Playing career Burley was born in
Sheffield where he was educated at
Darnall School and played football as a youth for Netherhope Institute and
Woodhouse Mill United. He also played schoolboy football for the Sheffield and Yorkshire F.A.s. In November 1931, he joined
Sheffield United but never made any first-team appearances before a transfer to the south coast to join
Southampton of the
Football League Second Division in September 1933. Described as a "stocky and thrustful winger", In the summer of 1934, he moved to
Grimsby Town who had just been promoted to the
First Division. Burley remained for a season, scoring five goals in 22 appearances Burley moved on in the summer of 1935, to return to the Second Division with
Norwich City. He made his debut on 7 September 1935 and played 35 league matches, scoring four goals, over a three-year period, before joining
Darlington in May 1938. In his
one season at
Feethams, Burley rarely missed a match in the
Third Division North, scoring seven goals from 35 league appearances. During the war, Burley played as a guest for various clubs, including
Southend United,
Millwall,
Brighton & Hove Albion,
Queens Park Rangers and
Crystal Palace. In Burley's three seasons in charge at Chelmsford, the club finished in the lower half of the
Southern League table ==Honours==