Len Casey

Len Casey (born 1 January 1953), also known by the nickname of "Cast Iron Casey", is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and coached in the 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Hull Kingston Rovers (two spells), Bradford Northern, Hull F.C. and Wakefield Trinity (Heritage No. 949), as a prop, second-row or loose forward,^[1] and coached at club level for Wakefield Trinity, Hull FC, Beverley A.R.L.F.C. and the Scarborough Pirates.^[4][6]

Background[]

Casey was born in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. He ran the May Cottage bed and breakfast in Bowness-on-Windermere until c. 2017.

Playing career[]

Great Britain Lions Tour - 1979

Great Britain Captain - 1980 (v NZ) 1983 (v France)

England International - 1978, 1980 & 1981

Rugby League Championship Winner - 1978/79, 1979/80, 1983/84

Rugby League Challenge Cup Winner - 1979/80

John Player Trophy Winner - 1979/80 (Man Of The Match) 1984/85

Rugby League Premiership Winner - 1980/81 (Man Of The Match)

BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Trophy Winner - 1977/78

Harry Sunderland Trophy Winner - 1980/81

International honours[]

Len Casey won caps for England while at Hull Kingston Rovers in 1978 against France, and Wales, in 1980 against Wales, in 1981 against France, and Wales,^[2] and won caps for Great Britain while at Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1977 Rugby League World Cup against France (sub), New Zealand (sub), and Australia, in 1978 against Australia, while at Bradford Northern in 1979 against Australia (2 matches), and New Zealand (3 matches), while at Hull Kingston Rovers in 1980 against New Zealand (3 matches, 1 as captain), in 1983 against France (2 matches, both as captain).^[3]

County Honours[]

Len Casey represented Yorkshire against Cumbria in 1978 & 1982.

Rugby League Championship[]

Len Casey won the Championship in 1978-79 season as part of Hull Kingston Rovers squad and in 1979-80 season as part of the Bradford Northern squad despite mid-season transfers between both clubs.

Len Casey was captain of the Hull Kingston Rovers squad that won the 1983-84 season Championship.

Challenge Cup Final appearances[]

Len Casey played loose forward in Hull Kingston Rovers' 10–5 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1979–80 Challenge Cup Final during the 1979–80 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 3 May 1980, in front of a crowd of 95,000.

Len Casey played loose forward, and was captain in the 9–18 defeat by Widnes in the 1980–81 Challenge Cup Final during the 1980–81 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 2 May 1981, in front of a crowd of 92,496.

John Player Trophy Final appearances[]

Len Casey played loose forward in Bradford Northern's 6–0 victory over Widnes in the 1979–80 John Player Trophy Final during the 1979–80 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 5 January 1980, Casey was awarded the man of the match.

He played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Hull Kingston Rovers' 4–12 defeat by Hull F.C. in the 1981–82 John Player Trophy Final during the 1981–82 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 23 January 1982.

He was non-playing substitute, in Hull Kingston Rovers' 12-0 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1984–85 John Player Trophy Final during the 1984–85 season at Boothferry Park, Hull on Saturday 26 January 1985.

Premiership Final appearances[]

Len Casey played second-row, i.e. number 12, and was captain and man of the match winning the Harry Sunderland Trophy in Hull Kingston Rovers' 11–7 victory over Hull F.C. in the Premiership Final during the 1980–81 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 16 May 1981.

Len Casey played loose forward, i.e. number 13, in Bradford Northern' 24–2 defeat by Leeds in the Premiership Final 1978–79 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 27 May 1979.

County Cup Final appearances[]

Len Casey played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, and was captain in Hull Kingston Rovers' 7–8 defeat by Leeds in the 1980–81 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1980–81 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 8 November 1980.

BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances[]

Len Casey played loose forward in Hull Kingston Rovers' 26–11 victory over St. Helens in the 1977 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1977–78 season at Craven Park, Hull on Tuesday 13 December 1977.

Coaching career[]

Len Casey was the coach of Hull F.C. from 1986 to 1988.^[6]

County Cup Final appearances[]

Len Casey was the coach in Hull FC's 24–31 defeat by Castleford in the 1986–87 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1986–87 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 11 October 1986.

References[]

Sporting positions
Preceded by Club founded	Coach Scarborough Pirates 1991–1992	Succeeded by Club folded
Preceded by Arthur Bunting 1978–1985	Coach Hull FC 1986–1988	Succeeded by Tony Dean & Keith Hepworth 1988
Preceded by David Lamming 1984-1985	Coach Wakefield Trinity 1985-1986	Succeeded by Tony Dean 1986

External links[]

• (archived by web.archive.org) Hull Kingston Rovers ~ Captains
• Photograph 'Len Casey touches down' at rlhp.co.uk
• Photograph 'Len Casey scores in semi' at rlhp.co.uk
• Photograph 'Len Casey slips out a good pass' at rlhp.co.uk
• Photograph '1980 Great Britain v New Zealand' at rlhp.co.uk