Mark Burchill was decent but not in the same class as Celtic’s other strikers | OneFootball

Mark Burchill was a good striker who didn’t fulfil his potential, but he had a decent career all the same…

Mark Burchill Glasgow Celtic FC 24 August 1998. Photo Mary Evans Allstar Graham Whitby Boot

Mark Burchill was handed his Celtic debut by Dr Jozef Venglos in August 1998 in a shock League Cup defeat at Airdie. A few days later he would go on to score his first goal for the club against Dundee United in a 2-1 win at Celtic Park.

Mark had only turned 18 when he made his debut but he was highly rated at the club due to his performances in the youth side and Venglos had no qualms about throwing him into the Celtic first team.

Burch had all the attributes to go far in the game and was tipped to go to the very top, even making his Scotland debut in October 1999 at the age of just 19.

Mark Burchill, Fulton & Locke Hearts V Celtic 20 November 1999. Photo Mary Evans Allstar Richard Sellers

In the end he found it hard to break into a Celtic side that contained the likes of Henrik Larsson, Harald Brattbakk, Mark Viduka, Ian Wright, Tommy Johnson and Chris Sutton during his time at Celtic.

Despite his lack of opportunities Mark still found the net, boasting an overall record of 24 goals in 53 appearances, a very decent return considering a bulk of his appearances came from the bench.

His most notable goals being the fifth goal in the 5-1 hammering of Rangers in 1998, and a three minute hat trick in a UEFA cup tie against Jeunesse Esch of Luxembourg, which was the fastest hat trick in European club football, a record I believe still stands today.

That hat trick was under the leadership of Martin O’Neill, and despite it giving Mark some hope that he could challenge for a first team place, it never materialised, which was no shame as in front of him was Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton.

16 Sep 1999: Mark Burchill is challenged by Shimon Gereson of Hapoel during the UEFA Cup Round 1, Leg 1, Celtic v Hapoel Tel-Aviv game played at Celtic Park.  Photo: Michael Cooper /Allsport

Mark was soon shipped out on loan and went to Birmingham City followed by a loan spell at Ipswich town. Mark would then sign permanently for Portsmouth in 2001. Things started well at Pompey as he struck up a good partnership with Peter Crouch before a knee injury sidelined him for a lengthy spell.

After struggling to get back in the Portsmouth side, Mark went out on several loan deals to a host of Scottish and English sides and bounced from side to side throughout the years. Mark Burchill still carved himself a decent career all the same, but he never recaptured the form he had as a promising youngster at Celtic.

Mark Burchill’s career photos are shown below….

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Mark Burchill, Fulton & Locke Hearts V Celtic 20 November 1999 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: MaryxEvansxAllstarxRichardxSellers 12143923 editorial use only

Mark Burchill Glasgow Celtic FC 24 August 1998 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: MaryxEvansxAllstarxGrahamxWhitbyxBoot 12131270 editorial use only

16 Sep 1999: Mark Burchill of Celtic is challenged by Shimon Gereson of Hapoel during the UEFA Cup Round 1, Leg 1, Celtic v Hapoel Tel-Aviv game played at Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland. The match finished in a 2-0 win for Celtic. Mandatory Credit: Michael Cooper /Allsport

9 Oct 1999: Mark Burchill of Scotland misses a penalty during the European Championships Group 9 qualifier against Lithuania at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland. Scotland won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Alex Livesey /Allsport

21 Oct 1999: Mark Burchill of Celtic (second left) is booked by referee Rene Temmink during the UEFA Cup second round first leg match against Lyon at the Stade Gerland in Lyon, France. Lyon won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Clive Brunskill /Allsport

21 Oct 1999: Mark Burchill of Celtic goes past Florent Laville of Lyon during the UEFA Cup second round first leg match at the Stade Gerland in Lyon, France. Photo Clive Brunskill /Allsport

21 Oct 1999: Mark Burchill of Celtic shoots past a Lyon defender during the UEFA Cup second round first leg match at the Stade Gerland in Lyon, France. Lyon won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Clive Brunskill /Allsport

17 Nov 1999: David Seaman of England is protected by Tony Adams (#5) and collects the ball as Billy Dodds and Mark Burchill of Scotland close in during the Euro 2000 play-off second leg match at Wembley Stadium, London. Scotland won the game 1-0, but England progress to Euro 2000 courtesy of a 2-1 aggregate scoreline. Mandatory Credit: Ross Kinnaird /Allsport

12 Dec 2000: Mark Burchill of Birmingham gets past Ashley Westwood of Sheffield during the match between Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday in the Worthington Cup Quarter Final at St Andrews, Birmingham. Mandatory Credit: Ben Radford/ALLSPORT

4 Mar 2001: Mark Burchill of Ipswich wins the ball in the air from goalkeeper Gary Walsh of Bradford during the match between Ipswich Town and Bradford City in the FA Carling Premiership at Portman Road, Ipswich. Mandatory Credit: Mike Hewitt/ALLSPORT

27 Aug 2001: Mark Burchill scores for Portsmouth during the Nationwide Division One match between Portsmouth and Grimsby played at Fratton Park in Portsmouth in England. Portsmouth won the match 4 – 2. Mandatory Credit: Mike Hewitt /Allsport

DERBY – NOVEMBER 9: Mark Burchill of Portsmouth celebrates his second-half goal during the Nationwide League Division One match between Derby County and Portsmouth held at Pride Park in Derby, England on November 9, 2002. (Photo by Mike Finn-Kelcey/Getty Images)

GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM – MAY 26: Neil Lennon of Celtic gets tackled by Mark Burchill of Dunfermline Athletic during the Tennents Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park on May 26, 2007 in Glasgow, Scotland.(Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)

GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM – MAY 26: Neil Lennon of Celtic gets tackled by Mark Burchill of Dunfermline Athletic during the Tennents Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park on May 26,2007 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)

GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM – MAY 26: Mark Burchill of Dunfermline Athletic tackles Neil Lennon of Celtic during the Scottish Cup Final, between Dunfermline Athletic and Celtic at Hampden Park on May 26, 2007 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM – MAY 26: Mark Burchill of Dunfermline Athletic tackles Kenny Miller of Celtic during the Scottish Cup Final, between Dunfermline Athletic and Celtic at Hampden Park on May 26, 2007 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

LIVINGSTON, SCOTLAND – JULY 13: Manager Mark Burchill (L) of Livingston with assistant David Hopkins during the Pre Season Friendly between Livingston and Real Sociedad at the City Stadium on July 13th, 2015 in Livingston, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff Holmes/Getty Images)

LIVINGSTON, SCOTLAND – JULY 13: Mark burchill Livingston manager at the Pre Season Friendly between Livingston and Real Sociedad at the City Stadium on July 13th, 2015 in Livingston, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff Holmes/Getty Images)