He had brief loan spells at Kidderminster Harriers and Worcester City in the second half of the 1999–2000 season before joining Southern League Division One West team Bromsgrove Rovers.
Burgess started his career as an associated schoolboy with Aston Villa, but left for Stoke City in 1997 without having played a first-team game for the "Villans".
On 1 April 2000, he joined Southern League Premier Division side Worcester City on loan until the end of the season as manager John Barton wanted "more options up front".
[7] However, he made just three league appearances that season and left on a free transfer in January 2002 to sign for non-League Nuneaton Borough.
During his time at Redditch United he helped the club win promotion as champions of the Southern League Division One West in 2003–04.