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Former
Chester defender John “Jack” Capper died
recently in his hometown of Wrexham after a short illness.
A strapping six foot centre half Jack joined Chester
from Lincoln City for £1,500 in September 1959
and played 37 league games for the club.
Jack started his football career as a junior with Wrexham
where he signed professional forms in November 1949.
After his call-up for National Service he returned to
the Racecourse Ground and made his Football League debut
against Grimsby Town in the first game of the 1952/53
season. Over the next three seasons Jack featured in
48 league games for Wrexham before dropping down to
the Southern League with Headington United. At the start
of 1956 he signed for Second Division Lincoln City where
opportunities were limited by the form of Imps legend
Tony Emery.
After three seasons at Sincil Bank Stan Pearson brought
Jack to Sealand Road to compete for the centre half
position with George Spruce, a player who had previously
kept him out of the side at Wrexham. Jack made his debut,
in the away fixture at Carlisle United, in September
1959 but after a run of seven games lost his place to
Spruce and made intermittent appearances throughout
the rest of the season. In October 1960 Jack had his
best run in the side and was first choice stopper until
the end of February 1961. Coincidentally his last game
was also played at Carlisle in March but he retired
at the end of the season through injury at the early
age of 29.
Following his retirement from the game Jack joined the
Lincolnshire Police Force before returning to live in
Wrexham. Jack enjoyed his time at Chester who he described
as “an honest club where positions were fiercely
contested.” A sincere, gentle giant Jack was a
family man with football in his blood. Our condolences
go out to his family and friends.
Chas
Sumner [18/3/09]
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