 Burbeck was born in Leicester, and began his football career with his hometown club, Leicester City.In July 1951, he was one of 20 youngsters selected by the Football Association for an England Youth training camp, and in October that same year, the 17-year-old Burbeck was selected to represent the North in an amateur international trial.He played for England Youth against their Scottish and Welsh counterparts in 1952, and was a member of the squad for that year's FIFA Under-18 Tournament.