Bourne began his career with non-league club Burton Albion before signing with Derby County in February 1971.
[1] In 1976, Derby County loaned Bourne to the Dallas Tornado of the North American Soccer League (NASL).
When it became apparent that Bourne would never be more than a sporadic player with the club, Derby County sold his contract to Crystal Palace F.C.
Bourne made an immediate impact, scoring nine goals in fifteen games and helping Crystal Palace return to the Second Division.
[3] Bourne first played in the United States when he came to the Dallas Tornado of the North American Soccer League on loan from Derby County in 1976.
That winter, Bourne was one of the top players during the NASL indoor season, scoring twenty-one goals in seventeen games.
The Slickers attempted to acquire him for the 1983 ASL season, but the Wings asking price was too high and Bourne signed with the Dallas Americans.