ARTICLE: A gazelle with cannons in both feet

[ClaretTony]

An addition to the Ex-Clarets section on Frank Casper's 80th birthday

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/a-gazelle- ... -both-feet

[Herts Clarets]

A good read on one of our best players, a bit before my time so i don't remember him as a player. I do remember him taking over from Brian Miller in early 1983 after the debacle at Burnden Park and leading us to one of the most memorable away wins in my life as a Burnley fan at White Hart Lane, not forgetting the semi final second leg win over the all conquering Liverpool side and an FA Cup quarter final that hinged on a scuffed penalty kick in the first half. I just question the comment about unfair criticism in his second spell as Manager, he had 2 and a half years in charge, we troubled the play offs once and lost to the might of Torquay United. The next season was following suit and only changed after another abject display away at Scarborough for Frank to be replaced by his assistant, Jimmy Mullen. We all know what happened next.

I used to speak to Frank regularly when he was in my bar on match days with Joyce Pickles, mid 90s, nice bloke and an easy one to chat with. Wishing him a happy 80th birthday.

[CaptJohn]

One of the finest I've ever seen in a Claret shirt. So many fond memories from the first goal against Coventry and that sublime effort to beat Chelsea 1-0 at home in a night match to being laid out cold by a Frank McLintock punch in a home game against Arsenal. Many years later I bumped into Frank Mc in Florida and reminded of his right hook. He just laughed and said it felt good to land such a blow even though he was sent off.
Happy birthday Frank "Magic Boots" Casper.

[Since62]

I recall that the first I heard about his signing was a short newspaper article!
Still remember him and Fletcher in front of the Longside after the Sunderland win in 1973.
Imagine one of today’s signing being pushed around the ground in a wheelbarrow

[Turftalkers mentor]

I was at his first game for us a friendly at Stockport if I remember correctly, he was and still is one of the finest players I have ever seen in a Burnley shirt.
A few years ago I was invited to sit in the corporate seats at Leeds and one of the hosts was Norman Hunter as was Paul Reaney both of whom were very pleasant .However I was not the only Claret that day to "remind" Mr Hunter of his actions that day when we beat them 4-1 and how it finished Frank Casper in reality .
He just washed over it.
On another tack the remaining host that day was Allan Clarke , obviously a legend in his own mind , and typified Leeds United as a club only great in its own estimation

[Buxtonclaret]

That's a good read, CT.

[FCBurnley]

Very good article CT. As an older supporter I was lucky to watch pretty much every one of Franks games and it’s difficult to believe his now 80 years old
A heartfelt Happy Birthday to Frank. Thank you for everything you did for Burnley FC and it’s nice to see your boys following in your extremely difficult boots to fill. In my opinion the best pound for pound signing we ever made

[Rumpelstiltskin]

SuperCas ! What a player ! And what a coward Hunter was.

[Juan Tanamera]

One of the finest players it has been my privilege to see wearing Claret and Blue.
His strength and superb ability to hold the ball and bring others into play belied his wiry physique.
I vividly recall Frank chasing a lost cause down near the corner of the Longside and Bee Hole end, before laying the ball off for Steve Kindon who thundered a shot into the roof of the net in a 5-0 win over Forest.
Kindon wasn't the only one with a thunderous shot, Franks final goal against QPR with that free kick was a rocket.
Cyril Knowles and Norman Hunter were not hard men, they were cowards and had a lot to answer for in shortening Frank's career.
A fabulous footballer, and what a bargain at £27k.
Happy birthday Frank.

[tally]

Happy birthday Frank a true Burnley legend, and definately one of the most gifted players that I have ever seen grace Turf Moor. An Icon in his days here.

[ElectroClaret]

That's a good read, CT.

Yes it is, super stuff.
Frank once scored a cracker at Selhurst Park, a twenty odd yarder, they still sometimes show it on telly.
Anyone remember it?

Also wondering if he still goes round Todmorden market sometimes.

Happy Birthday Frank.

[ClaretTony]

Yes it is, super stuff.
Frank once scored a cracker at Selhurst Park, a twenty odd yarder, they still sometimes show it on telly.
Anyone remember it?

Also wondering if he still goes round Todmorden market sometimes.

Happy Birthday Frank.

I've not seen Frank in a while, probably towards the end of the 2022/23 season when the u21s played on the Turf. Chris was often sat behind us at Leyland for u21 games watching Charlie and I always asked how his dad was doing and he said he was fine but that's over a year ago now since I last saw him and if he attends now he'll be on the other side of the ground.

But as far as I know, he's OK.

[Stonehouse]

Group of us lads who stood on the Longside always rated him as a footballer but thought he was a bit soft and was very similar to John Connelly.

[ClaretTony]

Group of us lads who stood on the Longside always rated him as a footballer but thought he was a bit soft and was very similar to John Connelly.

Nelly was a winger, Frank definitely wasn't.

[Stonehouse]

Nelly was a winger, Frank definitely wasn't.

