| Bert Burridge | |
| Fullname: | Ben James Herbert Burridge |
| Birth Date: | 1898 3, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Beamish, County Durham, England |
| Position: | Half-back |
| Youthyears1: | – |
| Years1: | – |
| Clubs1: | Oxhill Villa |
| Years2: | – |
| Years3: | – |
| Clubs3: | Annfield Plain |
| Years4: | 1921–1926 |
| Clubs4: | Darlington |
| Caps4: | 92 |
| Goals4: | 7 |
| Years5: | 1926–1930 |
| Caps5: | 26 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 1930–1931 |
| Caps6: | 6 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Years7: | 1931–1933 |
| Caps7: | 51 |
| Goals7: | 1 |
| Years8: | 1933–1934 |
| Clubs8: | Hyde United |
| Caps8: | 35 |
| Goals8: | 2 |
| Years9: | 1934–1940 |
| Clubs9: | Hurst |
| Years10: | – |
| Manageryears1: | 1935–193? |
| Managerclubs1: | Hurst |
Ben James Herbert Burridge (11 March 1898 – 22 December 1977) was an English footballer who made 124 appearances in the Football League for Darlington, Sheffield Wednesday and Oldham Athletic in the 1920s and 1930s.[1] He played as a half-backat wing half in the early part of his career, and at centre half later onand could also play as a forward.
Burridge was born in Beamish, County Durham, in 1898.[1] He was playing for Houghton Rovers in the North Eastern League in April 1921,[2] but in November he signed for Third Division North club Darlington from Northern Alliance club Annfield Plain.[3] Despite interest from "clubs in higher spheres", he was reported as preferring to remain near home.[4] In the 1924–25 Football League season, Darlington were promoted to the Second Division as champions of the Northern Section. Burridge was not a regular member of the side, but his versatilityhe could play across the half-back line or as a forwardmeant he was able to establish himself as first reserve,[5] and the supporters included him among those to receive a presentation in appreciation of the team's success.[6]
Burridge became one of a number of new signings from the lower leagues made by Second Division champions Sheffield Wednesday ahead of their First Division campaign.[7] He played only rarely in his first season with Wednesday,[8] and although the £2,000 proceeds of his sale helped Darlington financially, his absence significantly weakened their team and they were relegated in 1926.[9] By November 1927, he was playing more regularly for the first team, and the Derby Daily Telegraph assessed his strengths as "resolute tackling and robust defensive work".[10] In 1928–29, Burridge appeared twice as Wednesday won the League championship and contributed to their reserve team winning the Central League title.[8] [11] In his last season with Wednesday, he again appeared twice as they retained their title,[8] and then joined Second Division Oldham Athletic for an undisclosed fee.[12]
A year later, he moved back into non-league football. By then playing at centre half, he captained Macclesfield to the 1931–32 Cheshire County League championship and appeared less frequently the following season as they retained the title.[13] After a season as a first-team regular with another Cheshire League, club, Hyde United,[14] Burridge made his debut for Hurst in a Cheshire League match against former club Macclesfield. He remained with Hurst as a player into the war years, making more than 100 appearances in all competitions,[15] and was appointed player-manager in 1935[16] and acting secretary in 1937.[15]
Burridge died in 1977 at the age of 79.[15]