Rejection, non-league and pushing trolleys: Burn’s rise to England

Dan Burn faced difficult choices.

He could have easily given up on a football career before it had even begun, from being turned down by his hometown team Newcastle United as a youngster to pushing supermarket trolleys.

The 32-year-old lost his right hand ring finger at the age of 13 after an accident in his early years as a goalkeeper.

As he considers the journey that led to the week of his dreams, the 6′ 7″ defender now wears the Three Lions on his chest, though only the training kit, as he reflects on the journey.

With the opening goal against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final just days after receiving his first England call-up, Burn put an end to a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy at Wembley with a winning goal.

After making his country’s first appearance since former Bolton Wanderers striker Kevin Davies 15 years ago, he would become the oldest player to do so.

He said, “It was odd that when I left [Wembley], it changed to this. At 12 o’clock, we received the bus back. I was about to go back to bed because it was getting roosty.

I didn’t want to savor this opportunity because I had waited so long for it. He claimed that I’ve been playing well for a while and that Thomas Tuchel was right. I want to play more than just cheer myself.

Every youngster has a dream of competing in a World Cup. Knowing that I have a chance is special.

By the age of 16, Burn was pushing trollies once a week at a Blyth supermarket in his hometown. He was then released from the Newcastle academy.

Before signing for League Two Darlington on a youth deal in 2009, he played for non-league Blyth Spartans.

As he was bringing packed lunches to training and washing his own kit, St George’s Park must have felt like a world away.

When he passed his driving test, he would travel from Blyth to County Durham with three of his team’s on a Peugeot 206 and be charged for gas because the journey would cost him more than he had earned from his Saturday job.

His promotion to the first team and his impressive performance at Darlington helped him secure a move to Fulham in 2011 at the age of 18; he was then sufficiently impressed to join the Premier League side.

Despite having 61 league appearances during his five years at Craven Cottage, there was little stability.

Before joining Championship side Wigan Athletic, he was loaned out to Yeovil Town and Birmingham City.

After making an initial loan return to Wigan, he finally found rhythm in the top flight on the second try and earned a return to the Premier League in 2018.

Eddie Howe’s side made 114 Premier League appearances since returning to Newcastle in January 2022, signing for £13 million.

He said, “It made me resilient. In my career, there has never been a straight-line trajectory.

“From making my Premier League debut at age 21 to being let go by Fulham, it has been up and down.” I am aware of my strengths and don’t care about other people’s opinions.

I think my career has caused me a lot of doubt. I would have been sat here holding an English press conference if not for the people who attended Darlington. I believe I’m due here on purpose.

In the 2023 Carabao Cup final, Burn was a member of Howe’s starting lineup that lost to Manchester United 2-0.

His father David, who he used to have a Newcastle season ticket with, wrote a touching letter to his son before the Magpies’ defeat that day.

Burn’s father described the pride his father felt in the message, explaining how he had changed from being rejected and “push trollies at Asda” to playing with the very best “on the world stage.”

The night before the win over Liverpool, David and his family were among the thousands of people who attended parties in London’s Covent Garden on Saturday.

There is a steely belief in Burn’s own quality and desire to get the most out of his career, despite his slightly self-deprecating personality.

He said, “I just had these little goals I wanted to hit at the time. I made the decision to play in League Two. Playing in League One, I did that. You don’t gain the experience you don’t get unless you do it, despite my best instincts, that I could play at international level.

“I believe I was misunderstood, but I fully understood it. Gareth [Southgate] treated it more like a club, which, in my opinion, was successful.

It was all about being together, but that a little bit detracted my interest. So the new manager started with a somewhat fresh slate.

“Thankfully, the new manager has taken a chance on me, and I want to take advantage of it.” At 32, I believed it had passed me by.

Tuchel and Burn had already received a call from the German telling him he was in the running, so even that wasn’t straightforward.

According to Burn, “I received a text at 10 o’clock on Thursday night after I had not heard anything.” I did struggle to fall asleep after receiving a Facetime call.

He said, “First of all, it’s not professional to stay in until 10 p.m.” I apologized for that, too.

He then stated that he had been ringing everyone who had not joined the squad. He claimed he needed to end the day well.

Blyth and Burn has been receiving congratulations messages for days and quickly learned of his international involvement.

You wouldn’t believe the volume of messages I’ve received because I’ve had the same number since I was 16 . He said, “I’m just getting started to answering them now.”

“Sports in the north-eastern region of England is a little overlooked. Not as many teams are there in order for the players’ pools to expand. I’m very proud to be from Newcastle; I enjoy introducing myself to others.