ALL STACKING UP FOR BURN

BY JOHN RICHARDSON JUST like in the Royal Navy TV advert Dan Burn was born in Blyth... but ‘left a small town and turned it around’.

Only after a journey through choppy waters, though – one that took him from rejection as an 11-year-old at Newcastle United to Darlington, Fulham, Yeovil, Birmingham City, Wigan and Brighton.

Now at the age of 29 the 6ft-7in defender (above) is back where it all started, finally wearing the famous black and white Toon shirt of the team he supported growing up.

He has been forced to do a lot of growing up along the way.

Never more so than when he found himself working part time at

Asda while making the arduous trip from his home to train with Darlington.

Craig Liddle, Middlesbrough’s academy head, was Darlington assistant manager during that spell.

“He found the training hard but it was a better prospect than spending his life stacking shelves,” Liddle recalled.

“Getting to training involved a train journey, two buses and a good walk. Then of course he had to do all that again to get home. He did well and progressed so well that it was no surprise that he moved on.”

It was Fulham who lured him away. Former boss Kit Symons said: “He became a big part of the team. He was one of our leaders, a hardworking lad.”

There were also loan spells at Yeovil and Birmingham, before a move to Wigan where he quickly became a fans favourite and one of boss Paul Cook’s first picks.

“His attitude was always first-class,” Cook recalled. “I know how excited he will be about stepping out at St James’ Park as a Newcastle player. A great signing.”

Liddle agrees, and added: “Coming back to Newcastle will be a big challenge for him but he won’t be fazed by it.”

It’s little consolation for Brighton. Not only was he a cult hero amongst the fans but boss Graham Potter wishes there were more players like Burn.

Potter said: “Dan has been brilliant. A superb professional – adaptable and a great character on and off the pitch.”