Purnell played six matches and netted eight goals for the
England amateur team in 1907 and 1908. He was a member of the English amateur team that represented
Great Britain at the
1908 Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal in the
football tournament. He scored four goals in the first-round match, a 12–1 drubbing of
Sweden, which still is Sweden's highest defeat of its history. He also appeared in the
final against
Denmark, helping his side with a 2-0 win. Purnell scored a further two goals for the amateur side in an unofficial match against
Ireland on 7 December 1907 to help his side with a 6–1 win, thus bringing his goal tally to 10 goals. He was later a Commercial Traveller and died on 19 August 1934 at
Folkestone Racecourse leaving a widow and son.
International goals :
England Amateurs score listed first, score column indicates score after each Purnell goal. ==Notes==