And it’s a journey he can’t quite believe.
Burn had to play a waiting game to get regular minutes for Darlington, finally weaving his way into the starting line-up after some impressive cup performances.
But he never thought he’d be standing cup-in-hand through the streets of Newcastle with the backdrop of thousands-upon-thousands of fans, saying he was sure there was ‘zero chance’ he’d make it at that level when he made his debut for the Quakers.
“But, hey, I’m here and I’m happy.”
Now he’s won a major trophy for his boyhood club and was happy to share that moment with friends and family as well as the adoring Geordie faithful across the city who piled onto the streets share in the team’s cup success.
(Image: Danny Lawson / PA) “The amount of people just hit you,” Burn said.
“There’s that many years of hurt and not celebrating, I knew it was going to be big, but I don’t think anyone could have prepared me for that.
“It just shows us as fans and as a city how much we did celebrate those times when we got to the finals and didn’t quite do it.
“I don’t know if there was ever not a plan to have a bus parade, but for the lads especially and the staff and everyone on those buses – we’ll never ever forget that moment.”
The reality of the magnitude of Burn’s achievements – scoring the first cup final goal for Newcastle in 25 years and then going on to win the first domestic trophy for 70 years – has not quite sunk in yet for the six foot six defender.
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“It’s starting to [sink in] a little bit,” he told reporters before heading onto the stage to lift the trophy on the Town Moor.
“When you see today and how happy it’s making people – at least I’m actually starting to feel emotion now, even though I’m having to stop myself from crying every two seconds.
“But it’s nice to actually feel something!”