Graham Burke left Ireland in 2010 dreaming of a career in the Premier League with Aston Villa.
Shamrock Rovers’ Graham Burke celebrates his 100th goal for the club(Image: INPHO/James Crombie)
Graham Burke says he was “broken” when he returned to Ireland and agreed to sign for Shamrock Rovers for “peanuts”.
Burke left these shores in 2010 dreaming of a career in the Premier League with Aston Villa – and he came close a year later when he was an unused substitute against Liverpool.
After loan spells at Shrewsbury and Notts County, he made a permanent switch to County in 2015, but less than two years later he was back in Dublin signing for the Hoops.
Now in his second spell at Tallaght Stadium, Burke has just hit a major landmark by netting his 100th goal for Rovers in all competitions.
That includes a League of Ireland joint record of 14 goals scored in European competition.
In the wake of his 100th goal, scored in Monday’s 3-2 win over Shelbourne, Burke reflected on his journey so far.
“I came home a bit broken,” he said, “and tried to get myself going again to enjoy the game. There was no planning on going back [to England], just to play and enjoy it.
“Coming back to the club, I wanted to be successful by winning trophies and scoring goals.
“I didn’t think I’d reach 100 goals, win five leagues, two Cups and play in the European group stage three times. It’s been a great experience and something I’m really proud to achieve.”
Burke did get back to England – this time with Preston. He also won three senior Ireland caps and scored in a 2019 win over the USA.
“Listen, if you come back after not enjoying it, the easy thing to do is give up,” he said. “I backed myself to try and get back to who I knew I could be.
“I was grateful that I’ve been able to have a career in the game. I’m 32, turn 33 later this year, so I probably don’t have many years left to play. I’m trying to enjoy it as much as I can.”
Rovers didn’t have to break the bank to land Burke in 2017.
“When I came here, I probably wasn’t being paid. I was getting paid but it was nothing, only peanuts,” he said.
“Luckily enough I could live because I was still getting paid off Notts County. I’d have struggled to have lived on that wage alone. Thankfully I was living at home.
“It wasn’t for the money, just trying to get back and enjoy it.
“I came through hard times. I had great moments before I came back [from England the first time], but the year before coming back was a bad spell.
“When I came back I started playing and enjoying it again and doing well, playing for Ireland and getting the move back to England.
“When I went away, and I knew that I’d be going on loan, I wanted to come back to Rovers, be at home and enjoy it again.
“I didn’t want to keep having to move because when I did move on loan it felt like the previous time. I didn’t want that again for myself.
“So to come back here, try to win and be part of this group, it’s been a special few years.”
Burke wants to stay at Rovers for the rest of his career. He rejoined the club, first on-loan from Preston in the summer of 2019, and then on a permanent basis.
“There’s been ups and downs,” he said of his time at Rovers. “It hasn’t been plain sailing. I know we’ve won [a lot of trophies], but I’ve had a lot of good games and a lot of bad games.
“That’s football, you’ve got to take the good with the bad. I’ve been successful here, but I’ve also had bad spells, as in performances and things like that.”
Injuries have taken their toll on Burke, so manager Stephen Bradley has to carefully manage his minutes.
“What Stephen has done with me last year and this year has been to manage my training, the games I’ve played and the minutes I’ve played,” explained the Hoops legend.
“I think that has helped me so much. In previous years I’d love to have played every game, but history tells you I break down.
“So the way Stephen has managed me over the last 15 or 16 months, I’ve really reaped the benefits of it.”
Reflecting on his 100 goals, Burke remembered how his first was quickly followed by a red card against Dundalk.
“I lasted seven minutes,” he said. “How could I not remember that?”
As for favourites, he replied: “That was against the Czech team, Mlada Boleslav [in July 2017, when Rovers lost 3-2]. That was one of the better ones.
“I scored with my right foot against Cork City in the year that I left [for Preston]. That was with my weaker foot so it was a surprise and stands out.
“There was one in the derby against Bohs last year. It was such a huge goal because it kind of clinched the title. They stand out.”
After scoring so many spectacular goals, his 100th was a tap-in from two yards.
“I was in the right spot at the right time when the goalkeeper spilled it. As players, they’re great because they’re nearly free. A poacher’s goal,” he said.