The Warrnambool Rangers left-wing returned to Ballarat and District Soccer Association action on Sunday after a two-year stint in the United Kingdom.

Bourke, 22, played for West London-based club Brent FC and took the opportunity to soak up the passion for the world game.

“It is nice – everyone lives and breathes it over there which makes a big difference,” he said.

“I joined a pretty strong English club over there. There was three full, strong teams which is a little bit different to here.

“It was nice we played on a Saturday and there’s such a nice footballing culture.”

Bourke spent two full seasons at Brent FC, climbing up the ranks after a tough initiation.

“It was really difficult to adjust because here once you hit about 25, because it’s a bigger commitment to play here, you’re about top-age,” he said.

“But there, I am 22 and I was really young compared to everyone who played.

“They’re all older, experienced, stronger as well. The first couple of months I was there I was just getting smashed and knocked around.

“I played the first season in the third squad and we actually won the league that year, so it was good to get some gold to bring home.

“I eventually progressed and worked my way into the first team by the end of it which was really good.”

Bourke went to English Premier League games and second-tier matches and made the most of the saturated media coverage. 

“You actually can’t get away from it. Here it’s a bit of an effort to follow it,” he said.

“One of the best things was if we played on a Saturday then I’d be finished by 3 o’clock and you go to the pub and it’s on.

“It was so good as opposed to watching it at four in the morning here.”

Bourke had been on home on Australian soil less than a week when he took to the pitch for the Cameron Pyke-coached Rangers.

He had an assist in their 2-0 win over Ballarat Red to help them consolidate their top-four spot and will play his second match against Buninyong at Jones Oval on Sunday.

“I was travelling through Spain for a couple of months (after Brent FC’s season) and Pykey was hassling me because you actually have do a a transfer,” Bourke said.

“It went through luckily and I only found out Saturday afternoon that I could play and got on the bus the next day and went up.”