Not many people can say they’ve played, managed and then became chairman of a team. Clitheroe’s Davis Burgess can though as he did all three, starting way back in 1990. Leaving his managerial post with the side back in 2000.

Having been at Waddington FC from 1978-1990, Burgess joined Clitheroe and fitted straight in with the ethics of the club, having been born and bred in the town himself.

Similarities can be taken between Simon Garner and David Burgess, as Burgess himself was player-manager for some time during his stint at Shawbridge as he said;

“I was asked along with two friends, John Kirk and John Hosty to re-form a reserve team at Clitheroe. Meaning I became player and joint-manager.”

He went on to say; “I was the best player never to play for the first-team. I did make three substitute appearances but that was my peak. I never got off the bench in any three but my highlight was the being part of the FA Cup Qualifying Round side that played Consett Town.”

Having won NWCFL Reserve team titles, League Cup competitions and the East Lancashire League Presidents Cup during his time as joint-manager. Burgess’s decision to join the club proved fruitful as he spoke of some of his favourite memories at the club;

“Winning the East Lancashire League Presidents Cup in the mid 90’s at Turf Moor, home of Burnley FC was great. We played against Mill Hill St.Peters and beat them on penalties.”

Burgess worked closely with Clitheroe legend Keith Lord who was grounds man at the club for over fifty years and described Lord as his biggest idol while at the club. Aswell as the heroic grounds man, Burgess still keeps in touch with the majority of the squad he managed, over a decade on from his tenure at Shawbridge.

Having sat on the bench at the home of English football, Wembley in the 1996 FA Vase final and winning away at Chippenham Town during the quarter-finals in the tournament, Burgess definitely is regarded as a hero by all involved at Shawbridge.

When Steve Rush left the club in 2005, Burgess took up the position of Clitheroe chairman before leaving to become CEO at the Lancashire FA. He said;

“We won the NWCFL when I was Chairman so I feel that I have some small involvement in the success of the club. Balancing the books was tough, but I had been a player and manager so I knew what was needed to be successful. Lee Sculpher was manager and as we were good mates from our time together as a management team, he was really easy to work with.”

Adding; “The volunteer workforce and supporters at the club are there for life and for me are far more important that the best defender or top goal scorer. The fans are irreplaceable.”