Former Birmingham City star Kenny Burns tells all over infamous clash with Trevor Francis

Dec 17 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

THE word uncompromising could have been invented to describe Kenny Burns.

A fierce competitor, at either end of a football field, Burns took no prisoners.

The scruffy, gap-toothed look only added to the image.

But Burns, for six seasons a Blues favourite in the 1970s, could also play too.

The Scotland international’s quality was recognised by Brian Clough, who took him from Blues to Nottingham Forest, where Burns won the title, two European Cups and a League Cup as a key performer.

He was also voted footballer of the year.

Back in those St Andrew’s days, Burns was part of an emerging, exciting team.

He left his mark on all those who saw him, and also his team-mates – as Trevor Francis found out after one particularly competitive training session at Elmdon.

“I like Trevor,” says Glasgow-born Burns.

“Don’t get me wrong, but he came from a different way of life than me. I was brought up in a rough place.

“When I was a kid, even though there was trouble roundabout and whatever, I just used to play football all the time.

“Trevor was the same as anybody, whether I had played against Keegan, Maradona, Pele – whoever. If the ball was there, and somebody was leaving their leg out to be kicked, I would kick it.

“Trevor didn’t like it, and he stood up to me. So I just gave him a little tap... a little tap? You know, a butt – I did like using my head!

“Trevor went off in a hump.”

At the time it was big news. There was talk that Francis handed in a transfer request, so angry was he.

“I don’t have a problem with him at all now when we meet,” says Burns.

“When Trevor came to Nottingham Forest afterwards and Brian Clough asked me what I thought of him, I said ‘yes, he’s a good player, he can play’. Brian said ‘fine, I’m about to sign him’.

“I get on all right with him. I’d just like to think that he had respect for my ability, just as I had respect for his ability.

“We moved in different circles. We just didn’t drink in the same places. I’d go down the social club, play a couple of frames of snooker and have a couple of bets, whatever, he would possibly drink in a wine bar. He had his own friends at Forest as well.

“Obviously a lot was made out of things between us, but it wasn’t as bad as everyone said.”

Burns recounts the Francis story in his autobiography, the appropriately titled No Ifs Or Butts, which is out now.

And there are plenty of other fascinating anecdotes from the life and times of the centre-half or centre-forward who played for six league clubs in a 15-year career.

Burns started out in his native Scotland at Rangers but headed south to Birmingham, where his sister lived, for a trial, aged 17.

Freddie Goodwin was impressed and Burns was taken on.

He recalls his digs were in Ludlow Road, Alum Rock, and run by ‘Aunt Daisy’.

“It was absolutely superb,” he says. “When I came down I was a skinny little lad. She built me up, and I became what I am today – a heavy-boned boy!”

Burns went on to make his debut in 1971 and soon established himself alongside the likes of Francis, Bob Hatton, Bob Latchford, Garry Pendrey, Malcolm Page and Joe Gallagher.

He began at centre-half but was moved up front when Latchford was sold to Everton and bagged 20 goals in 1976-77.

But for better luck, Blues could have become a decent force, reckons Burns.

The 1975 FA Cup semi-final defeat was a watershed, for the wrong reasons, and Burns still hurts at the memory.

“The club could have taken off. We were unlucky, you need luck. When the draw came out for the semi-final we thought we were going to go to Wembley.

“Fulham were a Second Division team and we thought we would turn them over. But it wasn’t to be.

“We didn’t play too well. The manager changed it and went for experience when we did have a lot of young players.

“Big Joe Gallagher popped up to score to get us a replay but, once again, it was a flukey goal that won it for them.

“I would say that was my saddest moment in football, losing that game.

“We were stopping out in some hotel somewhere, it was 1am and Freddie Goodwin just said ‘that’s it, **** it, we’re going home’.

“I probably had a tear or two in my eye after getting off the coach and driving back to Tamworth, where I lived at the time.”

Burns, 56, is now based in Derby. He does hospitality duties at Forest, works in the media and is on the after-dinner circuit.

“Birmingham’s a club I love. Every week I look at the results, who they are playing, when they are playing.

“I don’t get over as often as I would like. But when I come back and go into a local pub, I’m home. It always feels that good being back in Birmingham.”

■ Kenny Burns’ autobiography No Ifs Or Butts is out now. A special hardback limited edition is available at £15.99. For further details e-mail: danny@ontheballpromotions.co.uk or contact Kenny Burns Promotions, 31 Norman Road, Mapperley, Nottingham, NG3 6LN.