Clarrie Bourton
Encyclopedia
Clarence "Clarrie" Bourton (30 September 1908 – 1981) was an English
footballer, who played for Bristol City
, Blackburn Rovers
and Coventry City
.
Bourton made his league debut as a 19-year old for Bristol City
in April 1928 and scored one goal in four appearances at the tail-end of the 1927–28 season. That summer the FA Cup
holders Blackburn Rovers
signed Burton. He scored on his debut in a 1–1 home draw with Bury
and scored six goals in his first four games, including all four in a 4–1 win at Manchester United. That first season he netted 15 goals in 34 league and cup goals as Rovers finished seventh in the First Division
, their best position since the First World War. Clarrie was out of the first team after one game the following season; Les Bruton
(later to become trainer at Highfield Road) took the No.9 shirt.
Bourton returned on Christmas Day 1929 and scored in a 5–3 home win over Sunderland
and was on fire for the rest of the season, scoring 23 goals in 26 games, helping Rovers to a sixth placed finish. He scored four goals in a single game again, this time against Sheffield United in a 7–5 win at Bramall Lane
. Clarrie's final season at Ewood Park
, 1930–31, saw him out of the first team after only four goals in the first 11 games, but he did appear in the same team as a young Jesse Carver
(who later managed City in the 1950s).
In April 1931, Harry Storer
became Coventry City's manager. Storer had spotted Bourton while he was playing in Lancashire and when Storer became City manager he signed Burton for £750. Clarrie did not score in the first two games of the 1931–32 season . He netted 49 league goals and one FA Cup goal to be crowned as the Football League's leading scorer.
In Bourton's six seasons at Highfield Road, City scored 577 League goals and he weighed in with 173 of them in just 228 games – an amazing record that as of 2011 hasn't been challenged by any other Coventry player.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer, who played for Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
, Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
and Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
.
Bourton made his league debut as a 19-year old for Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
in April 1928 and scored one goal in four appearances at the tail-end of the 1927–28 season. That summer the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
holders Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
signed Burton. He scored on his debut in a 1–1 home draw with Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
and scored six goals in his first four games, including all four in a 4–1 win at Manchester United. That first season he netted 15 goals in 34 league and cup goals as Rovers finished seventh in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, their best position since the First World War. Clarrie was out of the first team after one game the following season; Les Bruton
Les Bruton
Leslie Hector Ronald "Les" Bruton was an English footballer who played at centre-forward in the 1920s and 1930s for various clubs, having his most successful period with Blackburn Rovers.-Football career:...
(later to become trainer at Highfield Road) took the No.9 shirt.
Bourton returned on Christmas Day 1929 and scored in a 5–3 home win over Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
and was on fire for the rest of the season, scoring 23 goals in 26 games, helping Rovers to a sixth placed finish. He scored four goals in a single game again, this time against Sheffield United in a 7–5 win at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
. Clarrie's final season at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
, 1930–31, saw him out of the first team after only four goals in the first 11 games, but he did appear in the same team as a young Jesse Carver
Jesse Carver
Jesse Carver was an English footballer, best remembered for his enlightened management of some of Europe's finest clubs.-Biography:...
(who later managed City in the 1950s).
In April 1931, Harry Storer
Harry Storer, Jr.
Harry Storer was an English professional footballer, cricketer and football manager.-Early life:Storer was born in West Derby, Liverpool, the son of Harry Storer...
became Coventry City's manager. Storer had spotted Bourton while he was playing in Lancashire and when Storer became City manager he signed Burton for £750. Clarrie did not score in the first two games of the 1931–32 season . He netted 49 league goals and one FA Cup goal to be crowned as the Football League's leading scorer.
In Bourton's six seasons at Highfield Road, City scored 577 League goals and he weighed in with 173 of them in just 228 games – an amazing record that as of 2011 hasn't been challenged by any other Coventry player.