THE first man to play football as a full-time professional for an Oxford club has died aged 88.
Jack Casley became one the city’s leading football figures over five decades, after a career that began with Oxford United’s previous incarnation, Headington United, in 1949.
He joined the team, before it changed its name to enter the professional league for the 1960 season, on a one-month trial at a rate of £6 a week, plus bonuses. After starting as a goalkeeper in his first match, he went on to play as a striker.
As a player
In 1951 he sought early retirement, but stayed on at the club in committee roles.
He was to become chief scout for the club, a position he held until 2002, and was instrumental in bringing hundreds of local youngsters into its fold, including Kevin Brock and Andy Thomas, as well as identifying senior players from further afield like U’s star John Aldridge who went on to play for Liverpool.
He claimed to have watched more than 3,000 matches and was out most weekends, right up until his retirement.
From that point, he held a seat in the director’s box at every home game.
Jack Casley was born on April 27, 1926. He grew up in Torquay and served in the Royal Navy as a wireless operator from 1943 to 1946. On returning home he took at job at insurers Prudential, where he met his wife Violet (nee Gray), in 1947.
They married on March 3, 1951, at St Luke’s Church in Torquay.
Mr Casley joined Torquay United in June 1947, but signed with Headington United in July 1949.
In those days he would spend most of his free time travelling back to Torquay to see his wife, who was reluctant at first to move to Oxford.
She eventually joined him and they moved into a home in Wytham Street, South Oxford.
The couple have one daughter, Joy, 62, who lives in Australia.
His debut performance with Headington was on August 27, 1949 against Colchester United.
In his first season he scored the club’s first Southern League hat-trick, and his only goals for Headington, in a 4-2 win against Guildford City.
Club managers originally planned to drop him by season’s end, but the offer of a £3 a week fee was accepted instead.
A match against Dartford on May 10, 1951 was his last, marking 19 appearances.
He also sat on Oxford City Football Club’s committee and later worked at the Cowley car plant.
After leaving the pitch to start his career of spotting talent from the stands, Mr Casley would eventually be recognised for his service to Oxford United in 2002 with a special award.
Jack Casley died on May 31 in the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.
He is survived by his wife and daughter. A funeral will be held at Oxford Crematorium on Friday at 10.30am.
This week’s obituaries:
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