of the season after playing just three competitive matches. Burch agreed to sign for Lincoln City
on 30 June 2008.
Burch rejected a new contract with Lincoln in May 2010 and on 8 June he signed a two-year deal for League One
club Notts County on a free transfer, after his contract with Lincoln City expired.
television programme on 14 February 2008. She is a producer on the show, and he surprised her backstage with a little help from Fern Britton
The couple were married in 2009.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who plays for Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
as a goalkeeper.
Club career
Burch turned professional with Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
in July 2002 and spent a further five years at the club after signing professional forms.
During that time Burch was loaned out to Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
clubs Woking
Woking F.C.
Woking Football Club is a football club from in Woking, Surrey, England, formed in 1889. They are playing in the Conference South in the 2011–12 season. For the 2011/2012 season, Woking are sharing their ground with Conference National club Hayes & Yeading United.-Promotion to the...
, in 2003, and Stevenage Borough, in 2004, in order to gain some first-team experience.
On 10 December 2004 he joined West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
on a month's loan to act as cover for Stephen Bywater
Stephen Bywater
Stephen Michael Bywater, is an English professional football player who plays as a goalkeeper. He has made appearances for seven clubs, most notably his current club Derby County, where he won the 2007 Championship Playoff final and West Ham United, where he spent eight seasons and made over 60...
whilst James Walker recovered from a groin operation; he was given the squad number 41. With Walker returning to fitness, Burch returned to Spurs at the end of the month's loan. In his time at Upton Park
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
he was an unused substitute on six occasions. Indeed, injuries restricted Burch to just seven reserve team appearances in 2004–05.
On 31 August 2005 he joined Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
on an initial one month loan deal, being given the squad number 23. In his time at Ashton Gate
Ashton Gate
Ashton Gate Stadium is a stadium in Ashton Gate, Bristol, England, and is the home of Bristol City F.C. Located in the south-west of the city, just south of the River Avon, it has an all-seated capacity of 21,497, with an effective capacity for football matches of around 19,500, with an average...
, Burch acted as understudy to Steve Phillips whilst the club underwent a change of management with Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson (footballer)
Gary Johnson is an English football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Npower League Two's Northampton Town....
succeeding Brian Tinnion
Brian Tinnion
Brian Tinnion is a British former footballer and ex-manager. He made over 450 appearances for Bristol City, including a spell as player-manager...
. Johnson extended Burch's loan period for a second month to enable him to take a closer look at the keeper. However, Burch sustained a knee injury which saw the arrival of Adriano Basso
Adriano Basso
Adriano Basso is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Hull City as a goalkeeper.Basso began his playing career in his native Brazil before entering English league football with Bristol City for whom he remained for five years...
at the club and his return to Tottenham Hotspur.
He finally made his Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
debut on loan at Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
when he was signed on an emergency 28-day loan on 30 January 2007. He made his debut for the Bees against Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
.
Burch was released from his contract by Tottenham on 19 May 2007 and signed for Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
on 2 July. He made his Wednesday debut on 28 August in a 2–1 League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
second round victory over Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
. He was released by the club at the end of the season after playing just three competitive matches. Burch agreed to sign for Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
on 30 June 2008.
Burch rejected a new contract with Lincoln in May 2010 and on 8 June he signed a two-year deal for League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Notts County on a free transfer, after his contract with Lincoln City expired.
Personal life
Burch proposed to his girlfriend on the This MorningThis Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
television programme on 14 February 2008. She is a producer on the show, and he surprised her backstage with a little help from Fern Britton
Fern Britton
Fern Britton is an English television presenter, known as the former main co-presenter on the ITV magazine programme This Morning alongside Phillip Schofield. She left the show on 17 July 2009, her 52nd birthday.- Early life :...
The couple were married in 2009.