I would like to add one of my all time favourites to
the debate: Frank Casper. Frank was a footballer in the purest sense. He could kill a ball
from any angle at any speed.
His silky skills and deft touches were matched by very few players
and, although not possessing the hardest shot, he required very little backlift to unleash
a ferocious, rasping shot. Frank scored over eighty goals in just under 270 appearances
and I was fortunate enough to witness many of these, as his period at Burnley coincided
with my most ‘active’ phase as a Clarets watcher.
Goals that stand out for me are the two he scored in a 3-0 away win
at Carlisle in season 1971/72. The first of these was a screamer from about twenty yards
out and the second was rifled in from an angle that Eusebio would have been proud of. He
was also denied a hat-trick in this game when Bellamy strayed offside.
I was never sure whether Frank was liked very much by the other
players. He seemed to have a certain arrogance that many quality players have and sections
of the supporters always criticised his work rate. But during his nine years with Burnley
he averaged a goal every three games and above all he was a class footballer. I’m
certain that had he been with a more formidable club he would have achieved the
recognition his skills richly deserved. As it was, one appearance for the Football League
was the only recognition the authorities ever gave him, and his career was virtually ended
by that ‘nice’ Mr Hunter during a game at Elland Road in 1974 which Burnley won
4-1.
So there it is, my case for Mr Casper to take his place in the
Clarets Hall of Fame.
Just read the article on Frank Casper by
Ken Webb. I was there when 'Norman bites your leg' did Frank. I was privileged to see most
of Casper's matches on the Turf and one particular moment stands out above all. Alas, I
can't remember who we were playing, but a long pass out from the defence headed towards
Frank on the touchline on the left, in front of the Longside, just about on the half
way line. He actually caught the ball on his right foot, swivelled and hit a fifty five
yard pass to the other wing with his left foot that landed perfectly to... - again my
memory is not that good, but that brief moment in time I will always remember. Frank was
my all-time Burnley hero.
