[1] Burgess' birth was registered in Barrow-in-Furness district, Lancashire, England.
He is the son of the rugby league footballer Bill Burgess.
Burgess played in Barrow's 12–17 defeat by Featherstone Rovers in the 1966–67 Challenge Cup Final during the 1966–67 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1967,[5] and played in Salford's 6–11 defeat by Castleford in the 1968–69 Challenge Cup Final during the 1968–69 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 17 May 1969.
Burgess is third in Barrow's all time try scorers list with 179-tries.
[6] Burgess is a Barrow Raiders Hall of Fame inductee.