Burrows was born in Sutton-in-Ashfield on 11 March 1910, as a youth he won honours with Nottinghamshire Schools and played for local club Sutton Junction F.C.
He eventually made his debut on 27 December 1932 against Manchester City and became Wednesday's regular left half for the next six seasons up to the outbreak of World War II.
[3][4][5] At the outbreak of war, Burrows continued to play for Wednesday in the wartime leagues and work in a sports shop that he had opened in his home town of Sutton-in-Ashfield.
He played 49 wartime games for Wednesday and several as a guest for Millwall before being called up in January 1942 and joining the Sherwood Foresters.
The shop is no longer trading, but was run by his son Adrian who also played professional football between 1979 and 1993 making over 200 appearances for Plymouth Argyle.