Hindmarsh born accountant Arthur Roy Burnell (known as Roy) played for the Hindmarsh soccer club pre WWI and succeeded Jock Wylde as club secretary in 1913. Almost 14 stone when he enlisted in 1915 at the age of 28 he could have been a goalie or centre half. His older brother Reginald George Burnell had been a goalkeeper for Hindmarsh but did not enlist. Reg was a school teacher and had competed for a Rhodes Scholarship.
Enlisting on June 30th 1915, Roy Burnell was originally a private in the 32nd Battalion. After arriving in France he spent time attached to various Head Quarters Staffs and was promoted to sergeant in 1917. The army also enabled him to attend lectures at the London School of Economics. Several serious illnesses, including a bout of VD in 1918, sent Burnell to hospital for lengthy periods. He was not returned to Australia and discharged until September 1919. He married within a few days of his return to Adelaide, and was not involved with soccer after the war.