Andy Burgess

Born in Bedford, Bedfordshire, Burgess began his professional career in 1999 at Rushden & Diamonds, where he was also a trainee. He won the Football Conference title with Rushden in 2001, and the Third Division championship in 2003, and had made 239 appearances for Rushden in six seasons when he was placed on the transfer list at the end of the 2004–05 season after he had requested a transfer in February 2005. A move to Swansea City fell through, and, a month later in July 2005, he broke his left leg in a pre-season friendly. He returned to the side in October 2005, and joined Oxford United shortly afterwards, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract. Burgess was retained by Oxford United after relegation and a good start to the 2006–07 season saw him being praised by manager Jim Smith, who said of him after a win over York City in October 2006, "Andy's a very talented player, and he was outstanding. Some of the things that he did were really top drawer." At the end of the 2006–07 season, Burgess was named in the England National Game XI squad for the Four Nations Tournament against Ireland, Wales and Scotland, and in May 2007, he scored against Scotland in a 3–0 victory as England went on to win tournament. In August 2007, Burgess re-joined Rushden & Diamonds on a free transfer with a sell-on clause attached, signing a two-year contract. At the end of the 2007–08 season, he won the Player of the Year award at Rushden and admitted that he had sometimes made the wrong decisions…

Burgess briefly managed Sheffield Wednesday Women in the Northern Premier Division from October 2009 until February 2010. He was formerly first-team coach at Leeds Carnegie Ladies and, prior to that, assistant manager at National Premier Division side Nottingham Forest Ladies. He was named Preston North End Women manager in June 2010. On 6 July 2012, Burgess was handed the role of First Team Manager at FA National Premier Division club Leeds United Ladies. On 31 May 2014, Burgess took up his first managerial role in men's football when he accepted the position of first team manager of North West Counties Division One club Barnton. In February 2022, Burgess was appointed interim manager of AFC Rushden & Diamonds before being given the role on a permanent basis in April. On 1 October 2022, he was sacked with the club sitting bottom of the division. Appointed in May 2023, Burgess took up the position of assistant manager at Merseyside club, Southport. In October 2023, Burgess was appointed Head of Football Operations, before becoming the club's Chief Operating Officer, he left the role in 2026.

Rushden & Diamonds

Football League Third Division: 2002–03