As a player Burnett was a midfielder from 1989 until 2004 notably playing in the Football League for Plymouth Argyle, Huddersfield Town and Grimsby Town. Whilst at Grimsby he scored the winning golden goal in the 1998 Football League Trophy final. He also briefly played Premier League football for Blackburn Rovers and also played in the Football League for Leyton Orient, Bolton Wanderers and Peterborough United as well as playing non-League football for Woking, Grays Athletic and Fisher Athletic. After retiring from football in 2004, Burnett went on to become manager with former clubs Grays and Fisher as well as a spell with Dulwich Hamlet before returning to Leyton Orient as youth team manager.