William "Tosher" Burns (29 December 1902 – September 1984) was an Irish international footballer who played professionally in Ireland, England and the United States as a centre back.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Burns | ||
| Date of birth | 29 December 1902 | ||
| Place of birth | Newtownards, Irish | ||
| Date of death | September 1984 (aged 81) | ||
| Place of death | Newtownards, Northern Ireland | ||
| Youth career | |||
| – | Nortonville | ||
| – | Ulster | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1921–1922 | Ards | ? | (?) |
| 1922–1925 | Glentoran | 109 | (13) |
| 1925–1926 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 | (0) |
| 1926–1927 | Shelbourne | 8 | (0) |
| 1927 | Philadelphia Celtic | 4 | (2) |
| 1927–1928 | J & P Coats | 4 | (0) |
| 1928 | Shelbourne | 8 | (0) |
| 1928 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 | (0) |
| 1928–1929 | Ards | ? | (5) |
| 1929 | Workington | ? | (?) |
| 1929–1931 | Ards | ? | (12) |
| 1931–1932 | Glentoran | 29 | (6) |
| 1932–1933 | Ards United | ? | (?) |
| 1933–1935 | Ards | ? | (22) |
| 1935–1936 | Belfast St. Peters | ? | (?) |
| Total | ? | (?) | |
| International career | |||
| 1924 | Ireland | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editBorn in Newtownards, Burns began his career in his native Ireland with the youth teams of Nortonville and Ulster. He began his senior career in November 1921 with Ards, and later played for Glentoran, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Shelbourne, Philadelphia Celtic, J & P Coats, Workington, Ards United and Belfast St. Peters.
Burns also earned one international cap for Ireland in 1924.