The 2016-17 season would prove to be a difficult one on the pitch as Northwood struggled to built on their excellent 2015-16 campaign. The team were in mid table around the Christmas period, but a dreadful run of just one win in 2017 (against bottom club Petersfield Town) and seven points from their final 21 league fixtures saw the club sucked into a relegation battle. A late rally by Histon left Northwood just four points above relegation heading into the final weeks with survival only secured on the penultimate weekend of the season. The club finished in 20th with 39 points - their lowest finish and points tally since the 2010-11 season when the club finished with the same number of points and in the same position. The poor end to the season resulted in the club parting company with Burgess after four and a half years in the role. In total, Burgess played well over 200 games over two spells with the club, also helping Northwood to the Middlesex Senior Cup in 2016.