TOMMY CASEYFormer Northern Ireland international Tommy Casey, who represented his country at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, died on 13 January, 2009, aged 78.Nicknamed the Iron Man, for his tenacious tackling and impressive work rate, the half-back also won an FA Cup with Newcastle United in 1955.He earned 12 international caps during his career, playing alongside the likes of Jackie Milburn, George Hannah, and Bobby Mitchell at the height of his success with Newcastle.The midfield dynamo also played for Gloucester City, Portsmouth, Welsh League club Amman ford, and was a player-manager of Distillery in Northern Ireland. When he hung up his footballing boots, he became a coach at Everton, Coventry, Grimsby, Bristol City, Swansea, Italia Roma (Toronto), and K R Reykjavik (Iceland).While manager of Grimsby Town from February 1975 to November 1976 he played a key part in the early careers of young Town players including Kevin Drinkell and Tony Ford, as well as signing Joe Waters from Leicester City.Dave Boylen, who played under Casey, said: "He was the most lively character I ever came across in football."He was absolutely mad – there was never a dull moment with him. If we lost, he’d run us into the ground in training – it was really hard work. But he was a pleasure to be around. He was a genuine football man and I’m sorry to see him go."When he retired, he became a fishmonger in Nailsea, Bristol, rising at 4.30am each day to go to the market to buy fish and have his breakfast before going on a run.Jimmy McIlroy, his Irish team-mate, paid tribute to him, saying:" He battled all the way to the end. You couldn’t have wished for a more loyal or honourable colleague - hard man that he was."He died at a North Somerset nursing home after a long illness.Tommy was survived by his wife, Margaret, son Paul and daughter Karen.
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