Jack Casley

Jack Casley

Personal information
Date of birth	27 April 1926[1]
Place of birth	Torquay, England
Date of death	31 May 2014 (aged 88)
Playing position	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1947–1949	Torquay United	1	(0)
1949–1951	Headington United	18	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

John "Jack" Casley (27 April 1926 – 31 May 2014) was an English professional footballer, born in Torquay, who played in the Football League for Torquay United.^[2]

Casley joined Torquay United in June 1947. An injury crisis, including the loss of regular keeper Phil Joslin, left Torquay without a goalkeeper for the match at Plainmoor against Walsall in April 1948 and, although a midfielder, Casley played in goal and helped Torquay to a 3–2 victory, which in turn meant that they would not finish at the foot of the league. Casley never played for Torquay's league team again, in any position,^[2] joining Headington United (later to become Oxford United) in 1949 as their first professional player.^[3] Casley played his first game for Headington in goal, but reverted to the outfield thereafter, and scored the club's first hat-trick in the Southern League in his third game.^[1][4] He retired as a first-team player in 1951, but remained with the club, stepping down as chief scout only in 2002, aged 75, after 53 years' association with the club.^[5] He died on 31 May 2014 from natural causes at the age of 88.^[6]

References

1. "Player details Jack Casley". Rage Online. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
2. "Torquay United : 1946/47–2006/07". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
3. "U's Casley steps down". BBC News. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
4. "All appearances for Jack Casley". Rage Online. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
5. "Chief Scout steps down". Oxford United F.C. 9 April 2002. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
6. Obituary from Oxford Mail