Kenny Burns Speaks to Joys and Sorrows Part 2

December 17, 2009 by KevB8ll
Filed under: Blues News, Kev's Ramblings, Memories

Here is part 2 of my interview with Kenny, starting with style as a player! If you missed part 1, you can read it here.

You had a bit of a reputation as a hardman, was that something that developed or was it always there?

It was always there to be honest. I liked the physical aspect of the game. If someone was doing something – you had to stop it. (Me – Didn’t you put Alan Hanson or Mark Lawrenson down in a game?). Well that wouldn’t be hard! Alan wasn’t very physical! There were players who weren’t very physical, so I tried to bully them. You get a hard tackle or challenge in early.

Kenny Burns

So by roughing them up you were gaining an advantage.

Yeah, I’m trying to do the best for the team. If it means me bullying someone to give us the edge, I would do it. Freddie always said, the first chance you get hit the keeper. The first cross – whack him. Next time it comes over, he’ll be watching you and not the ball. I used to try and get away with what I could! I think I only got sent off twice for the Blues though! I came close a number of other times though!

Tell us about Willie Bell, because he took over as manager while you were still with us after Freddie got the sack.

After Freddie got the sack, I got on well with Willie (Bell) and then for some reason it went totally against me. I saw Willie many years later and he said that he was told that I was tapped up by Forest and my sources were never wrong. I said they were wrong this time, I was NEVER tapped up. I got on really well with him, I think I was one of his favourites and probably got away with things a bit more. Then when he became manager I remember he had a Vauxhall Viva and I used to say to him – what are doing driving that as manager of Birmingham City? You should be driving a Mercedies! He did eventually get one. That’s how I used to talk to him!

Kenny Burns

It sounds like you had a great time with us as a club, and we loved having you. But tell me a bit about your time after you left us, because you had a great time at Forest. Was the move difficult?

To be honest I found it really hard that Birmingham didn’t want me. That was strange to me. Forest were superb to me. I can’t fault them to be honest.

Have you got a Cloughie story?

Well there was one related to Martin O’Neill, he had been dropped to make way for Trevor and he was really upset about it. Cloughie called everyone in and asked him what the matter was. He said nothing, so Cloughie said yes there is and we will all sit here all day until you tell me. So Martin O’Neill said, OK then I want to know why I’m in the second team. Cloughie just turned round and said, because you’re too good for the third team! That was in front of the whole squad. You were a better man for meeting Cloughie.

There is a rumour that he was in line to become the Blues manager, do you know if that was true?

Yes it was. I remember when I was with him, he said to me. I nearly became manager of Birmingham because of one man, Clifford Coombs. He was a gentleman I nearly went there because of him.

Back to the present Kenny, what do you think about the new owners and about what Alex is doing?

Well I hope the new owners do spend their money to build the club up. Alex has to build slowly, and get the squad playing well and add in better and better players over time. I saw the Villa game earlier in the season and I was disappointed. Alex played 1 up front at home. It’s good that he’s changed it. The run the club is on, is great and they can play. Alex can do it. If the Blues can start getting success, they will become a bigger club than the Villa. I remember the big gates in the 70’s and I believe that these owners can play a big part in making the Blues a big club.

What are you up to now, and you have a new book out Kenny, tell us a bit about that.

I do a lot of after dinner speaking these days, and if anyone wants me to come to an event just contact me. (Contact J&S for details). As you say, I have a book out called No If’s or Butts! It is about my life and career from Scotland to the present day. Stories about managers and about things I’ve experienced. Not that it is all about me as such, it is about those who also played a part in my career. Some stories bout when I got into fights, also when I was on tour with the Blues and some things that happened there and also about my time at Forest!

Kenny thank you so much for giving me the time, you are genuinely one of my all time favourite Blues players. I hope we get chance to meet you again. I did meet you as a kid at Elmdon and you signed an programme for me.

I hope we can meet to, and no problem for this. Actually my signature has changed since then, I can do joined up writing now!

Ladies and Gentleman – Kenny Burns!

Images used with kind permission of Birmingham City FC

Tags: Alan Hanson, Alex McLeish, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Brian Clough, Clifford Coombs, Freddie Goodwin, Nottingham Forest, Players, Willie Bell

Comments

2 Comments on Kenny Burns Speaks to Joys and Sorrows Part 2

sully on Fri, 18th Dec 2009 03:28

Kenny would with out doubt make a blues greatest ever team.
Does anyone remember his flying header in the cup against Boro.

Merf on Tue, 22nd Dec 2009 15:09

Kenny Burns will always be a legend in my eyes. The was one of the best sweepers that we have ever had, and it’s a shame that he had to leave to reach his full potential. I will be looking out for his book on amazon…….Long Live Our Kenny! Oh yeah. I have forgiven him for sticking his fingers up to the Tilton during a bad spell………I knew he never meant it…….OK he maybe did at the time.

Feel free to offer an opinion or comment on this article. But remember that all comments are moderated by the Joys & Sorrows admin team BEFORE they appear on the site. If you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!