About William Burns
Born 1952. William Burns is a British association football referee.
William Burns (Born December 1952 – 23 August 2019), usually known as "Bill Burns", was an English football referee who officiated in the Football League.
Born in Scarborough, Burns refereed the 1996 Football League Third Division play-off final, and the 2001 Football League Trophy Final. Having officiated since 1985, he retired as a Football League referee at the end of the 2000–01 season, at the age of 48. In 2002, he bought a pub in Scarborough with his wife, Jenny.
He died on 23 August 2019 aged 66 after a long battle with primary sclerosing cholangitis.
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Important facts
People in William Burns's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped William Burns's
Frequently asked questions
Who is William Burns?
English football referee
When was William Burns born?
William Burns was born in 1952 in Scarborough.
What is William Burns's occupation?
William Burns is an association football referee.
What nationality is William Burns?
William Burns is British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: William Burns (referee)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Burns. https://biography.guide/william-burns/
MLA: "William Burns." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-burns/.
Chicago: "William Burns." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-burns/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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