1052 Reece Burke

Biography

Lithe centre back Burke joined City in July 2018, signed from Premier League side West Ham United where he was highly regarded.  He slotted straight into the Tigers first team and combined good distribution skills with assured defending, benefiting from playing alongside experienced defender Tommy Elphick for three months. When Elphick departed Burke flourished and turned in a string of assured examples of centrebackery, striking up an effective partnership with Dutch colleague Jordy de Wijs.  His second season at the Tigers saw Burke fully established as a first team pick alongside de Wijs, who together formed a fearsome ball-playing partnership.  It was injury and absence to Burke that was a factor in City’s drop in form in the early weeks of 2020, demonstrating his importance to Grant McCann’s squad.

Burke remained at Hull City after relegation to League One, despite rumours of a move, and was a first team regular for Grant McCann’s new look team. After a fine season at the heart of City’s table-topping defence alongside young tyro Jacob Greabes, Burke missed the closing weeks due to injury and rumours again surfaced of a move back south to be closer to his family. He left Hull City in the 2021 close season after three years of yeoman service and with the best wishes of most City fans.

Born in Newham, Reece Frederick James Burke joined the Hammers at a young age and came through the ranks to make his senior debut in January 2014 in an FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest.  At the end of the 2014/15 season he made five appearances in the Premier League, the first of which came in April 2015 against Queens Park Rangers. In July 2015 he made the first of three Europa League appearances against Andorran side Lusitanos, then in August 2015 he joined League One side Bradford City on a season long loan, scoring two goals in 36 appearances.

At the end of August 2016 Burke was again on his travels, spending a season long loan at Championship side Wigan Athletic where he made just 10 appearances, scoring one goal. In August 2017 he returned to the North West and joined Championship side Bolton Wanderers on a half season loan, after a brief return to West Ham in January 2018 he returned to Bolton and ended the season with one goal for the Trotters in 26 appearances. He left West Ham United in July 2018 having scored one goal in 15 appearances for the Hammers.

In June 2021 Reece refused a new contract offer from the Tigers and accepted reduced terms to join Championship rivals Luton Town. In his first season the Hatters qualified for the Championship play-offs, missing out at the semi-final stage to Huddersfield Town. Burke’s Luton side again qualified for the play-offs at the end of the 2022/23 season and squeezed past Coventry City on penalties to win the Wembley final and reach the Premier League – Reece came on as an early substitute at Wembley, replacing captain Tom Lockyer after his career-ending collapse on the pitch. Reece was retained as the Hatters returned to the Premier League and made occasional appearances in the top flight, returning to the stage where he debuted for West Ham eight years earlier but unable to help his side avoid immediate relegation back to the Championship.

Burke was chosen for the England Under-18 squad during the 2013/14 season, making four appearances. The following season he played once for the England Under-19 team, against Luxembourg in October 2014, then played three times for the England Under-20 side against Czechia, Turkiye and Germany during September and October 2015.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 2 September 1996, Newham
Hull City First Game: 6 August 2018, Aston Villa H (Championship), 21 years, 338 days old
Hull City Final Game: 24 April 2021, Lincoln City A (League One), 24 years, 234 days old

Clubs

West Ham United (2012-2018), Bradford City (2015-2016, loan), Wigan Athletic (2016-2017, loan), Bolton Wanderers (2017-2018, loan), Bolton Wanderers (2018, loan), Hull City (2018-2021), Luton Town (2021-current)

Hull City Record

Career: 110 apps, 5 goals

Reece Burke
SeasonLGE
App
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FAC
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FLC
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OTH
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2018/1932 (2)01 (0)0
2019/2036 (0)02 (0)0
2020/2131 (3)41 (0)11 (0)01 (0)0

1 thought on “1052 Reece Burke”

  1. Reece Burke as done everything West Ham Utd have ash from him and he is the most experienced player that’s come through our academy but not being wanted and loved is heart breaking!?
    But he had no other option but to leave the club he loves so much as the academy is no longer what it was !
    This is 100% the truth gutted really but he needs to better himself

    Reply

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