From Perth to the Prem - Burgess ready for top level challenge
Playing in the Premier League is, quite simply, the dream of every aspiring young footballer across the world.
For Subway Socceroo #633 Cameron Burgess, that dream is about to become reality this weekend as Ipswich Town return to the top flight.
However, after signing for the club on August 15, 2021, it would have seemed almost impossible for him and his side to earn back-to-back promotions to secure a place in the Premier League.
Almost being the key word. In his three years at Ipswich, Burgess has gone on to play 105 games in all competitions for the club and helped them to promotion from League One in 2022/23, then the Championship in 2023/24 - which included singing with Ed Sheeran, who is a lifelong supporter of the Tractor Boys and now minority stakeholder.
Now, he is just days out from playing in the Premier League – Ipswich Town’s first opponent is Liverpool. How special.
He said that when he signed for the club three years ago, he didn’t think it would amount to a Premier League appearance, but he did know that the group of players and staff were special.
“When I signed it sort of became apparent quite quickly that it was a good group, the culture was always going to be there and I think that's probably one of the biggest factors in doing what we did,” he said.
“I guess as time went on maybe after the first season, there was a good belief there and with the promotion season from League One you really thought we could do something special, but to do what we've done, I don't think anyone would have thought that in their minds.”
The 2023/24 season ended with Ipswich in second place on the Championship table – Burgess played 39 times in the league scoring twice.
He and his teammates celebrated the incredible yet shock promotion, as did the supporters of the club and he said it was a joy to see.
“Towards the end the game you could see the fans and stuff creeping towards the pitch, and it was just, from that point on, just carnage of just bodies everywhere,” he said.
“I didn't know there was that many people in Ipswich to be honest, the streets after the game, you couldn't move, there was just people everywhere.
“Just seeing some of the videos and stuff of the fans out for days on end basically it was special, and I guess it shows what it sort of means to them as well.”
For the 28-year-old defender who grew up in Perth, Ipswich is a town that he likens to back home. It is definitely a place he feels comfortable living.
“I think Ipswich is the closest thing I'm going to find in the UK to back home in Perth,” he said.
“Thankfully my time, for the most part, has been successful, so I haven't had too many bad comments (from supporters), which is nice.
“It's a special place at the moment, I think there's the right level of buzz of excitement, and also just a nice, respectful place to live as well.”
Burgess is one of many of our Subway Socceroos who have enjoyed promotions or transfers with or to clubs in top divisions across Europe.
Looking ahead to the season, he said it is exciting to know more fans will get to see Australians playing at the top level and he knows it will be discussed at the next Socceroos camp.
“Obviously there's Aussies everywhere so it will be cool to see a few Aussie flags come out and support myself and Mass (Massimo Luongo),” he said.
“There's a lot of guys flying, a lot of guys being promoted to some top leagues, so everyone's in good spirits. It's good place to be.”
He added that the current squad of Socceroos have gelled well together and it truly is a great time for the group of players.
“The culture here with these guys (Socceroos teammates), is pretty similar to be fair, it's a band of brothers, we're all going through the exact same thing, and everyone's cut from the same cloth,” he said.
“That's what Arnie talks about really, the camaraderie and the sort of energy around the place is big and I think I'm a part of that. It's always special being in camp.”
