Lorne Burke

Sydney native Lorne Burke is passionate about football and coaching teens. As a player in high school, he was full back/running back, and scored the first ever touch down for the original Riverview High School team. Even though some universities tried to recruit him, Burke chose to take a couple years off of school and started coaching in 1986, at the age of 21. More than one parent or former player has credited Burke and football for helping players change their lives. A Cape Breton University graduate, Burke works full-time for the federal government, part-time putting up signs for Marquis Reality and spends up to 35 hours a week coaching or working with Football Cape Breton, of which he is the president. While he thinks he may stop coaching in a few years, Burke is sure football will always be a part of his life.

Age: Occupation: 52. Spectrum Management

Officer (radio inspector). Family: son, Christopher, age 20.

Birthplace: Sydney.

Home: Sydney. Pets: A cat, Lainey.

Nickname: A family one. “But I’m not putting it out there.”

First job: Cashier at Shipyard Dairy. What talent would you most like to have: Play guitar.

Coffee or tea: Coffee.

What is your favourite food: “Anything my mother makes,” spaghetti and meatballs.

Favourite Favourite movie: music: 70s/80s The Shawshank rock. Redemption.

Favourite books: John Grisham novels, Stuart McLean ‘Vinyl Café’ series.

Pet peeve: When people are late.

What is something you like to do in your leisure time: Golf. Favourite motto or expression: If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.

What traits in people do you admire most: Honesty, trustworthy, hardworking. Favourite thing about Cape Breton:

The people. “It’s home.”

Favourite place to travel in Cape Breton: Ingonish. Favourite place to travel: Boston.