Stoke recall Burrows' goals as injury denied him Wembley

Stoke City mourn the death of former forward Harry Burrows, aged 85, whose prolific scoring record contrasts sharply with the disappointment of missing the 1972 League Cup final at Wembley through injury. He joined the Potters in March 1965 for £27,000 and went on to become the club's thirteenth‑highest scorer.

The Potters paid £27,000 to acquire Burrows from Aston Villa in March 1965, ending his spell at the Midlands club. He arrived as a highly‑rated forward.

A prolific Stoke career

During eight seasons he made 281 appearances and netted 79 goals, placing him thirteenth on Stoke's all‑time scorers list.

Burrows helped the side reach back‑to‑back FA Cup semi‑finals in 1971 and 1972, cementing his reputation as a big‑match performer.

In 1972 the Potters lifted the League Cup at Wembley, but Burrows missed the triumph after sustaining an injury that ruled him out of the final.

He left Stoke for Plymouth in 1973, adding 19 appearances and three goals before hanging up his boots.

Former teammate Terry Conroy told the Stoke City website: “He was a terrific footballer with a cannonball shot – it was once measured as the hardest shot in the game. He was such a genial lad; there are some people in life that everybody gets on with and Harry was one of them.”

The juxtaposition of Burrows' enduring goal‑scoring legacy and the cruel twist that denied him a Wembley medal underscores how his memory will linger in Stoke's history, even as the club prepares to honour him this season.