 An injury to undisputed first-choice goalkeeper Iam McFaul in February 1973 allowed Burleigh a run of games in the first team, but the run ended when he broke a finger, after a clash with Mick Channon in a 1-1 draw away to Southampton and he played only twice more playing his final game for Newcastle on 11 May 1974 against Tottenham Hotspur at St James Park.He fell into dispute with boss Joe Harvey and walked out on the club in August 1974 when he considered joining the RAF.In six years with the club he made just 15 first-team appearances in all competitions.