Alf Burnell

Alfred Burnell (14 June 1924 – 25 August 2019), also known by the nickname of "Ginger", was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England, Yorkshire and British Empire XIII, and at club level for Hunslet and Leeds (World War II guest), as a scrum-half.^[2]

Alf Burnell

Personal information
Full name	Alfred Burnell
Born	(1924-06-14)14 June 1924[1] Hunslet district, England
Died	25 August 2019(2019-08-25) (aged 95) Leeds, England
Playing information
Position	Scrum-half
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P ≤1939–58 Hunslet 352 113 0 0 339 1945 → Leeds (guest) 1 0 0 0 0 Total 353 113 0 0 339 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1949–50 Yorkshire 3 1950–52 England 4 4 0 0 12 1951 British Empire XIII 1951–54 Great Britain 3 0 0 0 0
Source: [2][3]

Background

Burnell's birth was registered in Hunslet district, South Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. During World War II, Burnell served in the Royal Navy, and spent four years as a submariner on detachment as part of the United States task force in Australasia.^[4]

In his later years, he lived in Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales. He died aged 95 in St James's University Hospital, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, and his funeral took place at St Wilfred's Parish Church, Pool-in-Wharfedale, on 12 September 2019.^[5]

International honours

Burnell won caps for England while at Hunslet in 1950 against France, in 1951 against Wales, and France, in 1952 against Wales, and won caps for Great Britain while at Hunslet in 1951 against New Zealand (2 matches), and in 1954 against New Zealand.

He also played once in the British Empire XIII team.