Daniel Ralph Ruffell was an English amateur football player who played as a goalkeeper for Southampton Saint Mary"s from their inaugural fixture in November 1885 until 1894, including making six appearances in the FA Cup.
Background
Ruffell was born in Southampton and was associated with Saint Mary"s Church. The Street Mary"s Church of England Young Men"s Association decided to arrange a football match against Freemantle, which took place on 21 November 1885 on a pitch in Northlands Road, where the Hampshire Bowling Club was subsequently situated, close to the County Cricket Ground, with Ruffell playing in goal.
Career
Throughout this time Ruffell was the first-choice goalkeeper, and played in every cup match until October 1892. In the, the "Saints" reached the Second Qualifying Round for each of the three seasons from 1891-1892 to 1893-1894 with Ruffell in goal for all six matches. In the Hampshire Senior Cup final played on 10 March 1894, Ruffell sustained a dislocated knee cap in the 1–0 defeat by the Royal Engineers which ended his playing career, although he continued to make occasional reserve-team appearances.
Ruffell was employed as an engineer in Southampton Docks.
He died in Southampton on his 73rd birthday, 3 October 1940.