Billy Caskey
Encyclopedia
Billy Caskey is a retired professional soccer midfielder
from Northern Ireland
. He played in the Irish Football League, Football League, North American Soccer League
and Major Indoor Soccer League
. He also earned seven caps, scoring one goal, with the Northern Ireland national football team
between 1978 and 1982.
In 1974, he moved to Glentoran. Caskey played for Glentoran until 1978. He was named as the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association Player of the Year
for the 1976/77 season. In the summer of 1978, the team sent him on loan to the Tulsa Roughnecks
of the North American Soccer League
. When he returned to Glentoran in the fall, the team sent him and Victor Moreland
to Derby County
for £90,000. He played two seasons for Derby County, going on loan with Tulsa in 1979. In 1980, Derby County sold his contract to the Roughnecks. In 1983, Tulsa won the NASL championship, but Caskey was sidelined with a broken leg. In the fall of 1984, Caskey returned to Glentoran where he won the 1985 Irish Cup. In the spring of 1985, he returned to the United States and played for the Roughnecks who were now an independent team following the collapse of the NASL. In the fall, he signed with the Dallas Sidekicks
of Major Indoor Soccer League
. He holds the record for most penalty minutes (34) in the MISL whilst plying for the Dallas Sidekicks
. Caskey was suspended from the MISL on August 11, 1986 for three seasons after assaulting a referee during Game 4 of the Dallas Sidekicks
Eastern Division Semi-Final series with Minnesota Strikers
in 1986. This ended his indoor career. He was the first Sidekick ever to be ejected from a playoff game and to be expelled from the league. He returned to Northern Ireland and played with Glentoran until 1993. A year later, he signed with Dundela
and completed his professional career with them in 1996. He then played with amateur teams, including Abbey Villa
F.C. until 2005 when a knee injury forced him into retirement.
in a 2-0 victory over Bulgaria
. He went on to play seven times with Northern Ireland, his last game coming in a 4-0 loss to France
on March 24, 1982.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
from Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. He played in the Irish Football League, Football League, North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
. He also earned seven caps, scoring one goal, with the Northern Ireland national football team
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
between 1978 and 1982.
Club career
Caskey began his career with East BelfastEast Belfast F.C.
East Belfast Football Club is a Northern Irish football club playing in Division 1A of the Northern Amateur Football League.They are managed by Dennis Hill, former player who is also in charge of the Northern Ireland Under-21 Amateur League Team. Other staff include Laurence Fyfe, Gary Arthur...
In 1974, he moved to Glentoran. Caskey played for Glentoran until 1978. He was named as the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association Player of the Year
Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association Player of the Year
The Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in the IFA Premiership. It is one of two association football Player of the Year awards in Northern Ireland, with the other being the...
for the 1976/77 season. In the summer of 1978, the team sent him on loan to the Tulsa Roughnecks
Tulsa Roughnecks
-NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. When he returned to Glentoran in the fall, the team sent him and Victor Moreland
Victor Moreland
|Victor "Vic" Moreland is a retired professional footballer from Northern Ireland who began his career in Northern Ireland, spent two seasons in the Football League before moving to the United States...
to Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
for £90,000. He played two seasons for Derby County, going on loan with Tulsa in 1979. In 1980, Derby County sold his contract to the Roughnecks. In 1983, Tulsa won the NASL championship, but Caskey was sidelined with a broken leg. In the fall of 1984, Caskey returned to Glentoran where he won the 1985 Irish Cup. In the spring of 1985, he returned to the United States and played for the Roughnecks who were now an independent team following the collapse of the NASL. In the fall, he signed with the Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
of Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
. He holds the record for most penalty minutes (34) in the MISL whilst plying for the Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
. Caskey was suspended from the MISL on August 11, 1986 for three seasons after assaulting a referee during Game 4 of the Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
Eastern Division Semi-Final series with Minnesota Strikers
Minnesota Strikers
The Minnesota Strikers was an American professional soccer team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The team played one season in the North American Soccer League and 4 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
in 1986. This ended his indoor career. He was the first Sidekick ever to be ejected from a playoff game and to be expelled from the league. He returned to Northern Ireland and played with Glentoran until 1993. A year later, he signed with Dundela
Dundela F.C.
Dundela F.C. is an intermediate, Northern Irish football team from Belfast. It currently plays in IFA Championship 2, and plays its home matches at Wilgar Park, nicknamed "the Hen Run". The club's colours are green and white. The home kit has green shirts, white shorts and green or white socks,...
and completed his professional career with them in 1996. He then played with amateur teams, including Abbey Villa
Abbey Villa F.C.
Abbey Villa Football Club is a Northern Irish football club playing in Division 1A of the Northern Amateur Football League. The club was formed in 1955 as Millisle United. The team currently play their home matches at Adams Park on Abbey Road, Millisle under the joint management of Graham and Mark...
F.C. until 2005 when a knee injury forced him into retirement.
National team
On November 11, 1978, Caskey earned the first of his international caps, and scored his first and only goal, with the Northern Ireland national football teamNorthern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
in a 2-0 victory over Bulgaria
Bulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
. He went on to play seven times with Northern Ireland, his last game coming in a 4-0 loss to France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
on March 24, 1982.