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]