Alfie Burden turned to snooker after seeing his football career wrecked by injury (Image: Getty)
More than 30 years on, Alfie Burden still wonders if he was too hasty in giving up on a career in football. The World Snooker Tour veteran was a promising youngster on Arsenal’s books, playing alongside the likes of Frank Lampard and Lee Bowyer.
Burden was let go by the Gunners, the club he supports, but still had hopes of a big career in the game. He linked up with Swindon Town, then of the Premier League and managed by Glenn Hoddle. The future was looking bright until he suffered a devastating injury. “I went up there to sign professional forms. I was on the three-day tour. We were playing West Bromwich Albion,” recalls Burden.
“I played the ball off first time and a guy stamped through the back of my standing leg. I broke my leg in four places and it was the end of my young career. It was a shocking injury.”
It may not necessarily have been the end of his football hopes had he decided to go through a long period of rehabilitation. But knowing he had a talent for snooker convinced him to change course.
“Looking back now, and hindsight’s a wonderful thing,” he reflects. “I’m quite strong-headed. When I make my mind up, I go with it, I’m quite impulsive.
“Snooker was a secondary sport at the time. I played it as a hobby, but I was quite good. I practised in the same club as Neal Foulds, and he always used to say to me, ‘You could be a professional, you’re very talented’. I was like, ‘Nah, I just enjoy a game, I’m going to be a footballer’.
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
“But when I got that injury, I switched. If a 48-year-old Aflie could talk to a 16/17-year-old Alfie, it would be like, ‘Go through the pain of being out for a year or 18 months and go back [to football]’. But I didn’t make that decision, I decided to switch careers and I ended up turning professional at 18.”
He has fond memories of his time at Arsenal and remains in contact with some of his former team-mates, including Lampard.
“In my Arsenal youth team were Stephen Hughes, who I still speak to now, Lee Bowyer, who was released and went to Charlton and, believe it or not, Frank Lampard,” says Burden, whose son was also on Arsenal’s books before being released after having a spell at Bristol Rovers under Joey Barton. Like his dad, he suffered a serious injury but is hoping to rebuild his career in non-league.
“We were in the same youth side for a couple of years. Frank left Arsenal and went to West Ham, where his uncle [Harry Redknapp] and his uncle [Frank Snr] were, and he came through there. The rest is history.
Frank Lampard was on Arsenal’s books as a youngster (Image: Getty)
“Frank was a bit chubby when he was a kid, but he always had that ability. He was a year younger but played a year up.
“You could see he was going to be a good player, and he’s gone on to have a phenomenal career. He’s one of the all-time greats of the Premier League. He’s someone I still speak to now and then.”
Staying with the football theme, Burden is in the relegation zone ahead of the World Championship qualifiers, which begin on Monday. He needs to win three matches to get to the Crucible and at least two to stand a chance of retaining his tour card.
“I’m in the relegation dogfight,” he says. “But it doesn’t faze me. I don’t fear anyone, I believe in my ability and I’ll have a right good go at it.”
Burden with Jimmy White ahead of World Senior Championship final at the Crucible in 2023 (Image: Getty)
While he hasn’t achieved all he wanted in the game, Burden is proud to have spent so long as a pro. “I’m 48 now and I accept that I’m doing well at my age – after turning pro in 1995 – to still be on the tour competing against players who are half my age in the majority of the cases,” adds the Londoner, who is looking to reach World Championship for the first time since 1998, although he has played at the Crucible more recently in the World Seniors Championship.
“I know there’s still a few players of my age knocking about, but the numbers are dwindling. My hunger to play is still there and if I win two matches, it will give me a good chance of staying on the tour.”
If he doesn’t, Burden will throw himself into another dogfight – Q School. He vows: “I hope I can keep my tour card but if I don’t, I will go to Q School and see how I go from there.
“I’ve dropped off the tour before and got my card straight back, which is a feat in itself because that’s bearpit. There are so many good players and only eight out of 200 get tour cards. I’m not ready to hang it up, I’m still fiercely competitive.”