END OF AN ERA
Non-League legend Steve Burr reflects on a glittering 20-year managerial career
STEVE BURR says he looks back on a lifetime of fond memories following his retirement from management after nearly 20 years and close to 1,000 games in the dugout.
The 59-year-old started out in 2000 when Nuneaton Borough’s FA Cup win over Stoke City handed him the job permanently and set him on a path to be one of Non-League’s most popular, and successful, gaffers.
Although denied promotion because of ground grading, his Hucknall Town won the Northern Premier League Premier division in 2004, before leading Northwich Victoria into Non-League’s top-flight.
He enjoyed success at Stalybridge Celtic before being plucked by Kidderminster Harriers, who he took to the brink of the Football League and uncovered future EFL players like Jamille Matt, Chey Dunkley, Mickey Demetriou and Joe Lolley.
Full circle
His next stop was Chester before a spell at Southport, a second stint at Celtic and then a return to the club where his playing career began, Stafford Rangers.
Burr, who also was Paul Fairclough’s No.2 in the England C set-up for more than ten years, left his hometown side at the end of 2018 and says the time is right to look at other options.
“My heart ruled my head a little bit when Stafford came calling,” Burr told The NLP.
“I was going to call it a day at the end of last season but it being Stafford I thought, ‘Hometown club, it’s where I started’. I suppose it’s ironic starting off playing there and finishing off there.
“I’d just lost that enjoyment side of it and probably since coming out of full-time it’s been frustrating because the day-to-day involvement is what I looked forward to.
“I want to stay involved in some capacity and I wouldn’t rule out going in as an assistant or a coach, if it was the right job and with the right person. But I’m just looking at going down a different route now.”
Burr has only good things to say about everyone he managed and says the people he’s met along the way made the journey what it was.
“They’ve all been good clubs – from playing and managing,” he said. “I’ve met some characters along the way and worked with some great people. It’s not all been plain sailing – it never is as a manager – but I can look at a lot of fond memories.
“I lost my mum just before Christmas, which has been tough. I don’t think you quite know the effect it has on you until it happens.
“But working in the short time I did with the chairman at Stafford, John Bromley, what a guy! It’s a fabulous club.”
Contenders
Burr reckons his Kidderminster Harriers of 2012-13 was probably the best side he’d ever had – although it’s pushed close by the Northwich Victoria team featuring Stuart Elliott and Jon McCarthy that went to Sunderland in the FA Cup and he wonders what would have become of the Hucknall Town outfit that were denied promotion.
He holds fond memories of Chester’s FA Cup win at Southend and Southport taking Fleetwood Town to a replay as well as his time with Non-League’s Three Lions.
“I look back to there with working alongside Micky Payne, Jimmy Conway – really good characters,” he said. “It’s unfortunate England C probably don’t get the recognition they deserve because we were very successful.
“Then working as an assistant to one of the finest Non-League managers, and League managers, in Paul Fairclough. I learnt a lot of stuff that was different and probably ahead of people’s time in how he works.
“I learnt a lot from Brendan Phillips at Nuneaton too. There’s been a lot of good memories. Hopefully there will be more, but it will be in a different direction now.”
“I’D THE LOST ENJOYMENT SIDE OF IT WAS AND IT FRUSTRATING COMING OUT OF FULL-TIME” – Steve on Burr retirement