His performances attracted the attention of professional Football League Second Division club Burnley, who he joined on a free transfer in April 1909.
[2] He was originally signed as cover for the veteran fullback Fred Barron, and made his league debut for Burnley in the 3–2 victory over Blackpool on 25 March 1910.
[4] Bamford was John Haworth's first choice left-back for the first 13 matches of the 1911–12 season, but again found himself left out of the team in December 1911 following the signing of David Taylor, who had been a part of Bradford City's FA Cup winning side in that year.
[9] From the summer of 1915 onwards, the First World War brought competitive football to a halt in England just when Bamford was in his late twenties and at the peak of his career.
[11] When league football eventually resumed in August 1919, Bamford was 32 years old and could not regain his place in the Burnley team thanks to the emergence of young fullback Len Smelt.