Drury Captures Burgess

Corby Town have completed the signing of former England C International Andy Burgess from Fleetwood Town, ahead of Saturday's trip to The New Bucks Head in The FA Trophy.

Nicknamed 'The Special'  and born in Bedford, 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 184 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 in his career, saying, "I don't think there's any points having regrets. I've enjoyed my football this season as much as I have during my whole career working for Garry Hill and I think next season we can go on and achieve good things here."

He was again selected for the England C squad in May 2008 and scored in the 3-0 win over Wales as England retained the Four Nations trophy.

After rejecting the offer of a new contract from Rushden at the end of the 2008-09 season, Burgess signed a two year contract with Luton Town in May 2009. Burgess, who was born in Bedfordshire and supports Luton Town, called the transfer a "dream move". However, a hamstring injury sustained in late August kept Burgess out of the team for two months and, upon his return to the team, he played in just three further matches before joining Mansfield Town on a one-month loan on 26 November, with the permanent transfer taking place on 1 January 2010. Burgess left Mansfield at the end of last season by mutual consent.

He began this season at newly formed Chester FC before heading north to join Fleetwood Town of the Blue Square Premier. Burgess however has now left Highbury Stadium to return to Northamptonshire, with The Steelmen.

Graham Drury is delighted with his new signing and is looking forward to Burgess pulling on the black and white shirt; "It has taken a lot of hard work to get Andy signed, I am extremely pleased to add him to the squad. He has a vast amount of experience and will boost our squad ahead of the trip to Telford."