JOHN "BUDGIE" BURRIDGE
CRYSTAL PALACE - 1978/80 - 88 appearances
NEWCASTLE UTD - 1989/91 - 67 appearances
John Burridge (born 3 December 1951 in Workington, Cumberland) played for 29 different clubs in a career that lasted nearly 30 years.
Overall, Burridge played 771 league games in the English and Scottish leagues, and several more at non-league level.
Burridge (nicknamed Budgie), played for fifteen Football League teams, which is a still-existing record.
Burridge grew up in the Cumbrian mining village of Great Clifton. He began his professional career at his local club, Workington, signing-up at the age of 15. He played his first league game in 1969.
In 1971, he was transferred to Blackpool, initially on loan at the end of the 1970–71 season, then permanently for the start of 1971–72.
It was with the Seasiders that he won his first honour: the Anglo-Italian Cup. Blackpool beat Bologna 2-1, after extra time, at the latter's Stadio Comunale on 12 June 1971.
In 1975 Burridge joined Aston Villa for £75,000. He was signed by Ron Saunders and spent two seasons at Villa Park, winning the League Cup Final with them, but eventually lost his place to Jimmy Rimmer.
He had a short but successful loan spell at Southend United before joining Crystal Palace in 1977 signed by Terry Venables. After two and a half seasons at Palace, he joined London rivals Queens Park Rangers, again signed by Terry Venables. He was dropped in favour of Peter Hucker for the 1982 FA Cup Final.
In the summer of 1982, Burridge joined his seventh club, Wolverhampton, whom he helped gain promotion to the top flight as runners-up, only to be relegated the following season.
He left Wolves in October 1984 to join Sheffield United signed by Ian Porterfield. He also had a loan spell at Derby signed by Arthur Cox, shortly before joining the Blades.
Burridge spent three seasons at Sheffield United before joining Southampton in 1987 signed by Chris Nicholl.
Two years later, he moved to Newcastle United. After two years at Newcastle United, he moved north of the border to join Hibernian, where he won a Scottish League Cup winners' medal.
After two years in Edinburgh, Burridge returned to Newcastle for a second spell at the club in 1993 signed by Kevin Keegan.
Despite being past 40, Burridge refused to hang up his gloves, and continued moving across the country for short spells at any club that requested his services.
Between 1993 and 1997, Burridge played for no fewer than fourteen clubs. They were, in chronological order: Scarborough, Lincoln, Aberdeen, Dumbarton, Falkirk, Manchester City (with whom he became, at 43 years, 4 months and 26 days, the oldest player to appear in the Premier League.
He also started three more games after this - his last appearance was for Manchester City v QPR on 14 May 1995), Notts County, Witton Albion, Darlington, Grimsby, Gateshead, Northampton, Queen of the South, Blyth Spartans, Scarborough once more.
These spells usually lasted no more than one or two games as an emergency goalkeeper. He finished his playing career with a brief spell as player-manager at Blyth Spartans in 1997, following a similarly brief spell back at Newcastle United as goalkeeping coach.