Posted June 24, 2016

Cowden boss Liam Fox has now added highly experienced midfielder Burton O'Brien to the playing staff at Central Park.  Last season he was with Alloa Athletic.

 

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Burton has dual nationality and has represented Scotland at all levels up to Under 21's.   He made his senior debut for St Mirren as a 16 year old schoolboy and over 20 appearances generated interest from Manchester United, Rangers and Bayer Leverkusen.  In the end a move to Blackburn Rovers was completed in a deal worth £600,000.  

 

At Ewood Park though competition for a first team place was pretty intense and Burton only made one first team appearance for the Rovers.  He then moved back north to Livingston, where he was a member of the side which won the Scottish League Cup, played in the UEFA Cup and the SPL captaining them in his final season.  

 

He still though hankered over making his mark South of the border and thus joined Sheffield Wednesday.  He played in over 100 English Championship matches for the Hillsborough club before Falkirk tempted him back north and appointed him club captain.  He played for the Bairns in the Scottish Cup final and then in the UEFA Cup.  

 

He just missed out on representing South Africa in the 2010 World Cup because the FIFA deadline for switching registration passed after being approached by South Africa.  More recently he had a spell back at Livingston before joining Alloa in last season's Championship.  Now he will lend all his knowledge and experience to aid the Blue Brazil cause.