CALLUM BURTON

Full Name: Callum Alex David Burton

Born: 15 August 1996

Came from: Cambridge United   Went to: Released

First game: 24 August 2021   Last game: 29 August 2023

Appearances: 32 (31/1)   Goals: 0

Burton became Argyle's fourth new face of the 2021 summer when he signed on the same June day as another town-like name, James Bolton.

Born in Newport, Shropshire, the goalkeeper began his playing career in the youth setup at Shrewsbury Town. Having already achieved England under-16 and under-17 international honours, he was sent on a work experience loan to Market Drayton in August 2013, and a month later to Conference North team Workington. In February 2014 he was rewarded with a two-year professional contract at Shrewsbury, having earned a call-up for his country's under-18 side earlier in the season.

Loan spells at Nuneaton (twice), Southport and Telford followed over the following three years, as did his Football League debut and his only senior game for the Shrews, on the last day of the 2015-16 season.

In July 2017, the 6' 2" stopper signed for Hull City, following the Yorkshire club's relegation from the Premier League. He was sent out on loan to Salford City in his first season as a Tiger, and to Chesterfield in the second. Without winning a place in Hull's senior side, he moved to Cambridge United in League Two on a two-year deal in June 2019, making 50 appearances and helping the U's win promotion to League One in his second season at the club.

Despite the important part he played in Cambridge's promotion campaign, the 24-year-old was released in May 2021, freeing him to sign a two-year deal at Home Park on the same day that club hero Luke McCormick, who it was thought had retired, retained his player registration and signed a new deal as a training goalkeeper.

Burton's chances at Home Park were initially limited to early-season cup games, with Michael Cooper Ryan Lowe's choice between the sticks in 2021-22. The following season, under Steven Schumacher, appeared to be going to type, but following an injury to Cooper after an aerial challenge in a table-topping clash at Hillsborough in February 2023, Burton was summoned into action for his Pilgrims' league debut, with the promotion charge appearing to be faltering. Then days later came the news that Cooper would be out for the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Resisting the clamour to sign a new 'keeper, Schumacher placed his faith in Burton and recalled youngster Adam Parkes from his loan spell at Plymouth Parkway to fill the vacated keeper's spot on the bench. This proved justified as Burton performed in an exemplary manner, tempering the disappointment of a runners-up medal in the Football League Trophy at Wembley in April 2023 with a League One winner's medal after Schumacher's men romped home with 101 points a month later.

He reverted to his support role in his third season at Home Park, with only two appearances early on in cup competitions, and he was then released at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, perhaps frustrated at not having had a chance at Championship level.

In July 2024 he signed for ambitious, Hollywood-backed League One side Wrexham, ostensibly as a back-up keeper again, on a two-year deal, where he was later joined by another ex-Pilgrim, Dan Scarr.