MEN'S LEAGUE	32	53	59	66	70	71	75	96	99	00	02	06	14	19	20	21	22	MEN'S WORLD CLUB	01	07	23
MEN'S CHALLENGE CUPS	56	61	66	72	76	96	97	01	04	06	07	08	21					WOMEN'S MATCHES	21	22	23	24	21

MEN 1873-1895
MEN 1895-2024
WOMEN 2018-2024

Francis Burns
OVERALL STATISTICS
BIRTH	AGE	SIGNED ON	FROM
4-4-1851	N/A	Date unknown.	Unknown.
DEBUT		LAST MATCH	LEFT
25-11-1876 v Wigan		St Helens Recs	1880-
CAREER			APPEARANCES (SUBS)
1876-1880			4 (0)
TRIES	GOALS	DGOALS	PTS
0	0	0	0

Biography of Francis Burns
HERITAGE NO : Francis George Burns RECRUITING SGT MAJOR BURNS Francis George Burns was born in Shoeburyness, Essex in April 1851. We know little about his early life but in 1871 he was at the School of Military Engineering in Gillingham, Kent training to become an engineer in the army. Evidently, early in his army career he was posted to St Helens. He met and married Mary Varley in 1878 who was a member of a prominent family in the town. Indeed three of Mary’s brothers, namely William, Harry and Richard were members of the first ever St Helens RFC team who played Liverpool Royal Infirmary on January 24th, 1874. Doubtless, the Sgt Major was recruited himself to play for the Saints. He is prominent in all the texts about the formation and early development of the St. Helens club, from the accounts of people who were around at the time. There is a strong connection with the military volunteer force, with members of the club. Francis played for the Saints in the mid 1870s. The 1881 census shows that he is 29 and based at 6, Croppers Hill, St Helens. His wife, Mary is 24 and they have a son, James, aged one. Croppers Hill in St Helens was also the location of the Army Barracks the 2nd Lancs Volunteer Royal Engineers. It appears that he had determined to make his life in St Helens. Francis designed and made his family home, Burnside, in Queen’s Park, adjacent to Taylor Park. We know that he he was discharged from the Army in 1896 after an examination at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. When he retired from the army he became a wine and spirit merchant with branches in Runcorn, Widnes, and St Helens. In 1902 he visited one of his customers in Ditton, Widnes, and was killed by the Liverpool express while crossing the railway line. The inquest verdict was accidental death but he left a mere £50 in his will. Tragically his wife Mary died in the same month.

Biography of Francis Burns

HERITAGE NO :

Francis George Burns

RECRUITING SGT MAJOR BURNS

Francis George Burns was born in Shoeburyness, Essex in April 1851. We know little about his early life but in 1871 he was at the School of Military Engineering in Gillingham, Kent training to become an engineer in the army. Evidently, early in his army career he was posted to St Helens. He met and married Mary Varley in 1878 who was a member of a prominent family in the town. Indeed three of Mary’s brothers, namely William, Harry and Richard were members of the first ever St Helens RFC team who played Liverpool Royal Infirmary on January 24th, 1874. Doubtless, the Sgt Major was recruited himself to play for the Saints.

He is prominent in all the texts about the formation and early development of the St. Helens club, from the accounts of people who were around at the time. There is a strong connection with the military volunteer force, with members of the club. Francis played for the Saints in the mid 1870s.

The 1881 census shows that he is 29 and based at 6, Croppers Hill, St Helens. His wife, Mary is 24 and they have a son, James, aged one. Croppers Hill in St Helens was also the location of the Army Barracks the 2nd Lancs Volunteer Royal Engineers.

It appears that he had determined to make his life in St Helens. Francis designed and made his family home, Burnside, in Queen’s Park, adjacent to Taylor Park. We know that he he was discharged from the Army in 1896 after an examination at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea.

When he retired from the army he became a wine and spirit merchant with branches in Runcorn, Widnes, and St Helens. In 1902 he visited one of his customers in Ditton, Widnes, and was killed by the Liverpool express while crossing the railway line. The inquest verdict was accidental death but he left a mere £50 in his will. Tragically his wife Mary died in the same month.

Date	Match		Pos	Opponents	Comp	Venue
25th Nov 1876	1	N/K	8	Wigan*	FR	A	VIEW
3rd Feb 1877	2	N/K	14	Cheetham*	FR	H	VIEW
22nd Nov 1879	3	N/K	8	Birkenhead Rangers*	FR	H	VIEW
21st Feb 1880	4	N/K	10	St Helens Recs*	FR	A	VIEW

*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.

WINS : \| LOSSES : \| DRAWS :

THIS PAGE LINK : http://saints.org.uk/saints/preplayer.php?num=73042

Francis Burns

OVERALL STATISTICS

Biography of Francis Burns