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Jeff Bourne signed a professional contract with Derby County in February
1971. He had previously played on a part time basis for Burton Albion
his home town non league club. County manager Brian Clough gave Bourne a
brief taste of First Division action at the end of that 1970/71 season,
although after being substituted against Coventry City it looked
unlikely that the twenty-two year old striker would quickly gain a
regular first team place. And so it proved; Bourne did not play in
either the "Rams" 1971/72 championship winning side or the team that
finished seventh the following season. He was, however, recalled on
January 1st 1974.
A series of injuries prompted his return to the
limelight and second time around Jeff, albeit briefly, seized the
opportunity in remarkable style. He netted a goal in a 1-1 draw with
Birmingham City and then eight more in the next nine games; his strikes
including league doubles against Burnley and Norwich and an FA Cup brace
against Boston United. Although he did not add to his tally, Bourne
remained in the side for the remainder of the 1973/74 campaign. Three
wins in their last four matches secured County a third place finish. It
was a creditable performance from Dave Mackay's team especially given
the turmoil that had surrounded the club after Brian Clough's
resignation earlier in the season. The signing of Francis Lee from
Manchester City saw Bourne start on the substitutes bench for ten of his
seventeen appearances during the 1974/75 season. Without club captain
Roy McFarland at the heart of their defence, County defied the odds and
won the title for the second time in four seasons.
Jeff scored against
Liverpool and Birmingham City and also notched two more in the "Rams"
UEFA Cup third round home sucess over Velez Mostar. Bourne made eleven
appearances over the following two seasons, including four as a
substitute. His only goal came against Slovan Bratislava in the 1975/76
European Cup. Unable to establish himself in the side Jeff moved to
Crystal Palace in March 1977 for a fee of £30,000. In all competitions he
made seventy-three appearances for County, including twenty-five as a
substitute. Although the majority of his fourteen goals were scored with
the aplomb of a natural goalscorer he seemed unable to perform
consistently at the highest level. (Mike Cockayne)
Jeff Bourne died on 31st. July 2014 from motor neurone disease, having only been diagnosed with the disease nine weeks previously.
1971-1977 Derby County 73 (14)
1976 Dallas Tornado (loan) 22 (15)
1977–1978 Crystal Palace 32 (10)
1978 Dallas Tornado 30 (21)
1979 Atlanta Chiefs 29 (18)
1979–1980 Sheffield United 26 (11)
1980 Atlanta Chiefs 19 (5)
1980–1981 Seattle Sounders 32 (8)
1980–1981 Seattle Sounders (indoor) 17 (21)
1981–1984 Wichita Wings (indoor) 113 (109)
1982 Oklahoma City Slickers (loan) ? (20)
1983 Dallas Americans (loan) ? (17)
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