Caswell: Brian Leonard (Brian)

1985-1988 (Player Details)

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Born: Wednesbury Nr Birmingham: 14-02-1956

Debut v Carlisle United (a): 23-11-1985

5’10” 10st 7lb (1987)

Educated at Wood Green School, Walsall, Caswell began as an apprentice with Walsall in June 1971, turning professional in September 1973. He soon became recognised as a versatile full-back, who could equally adapt to a midfield role. He was Walsall's player of the year in 1976-77. He was a regular as the Saddlers gained promotion from the Fourth Division in 1979-80 and was part of the team that saw the Saddlers reach the Semi-Final of the League Cup in 1983-84. The run began inauspiciously with a 1-2 defeat by Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on 30th August 1984, but Walsall came through on aggregate when they won 3-1 in the home leg on 13th September 1984. The only goal of the game saw them gain the advantage at Fellows Park against Second Division Barnsley in the Second Round on 4th October 1984, but a fine 2-0 win at Oakwell saw them deservedly through to the next round on 25th October 1984. On 8th November 1984 they beat Second Division Shrewsbury Town 2-1 at Fellows Park in a 'local derby' to progress through to the Fourth Round and a trip to Highbury to face First Division Arsenal. Against all the odds they came through at the first time of asking by 2-1 on 29th November 1984. Despite being 0-1 down at half-time they played the Gunners off the park in the second-half and the win was well deserved. A trip to Millmoor followed on 18th January 1985 and again they beat Third Division Rotherham United 4-2 against all the odds in a battle of the 'giant killers'. This meant they had to go to Anfield on 7th February to face the mighty Liverpool and again they came up with another surprise, holding the favourites to a 2-2 draw. The fairy tale ended on 14th February as Liverpool won 0-2 in the second leg leaving the Saddlers just on win short of Wembley. Liverpol won the League Cup, beating Everton 1-0 after a Replay in the Final. They were the current League Champions and went on to win the European Cup that season, so there was no shame in the defeat! After making four hundred League appearances, of which twelve were as a substitute, and scoring seventeen goals he was signed by Billy Bremner for Doncaster Rovers in August 1985 for £20,000. He had just started to settle into his new club and had scored twice in fifteen League appearances and also made one F.A. Cup appearance and two in the League Cup, when Bremner moved to Leeds. Bremner went back to his old club and bought Caswell for £30,000 in November 1985. He arrived at Leeds with a reputation as one of the best full-backs in the lower divisions, but a string of injuries prevented him from reaching his best form. He was loaned to Wolverhampton Wanderers in January 1987 but his appearances there were restricted just to his debut at Ninian Park in a 2-0 win over Cardiff City in a Fourth Division fixture on 24th January 1987. More injury problems kept him out of the first team and he returned to Leeds. After more injury problems he was forced to retire in March 1988. In 1990 he became a member of the Birmingham City community and then Youth Coach. He later became Youth Coach at Stoke City in 1992. He then had a spell as assistant to Wayne Clarke at Telford for two years in 1995. He was at then at Northampton Town as Youth Coach and later held a similar position at Shrewsbury Town but left in May 2002. He then left football and went into customer services with BMW in the Midlands.