He was a stocky, powerfully-built player who was at his best in the engine room of the midfield. He was deceptively quick and was renowned at Turf Moor for his ferocious shooting power, possessing one of the most powerful left feet of any Burnley player since the war.

After impressing for Worksop Schoolboys and Nottinghamshire Schoolboys, Gordon Harris was a pit worker and representing his colliery when he was recommended to Burnley as a 17-year-old in 1957. He scored on his First Division debut, at home to Leeds in January 1959, but appeared only occasionally in the first team as the Clarets secured the First Division Championship in 1960.

He slotted into the team following Brian Pilkington's transfer to Bolton and quickly made a big impression with his excellent ball control and ability to take on and beat defenders. Such was his rapid progress that he won his first representative honour in November 1961 when he was selected for a Football League XI to face the Irish League in Belfast.

He scored in a 6-1 victory and followed that up a week later with an England under-23 cap in a 7-1 win against Israel at Leeds.

Gordon Harris was a hard man both on and off the field and occasionally there were reports of altercations with other players in training. During matches, a sudden flare-up after a questionable tackle often brought him into conflict with referees.

As Burnley's great side at the turn of the decade was breaking up the fine form of Gordon Harris continued. He was in Alf Ramsey's thoughts as the World Cup of 1966 approached and won his only full England cap in a 1-1 draw with Poland at Goodison Park in January 1966. He was chosen for Ramsey's initial squad of 40 in preparation for the tournament itself, but was to miss out on the chance of football immortality.

He was appointed club captain ready for the start of the 1967/68 season, but it was to be his last in Claret and Blue. Just before Christmas 1967, he was dropped from the first team and disciplined, shortly afterwards moving to Sunderland for a record £70,000.

He became a regular at Roker Park, replacing the great Jim Baxter until losing his first team place in 1971. He retired from league football in 1972, later playing for South Shields in the Northern Premier League before moving back to his native Nottinghamshire where he worked in the coal industry as a driver.