Frank Burton

Born in Cheadle, Stockport, Burton played for Kilburn before joining Queens Park Rangers in the close season of 1910. He did not appear for the QPR first team before joining West Ham United in the summer of 1912. He made his debut for West Ham on 5 October 1912 in a 3–1 win at home to Plymouth Argyle, replacing the injured Harry Forster. He appeared mostly for the reserves in 1912–13 and became a regular for the first team in the second half of 1913–14, initially at left-half before settling into the left-back position. He totalled 50 appearances in the Southern League First Division, forming full-back partnerships with Jim Rothwell and then Billy Cope. He scored four goals during this period, against Southampton home and away during the 1913–14 season, and against Bristol Rovers and Southend United in 1914–15. Burton's career was interrupted by World War I and he saw service between 1914 and 1918, as a serjeant in the Royal Fusiliers, including the Sportsmen's Battalions. He fought at Ypres, the Somme and Cambrai, and sustained six injuries during the conflict. He was treated for shrapnel wounds at the Welsh Metropolitan War Hospital, Whitchurch, in 1916. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre and Médaille militaire, amongst other medals, for his service. Despite this, he turned out for West Ham in the wartime London Combination, making 22 appearances in the 1915–16 season, 14 in 1916–17 and a further four in 1917–18. After hostilities ended, West Ham were successful in their…

Burton could play in either full-back position. He was given the nickname Bronco while at West Ham due to his "loping gait and extraordinary onfield contortions", for which he was likened to a cowboy's horse.