Horace Burrell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Captain
Horace Burrell
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Burrell at a Press Conference in 2012
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| President of Jamaica Football Federation | |
| In office 1994 – 6 June 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Crenston Boxhill |
| Succeeded by | Michael Rickets |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Horace Garfield Burrell
8 February 1950 May Pen, Clarendon, Jamaica |
| Died | 6 June 2017 (aged 67) Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Resting place | Up-Park Camp |
| Spouse | Lourea Simpson (Divorced) Vincia Julal (Separated) |
| Relations | Portia Simpson-Miller (cousin) Shaggy (cousin) |
| Children | Tiphani Burrell-Piggott Tahj Burrell (deceased) Romario Burrell Jaeden Burrell |
| Residences | Kingston, Jamaica |
| Alma mater | Clarendon College St Elizabeth Technical High School |
| Occupation | Businessman, Entrepreneur, Politician, Philanthropist |
Horace G. Burrell (8 February 1950 – 6 June 2017), often called Captain Burrell, was a very important person in Jamaican football. He was the president of the Jamaica Football Federation. He also served as the Senior Vice-President of CONCACAF. Besides football, he started a popular Jamaican restaurant chain called The Captain's Bakery and Grill. He also founded Captain's Aviation.
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Growing Up in Jamaica
Horace Burrell was born in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica. His father, Edward, was a tobacco farmer. Horace was the youngest of four children. Even from a young age, he wanted to achieve great things. He also wanted to make his family proud.
His parents believed that education was very important. They made sure their children went to school. Horace was a very loving son. He took great care of his mother until she passed away in 1993.
When Horace went to Clarendon College for high school, he joined many activities. He played football and cricket. He was also part of the camera club and debating society. His favorite activity was the cadet corps. He spent many hours teaching younger cadets. He taught them map-reading and rifle shooting. He even became a drum major.
Horace was chosen twice to represent Jamaica in cadet exchanges. He traveled to Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. Everyone thought he would become a soldier. This was because he loved discipline and facing challenges.
After high school, Horace taught Biology and Agricultural Science. He taught at St. Elizabeth Technical High School from 1970 to 1971. He even taught students who were his own age. It was there that he met his future wife, Lourea Simpson.
A Leader in the Army
Horace Burrell joined the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). He quickly moved up in rank. He became a Captain, which was a nickname he kept for many years. He trained with the Canadian Armed Forces in Canada. He also studied in the United Kingdom.
In 1977, Horace became a Captain in the JDF. This was only five years after he joined the army. He also earned his private pilot license. He had always loved aviation. Captain Burrell stayed in the army for six more active years.
In 1983, Captain Burrell retired from the army. He received a special medal from the Jamaican government. This was for his leadership during a military operation.
Leading Jamaican Football
While in the army, Captain Burrell also became involved in soccer. He was put in charge of the JDF football team. He learned many lessons about leadership. These lessons helped him later in his life.
Captain Burrell wanted the JDF team to be very good. He hired a coach and made a detailed training plan. Many people thought his goals were too big. But within three years, his team won the National Premier League. They also won another major title later. Three of his players even joined the Jamaican national team.
Captain Burrell also arranged for the JDF team to play matches in Trinidad and Tobago. These trips helped him connect with other football leaders in the Caribbean. Later, he was invited to join the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).
In 1992, he joined the Kingston and St. Andrews Football Association (KSAFA). He served as their Treasurer for two years. He was impressed by how well KSAFA was organized. This inspired him to help the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).
He became the President of the Jamaica Football Federation in 1994. He held this position from 1994 to 2003. He was re-elected in 2007 and remained president until he passed away in 2017.
Making History: The 1998 World Cup
Captain Burrell wanted the Reggae Boyz to be the strongest team. He believed football could bring the nation together. For the 1998 World Cup campaign, he brought in a Brazilian coach, René Simões.
He also found ways to bring back talented Jamaican players. These players were playing overseas. They came back to play for the national team. The team needed money and practice matches. They played many international games at the National Stadium. This helped the team gain momentum.
In 1996, the team won the "Best Mover of the Year Award" in football. This was on their way to the World Cup Finals. Under Captain Burrell's leadership, Jamaica made history. They became the first English-speaking Caribbean country to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
He received a high national honor from Jamaica in 1998. He also received the highest award from FIFA, the world football governing body, in 2000. This was for his amazing leadership in guiding Jamaica to the World Cup. Many countries even copied Jamaica's plan to develop their own football teams.
A Brief Challenge
In 2011, Horace Burrell faced a challenge. He was involved in an issue within football administration. The FIFA Ethics Committee suspended him for six months. However, three months of the ban were put on hold. He was later cleared of all charges.
Beyond Football
Horace Burrell had four children. Sadly, one of his children, Tahj, passed away before him.
Besides leading the JFF, he was also the Senior Vice President of CONCACAF. He was also a former Vice President of the CFU. He served on FIFA's Disciplinary Committee. He was also a Vice President of the Jamaica Olympic Association.
Captain Burrell was a successful businessman. He started The Captain's Bakery and Grill in 1995. He also founded Captain's Aviation Services in 2008.
His Legacy
Horace Burrell passed away on June 6, 2017. He had been battling cancer since 2016. He was getting treatment in Baltimore, Maryland. He is survived by his children: Dr. Tiphani Burrell-Piggott, Romario Burrell, and Jaeden Burrell.
The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, spoke about Captain Burrell's life. He said the nation should remember his great work. He sent his condolences to Captain Burrell's family, friends, and the football community.
