THEY’D take a good look at him at trials. Darragh Burns was up and down the wing like a whippet. He had a lovely left foot and the look of a classic old-fashioned winger but it was always the same, there was always someone bigger.
‘Not tall enough, not strong enough’ the scouts would say and move on to the next lad.
There were many times when Burns didn’t make the cut and go home disappointed to sit in his room fearing his football dream would never come true.
But he stuck at it.
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Every dog has his day, they say, and he had his – he hopes the first of many - on Wednesday night when Grimsby Town knocked United out of the Carabao Cup.
“I went on plenty of trials,” says Burns, from Stamullen in county Meath.
“It was always my height - I wasn’t big enough, I wasn’t strong enough. Obviously I wasn’t the biggest when I was growing up, there were a lot of players bigger than me but I always believed in myself.
“I knew I had the ability to make a career in football and I never doubted myself. Well, I suppose you do doubt yourself a little bit along the way but I have a good family around me and they always reminded me to keep working hard and give myself a chance.”
Professional football is a dog-eat-dog world. Clubs cast their nets to the far corners of the globe nowadays and it is so hard for a young player to make the grade at any of the top clubs.
After coming through at the renowned Dublin soccer nursery St Kevin’s Boys which has produced the likes of Liam Brady, Robbie Brady, Damien Duff and Evan Ferguson, Burns gained valuable experience with St Patrick’s Athletic and there was talk of a transfer to Celtic before he made the move across the channel to MK Dons.
However, after making just a handful of appearances in the 2023/24 season he returned to Dublin to play for Shamrock Rovers. Perhaps he thought his chance had gone but his form in Rovers’ European Conference League earned him the chance to return to the English League.
“You can go to a club and it doesn’t work out,” he says of his time at MK Dons.
“I’m not the first player to go to a club and it doesn’t work out – it happens to a lot of players.
“I always wanted to come to a new club in England and give it another crack.
“You only see the good stuff on social media and when you watch a game on television but if you look at the players, even at the top level, they all suffer knocks and setbacks.
“I think that makes you stronger. Look, I have a really supportive group of family and friends and I had good coaches throughout the years who have helped me along the way and without them all this probably wouldn’t be possible.
“I have a really good group around me and just keep me humble and keep me working hard and thankfully I got to experience a moment like I did on Wednesday.”
Grimsby Town's fans celebrate their victory after their penalty shoot out victory against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
Grimsby Town's fans celebrate their victory after their penalty shoot out victory against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.(Nigel French/PA)
HIS dad James, from the New Lodge Road in Belfast, his mum and some of his friends and family were in Blundell Park on Wednesday night to watch Grimsby take on Manchester United in what turned out to be a classic ‘David v Goliath’ cup tie.
They couldn’t have expected what would unfold on a historic night for League Two Grimsby. Burns’s cross from the right wing set up Charles Vernam for the Mariners’ first goal and when Tyrell Warren got the second the prospect of a famous giant-killing was firmly on the cards.
United recovered and forced a penalty shootout but Grimsby wouldn’t be denied. Burns netted his side’s second and, with the score 11-11, he beat Andre Onano again to pile the pressure onto Brian Mbeumo.
The Cameroon international couldn’t handle it and when his penalty hit the bar, Grimsby Town erupted.
“All the dedication and all the nights my mum and dad spent giving up their evenings bringing me to training - it was a great experience to share that moment with them,” says Burns.
“A lot of my mum’s family are Manchester United fans and some of my dad’s family are Man Utd fans as well so I think that made it even a little bit sweeter. My dad was obviously really proud but the first thing he said to me was: ‘Enjoy it but you need to kick on now’ which is a typical thing my dad would say to me just to keep making me hungry for more.
“Look, he spent hours and hours with me on the pitches when I was younger so a big shout out to him, he’s played a massive role in my career so far.”
Burns is one of a select band – which includes the likes of James McClean, Darron Gibson and Shane Duffy – who have played for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
He wore both shades of green at U17 level and represented the North at U19 before returning to the Republic fold with U20 and U21 teams.
“My first taste of international football was with Northern Ireland going away to the Faroe Islands and playing against Sweden and I got man of the match on my debut there,” he explains.
“My debut for the Republic at U17 level was against Turkey and I got man of the match there as well. I loved my time playing underage in international football but my focus now is purely on club football.
“You never know, maybe one day I could pull on a green jersey in the Aviva. I think it’s always a dream for any young boy growing up in Ireland to represent Ireland and play in the Aviva.
“It’s something I’d really love to do in the future but right now I have to build my way up to the table. You never know, maybe one day I can do that but my full focus is on Grimsby now.
“Wednesday night was great and obviously I’ll have that memory forever but I want to build on it now. I’ve had a good couple of experiences now in the last few of months - playing in Europe with Shamrock Rovers and then coming to Grimsby and beating Man United on penalties but I’m hungry for more and I think it’s time for me to kick on.”
Darragh Burns moved to Grimsby Town after impressing with Shamrock Rovers last season.
Darragh Burns moved to Grimsby Town after impressing with Shamrock Rovers last season.(Niall Carson/PA)
ON Saturday Grimsby are back to the bread and butter of League Two when they host Bristol Rovers at Blundell Park.
David Artell’s men have begun the season well. They remain unbeaten in the league and sit fourth in the table after three wins and two draws left them just a point behind early pace setters Crewe.
After dropping out of the football league for the first time in over 100 years in 2010, the Lincolnshire club won the National League play-off to force their way back into League Two in 2022 and Burns is fully on board as the club aims to push their way back up to League One.
There is a green tinge to the first team squad with the likes of Reece Staunton, Zak Gilsenan and Jaze Kabia also at the club alongside Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Christy Pym and former Derry City skipper Cameron McJannet.
“I’m just looking forward to the rest of the season now,” says Burns.
“It’s only kicked off really so we’re all hoping for an exciting season. I’ve worked hard on my game, I’m obviously a left footer but I’ve been working on my right foot the last couple of years. I’ve put in a lot of hours every week just to try and make it that little bit difficult for defenders to mark me.
“I’m 100 per cent focused on Grimsby now and I’m just trying to have a special season with the club.”