[4][5] Burton began his career at Thurnscoe Victoria, moving to Doncaster Rovers in March 1933, where he immediately commanded a first team place on the right wing.

His goal scoring reached double figures in each of the three seasons from 1933 to 1936, with a hat−trick in a 2–3 win at Hull City on 19 October 1935.

[6] This turned out to be his only season at Molineux though, as he headed south to join West Ham United in the Second Division.

His one game with Leeds United was in the last fixture of the 1941–42 Football League Northern Section (Second Championship).

In season 1942–43 he played 23 matches, scoring 8 times, with Chesterfield, and then in 1943–44 he made three appearances for Sheffield Wednesday.