Burridge was not a regular member of the side, but his versatility – he could play across the half-back line or as a forward – meant he was able to establish himself as first reserve,[6] and the supporters included him among those to receive a presentation in appreciation of the team's success.
[8] He played only rarely in his first season with Wednesday,[9] and although the £2,000 proceeds of his sale helped Darlington financially, his absence significantly weakened their team and they were relegated in 1926.
[10] By November 1927, he was playing more regularly for the first team, and the Derby Daily Telegraph assessed his strengths as "resolute tackling and robust defensive work".
By then playing at centre half, he captained Macclesfield to the 1931–32 Cheshire County League championship and appeared less frequently the following season as they retained the title.
He remained with Hurst as a player into the war years, making more than 100 appearances in all competitions,[2] and was appointed player-manager in 1935[16] and acting secretary in 1937.