I know that but Connelly played with the sort of elegance that Casper did but he did like to avoid a strong tackle unfortunately Frank couldn’t avoid some of the tackles by the Dirty Leeds gits.

[ClaretTony]

I know that but Connelly played with the sort of elegance that Casper did but he did like to avoid a strong tackle unfortunately Frank couldn’t avoid some of the tackles by the Dirty Leeds gits.

John Connelly was a hell of a player in our best ever team. Had a wonderful ability to come inside and hit shots with his left foot.

[ClaretLoup]

Best game that I saw Frank play was away midweek at Spurs where he ran the show from centre forward. We won 3 - 2. Soon after we played them again at home when he was butchered by Kinnear (?) in the first ten minutes when most refs used to let anything go. This was the beginning of the end before Hunter finished him off.

It was a tragedy as I do believe he was on the brink of an England call up having seen Alf Ramsey on the train on his way back home to Ipswich as I was en route to Colchester and he had obviously seen Frank’s master class.

Best goal was away at Carlisle in the the 1971/72 season where he hit the ball so hard towards the assembled Clarets fans on the open end that if it wasn’t for the net there could have been a fatality.

A bit Soft? Week in week out he played against the likes of Ron Yeats, Dave Webb, Chopper Harris, Peter Storey and the whole Leeds team.

[ClaretTony]

Best game that I saw Frank play was away midweek at Spurs where he ran the show from centre forward. We won 3 - 2. Soon after we played them again at home when he was butchered by Kinnear (?) in the first ten minutes when most refs used to let anything go. This was the beginning of the end before Hunter finished him off.

It was a tragedy as I do believe he was on the brink of an England call up having seen Alf Ramsey on the train on his way back home to Ipswich as I was en route to Colchester and he had obviously seen Frank’s master class.

Best goal was away at Carlisle in the the 1971/72 season where he hit the ball so hard towards the assembled Clarets fans on the open end that if it wasn’t for the net there could have been a fatality.

A bit Soft? Week in week out he played against the likes of Ron Yeats, Dave Webb, Chopper Harris, Peter Storey and the whole Leeds team.

If you read the article at the link, it refers to the Spurs and Wolves game as his best but it was Knowles who did him.

[JohnDearyMe]

I was at his first game for us a friendly at Stockport if I remember correctly, he was and still is one of the finest players I have ever seen in a Burnley shirt.
A few years ago I was invited to sit in the corporate seats at Leeds and one of the hosts was Norman Hunter as was Paul Reaney both of whom were very pleasant .However I was not the only Claret that day to "remind" Mr Hunter of his actions that day when we beat them 4-1 and how it finished Frank Casper in reality .
He just washed over it.
On another tack the remaining host that day was Allan Clarke , obviously a legend in his own mind , and typified Leeds United as a club only great in its own estimation

I was wondering whether Norman Hunter ever expressed any remorse

[ClaretTony]

I was wondering whether Norman Hunter ever expressed any remorse

I don’t believe he ever did, nor Knowles.

[durhamclaret]

I was there on that day and I can never forgive Hunter for what he did to Frank, it was downright assault.

[Spike]

He will always be Super Casp
And
They will always be Dirty Leeds
Happy Birthday Frank

[Casper2]

Brilliant article.

[COBBLE]

I can only appreciate all that has been written here but just add memories of his play with Doug Collins. It's hard to describe their close link up play but it was exquisite.

[Bop]

Was there for his goal against QPR. A great goal. So sad that he wasn’t able to play much longer. Another Burnley true gentleman.

[dsr]

I was wondering whether Norman Hunter ever expressed any remorse

Why would he? Putting skilful players out of the game was his job. He probably saw it as a cause for celebration, not a cause for sorrow.

[Silkyskills1]

I was wondering whether Norman Hunter ever expressed any remorse

Thugs like Hunter and Knowles were far too busy wallowing in the 'glory' and 'adulation' afforded them in that era by the media and probably far too thick to realise the consequences of their supposed role on a football pitch. Sadly, the odour
that existed then still prevails today courtesy of those that cheat at every available opportunity.

[Cirrus_Minor]

Frank Casper was a fantastic player for us, was at his best and potentially getting better when he was assaulted by Hunter. That wonderful team that apart from Casper had Dobson, James and Newton. I was at Elland road when he was clattered and, if memory serves me correctly, wasn't even on the pitch.

[durhamclaret]

Frank Casper was a fantastic player for us, was at his best and potentially getting better when he was assaulted by Hunter. That wonderful team that apart from Casper had Dobson, James and Newton. I was at Elland road when he was clattered and, if memory serves me correctly, wasn't even on the pitch.

Correct Frank was off the pitch when the thug named Hunter assaulted him

[PenfoldClaret]

My main memory of Frank, probably in 1968, is of him stubbing out a fag as he came out of the dressing room after half time. Hence earning him the nickname of “Casper the gasper”.
Great player though- happy memories.