Cuthbert Burnup

Cuthbert James "Pinky" Burnup (21 November 1875 – 5 April 1960) was an English amateur sportsman who played cricket and football around the turn of the 20th century. Burnup played once for the England football team but is more renowned for playing over 200 first-class cricket matches, mainly for Kent County Cricket Club. He was named as one of Wisdens Cricketers of the Year in 1903.

Early life and education Burnup was born in Blackheath, then part of the county of Kent, the son of J. M. Burnup. He was educated at Malvern School, where he captained the school cricket and racquets teams, and, from 1894, Clare College, Cambridge, gaining Blues in football and cricket. Burnup played for Cambridge University Cricket Club for three years from 1896, leading the university in runs scored in both 1896 and 1898, and the University football team from 1895 to 1898.

Football career Burnup played 79 matches for Corinthian F.C. between 1894 and 1901, scoring 28 times. He also played for Old Malvernians F.C.

Whilst at Cambridge, Burnup was selected to represent England against Scotland at Celtic Park in Glasgow in April 1896. The match, part of the 1896–97 British Home Championship, ended with England losing 2–1, the first Scottish victory in the fixture for 20 years. The match did much to signal the end of the reliance of the Football Association on amateur footballers. It was his only game for England.

Cricket career Burnup made his first-class cricket debut in 1895 for the Gentlemen of England at Lord's against I Zingari. He made his Kent County Cricket Club debut in 1896 whilst at university and played regularly for the county until 1907. In 1896 he became the first Kent batsman to score a century before lunch in Kent, making his century against Gloucestershire at Gravesend.

As an opening batsman Burnup was considered cautious but was able to score on all types of pitch and could, when required, score quickly. He made 102 consecutive County Championship appearances for Kent between 1899 and 1903, becoming the first man to play in over 100 consecutive Championship matches for the county. He captained Kent for one season in 1903, taking over from Jack Mason who had resigned as captain at the end of the previous season. He was described by The Guardian as "essentially a sound, steady batsman" who contrasted with the flamboyant Kenneth Hutchings, Kent's leading run scorer of the season. He took part in tours to Holland, America and Australia and New Zealand during his career.

Later life Burnup was a stockbroker and businessman in London. He died at North End, Golders Green, Middlesex at the age of 84 in 1960.