Karen Burke (born 14 July 1971) is an English footballer. She most recently played for Blackburn Rovers Ladies. Burke was born in Liverpool and represented England at full international level.

Club career

Burke only took up football aged 21, with a spell at St. Helens. In 1994 she reached her first FA Women's Cup final with Knowsley United. Burke hit the crossbar in injury time as Knowsley lost 1–0 to Doncaster Belles. In the following year's final, with Knowsley now known as Liverpool Ladies, player-of-the-match Burke twice put them ahead against

Arsenal An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...

, only for Marieanne Spacey to seal a 3–2 win for The Gunners. In summer 1995 Burke agreed to join Everton Ladies, but changed her mind when Liverpool appointed John Bennison—a professional coach from the Liverpool "

Boot Room The Boot Room was a famous room at Anfield, the home of Liverpool F.C. From the 1960s to the early 1990s it was a meeting place where the Liverpool coaching staff would sit, drink tea and discuss the team, tactics and ways of defeating the next ...

". In April 1996 Burke lost her third consecutive FA Women's Cup final to Croydon, on penalties after a 1–1 draw at the New Den. Luckless Burke had given Liverpool the lead and converted her penalty in the shootout. She finally joined Everton Ladies in the 1997 close season and won the Premier League title in 1997–1998. She played in Iceland in summer 1998, 1999 and 2000, with ÍBV. In 2000 Burke and teammate

Becky Easton Rebecca Anne Easton (born 16 June 1974) is an English former footballer who played for Doncaster Rovers Belles, Everton and Liverpool. Easton played as right-back and central midfielder and represented England at full international level. Merse ...

joined Doncaster Belles. Burke would travel twice weekly to Doncaster from her base in Liverpool, where she worked in a pub. The

2002 FA Women's Cup Final The 2002 FA Women's Cup Final was the 32nd final of the FA Women's Cup, England's primary cup competition for women's football teams. The final event was played between Doncaster Belles and Fulham Ladies on 6 May 2002 at Selhurst Park in Lond ...

was Burke's fourth unsuccessful appearance, as Doncaster were beaten 2–1 by the full-time professionals of

Fulham Fulham () is an area of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, bordering Hammersmith, Kensington and Chelsea. The area faces Wandsworth ...

. Burke moved to

Leeds United Ladies Leeds United Women are an English women's football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. They are currently members of the . Club information The club play their home matches at Thorp Arch, the Leeds United F.C. training facility near Wetherby. ...

for 2002–2003 before spending the 2003 close season back with Icelandic side ÍBV. She returned to Doncaster Belles for 2003–2004, before joining an exodus of players brought about by a cash crisis and moving back to Leeds, via another stint at ÍBV. Burke then suffered more FA Women's Cup final disappointment with

, in their 5–0 defeat against

in 2006. Burke left Leeds to join Blackburn Rovers Ladies in the 2007 close season. Although signed as an attacking midfielder, she moved to right-back for the 2009–10 season.

International career

Burke has won over 50 caps for the England senior team.

International goals

:''Scores and results list England's goal tally first.''

Blackburn statistics

''To October 2009''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burke, Karen 1971 births Living people English women's footballers England women's international footballers Liverpool F.C. Women players Everton F.C. (women) players Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C. players Leeds United Women F.C. players Blackburn Rovers L.F.C. players Footballers from Liverpool FA Women's National League players 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup players Expatriate women's footballers in Iceland English expatriate women's footballers Women's association football midfielders Karen Burke