Burke only took up football aged 21, with a spell at
St Helens. In 1994 she reached her first
FA Women's Cup final with
Knowsley United. Burke hit the crossbar in injury time as Knowsley lost 1–0 to
Doncaster Belles. In the following year's final, with Knowsley now known as Liverpool Ladies, player-of-the-match Burke twice put them ahead against
Arsenal, only for
Marieanne Spacey to seal a 3–2 win for The Gunners. In summer 1995 Burke agreed to join
Everton Ladies, but changed her mind when Liverpool appointed John Bennison—a professional coach from the
Liverpool "
Boot Room". In April 1996 Burke lost her third consecutive FA Women's Cup final to
Croydon, on penalties after a 1–1 draw at
the New Den. Luckless Burke had given Liverpool the lead and converted her penalty in the
shootout. She finally joined
Everton Ladies in the 1997 close season and won the
Premier League title in 1997–1998. She played in
Iceland in summer 1998, 1999 and 2000, with
ÍBV. In 2000 Burke and teammate
Becky Easton joined
Doncaster Belles. Burke would travel twice weekly to Doncaster from her base in Liverpool, where she worked in a pub. The
2002 FA Women's Cup Final was Burke's fourth unsuccessful appearance, as Doncaster were beaten 2–1 by the full-time professionals of
Fulham. Burke moved to
Leeds United Ladies for 2002–2003 before spending the 2003 close season back with
Icelandic side ÍBV. She returned to
Doncaster Belles for 2003–2004, before joining an exodus of players brought about by a cash crisis and moving back to Leeds, via another stint at ÍBV. Burke then suffered more FA Women's Cup final disappointment with
Leeds United Ladies, in their 5–0 defeat against
Arsenal in 2006. Burke left Leeds to join
Blackburn Rovers Ladies in the 2007 close season. Although signed as an attacking midfielder, she moved to right-back for the 2009–10 season. ==International career==