LEN CASEY

Full Name: Leonard John Casey

Born: 24 May 1931

Came from: Chelsea   Went to: Retired

First game: 20 December 1958   Last game: 11 September 1961

Appearances: 48 (48/0)   Goals: 0

Born in Hackney in east London, he began his career with non-league Barking, playing in an FA Amateur Cup semi-final before leaving to undertake his National Service.

On his return in 1952, having been demobbed, he joined Leyton, going one better than he had at Barking by reaching the 1951-52 FA Amateur Cup Final before a narrow 2-1 loss to local rivals Walthamstow Avenue. His performances at wing-half had attracted attention, and he was offered a contract by top-flight Chelsea. Signed by Ted Drake in February 1954, he was offered not only a wage but also a new suit to smarten him up, having just left the services in his demob suit.

He spent four years at Stamford Bridge, only rarely making an impact on the first team. He did not feature in the 1954-55 Football League Championship-winning season that followed his arrival, instead making his debut away at West Bromwich Albion in March 1956. He then enjoyed a run of seven games that included a 6-1 home win over Everton. His best season came in 1957-58, during which he played 21 league matches and three FA Cup games, as a Chelsea side spearheaded by a young Jimmy Greaves finished mid-table in the top flight. A highlight was beating Manchester United's 'Busby Babes' at Old Trafford. In total, he played 37 times for Chelsea.

He was then brought to Home Park by Jack Rowley, alongside Chelsea team-mate Wally Bellett, in a combined deal worth £12,000. The pair were signed to provide a boost to Argyle's 1958-59 promotion campaign, and Casey was virtually ever-present for the remainder of the season as the Pilgrims won the Division Three title.

He was an automatic choice at the beginning of the following season but lost his place in the team after the arrival of Johnny Newman. He spent two more injury-blighted years at Home Park before announcing his retirement from football in 1961. In total, he made 48 appearances for Argyle.

After retiring from football, he became a staff training officer at Telephone Cables Ltd, which later became part of the General Electric Company (GEC plc) in 1976. After almost 30 years in the role, this second career culminated in the award of an MBE. He was named in the 1993 Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to training and later received his honour at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace with Queen Elizabeth II. He was 62 at the time.

After retiring from his second career, he lived in Essex and became a nonagenarian. Len passed away after a short period of hospitalisation, in Basildon, Essex, in July 2022, aged 91.