Class Cass
There can’t be many, if any, teenagers who have created a better impression in their first season at Borough Park than Ceiran Casson has in these past eight months.
Showing a maturity way beyond his eighteen years, Cass has enjoyed an outstanding first season in senior football and, if there is any justice, would have surely featured in the end of season awards – not only at club level but also on the wider League stage.
Ten years in the Carlisle United Academy honed the skills that made him a well respected player in his Brunton Park days and, although that culminated with a two years youth team contract, he was not, surprisingly, offered a professional contract.
Danny Grainger had first-hand experience of Ceiran’s development and wasted no time inviting the seventeen year old to Reds’ pre-season training camp last summer.
The rest is well documented.
“I’ve never looked back,” said the holding midfielder, adding, “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my first season with Reds and cannot thank the fans, management, team mates and staff enough for making me feel so welcome.”
After featuring in all the pre-season games, it was quite obvious that Ceiran would be named in the Reds’ starting XI for the opening league match, 17th August, which just happened to coincide with his 18th birthday!
He was handed the number 6 shirt and marked his debut by scoring the fourth goal in the opening day 4-1 victory over Pickering Town. What could be better?
“Scoring on my 18th birthday was unbelievable as I don’t score very often,” commented the Workington based player.
Since then, he has played in all thirty one of our league games – the only player to do so – and featured in the six FA Cup and Trophy fixtures. Quite wisely, the manager deliberately didn’t use him in the League and County Cup matches.
Ceiran discussed the highs and lows of the curtailed season and although there were plenty of options he thought our Trophy win at Leek Town was one of our best performances.
“At the time, we were both top of our respective divisions but we turned up at their place and emerged the much better team and the quality of our football came through.
“The worst, in my opinion, was the FA Cup match at Newcastle Benfield, our first defeat. We should have beaten them but we were in the early stages of the season and still gelling as a team. Had we got through that day, I think we could’ve put together a really good run in the Cup.
“Like everyone else, I would go with Conor’s performance at Tadcaster Albion as the best individual display of the season – it was something else!”
“The away match at Kendal was a great day for the team and supporters alike. My first derby away day was amazing and the atmosphere was brilliant and, with the pitch being like it was, the supporters helped us recover from a slow start to record a big win.
“And to top it all, I never thought Brad Carroll would ever score a hat-trick especially the way he took the goals! It’s given me hope of bagging a hat-trick in the future if he can fluke one like that.”
Cass’s second goal of the season (v. Prescot at home) was better than the one he netted on his debut and certainly more impressive than any of Brad’s threesome at Parkside Road!
Ceiran is part of Brian Dawson’s RITC set-up so his normal job involves serving up PE in the local schools but with all the schools closed he is marooned at home.
“At the moment, it just feels like a summer holiday when I was at school. Not getting up to midday, then filling time in on X-box, playing darts, walking the dog or doing some exercise.
“I did nothing for a week once we were told the season had been suspended but now I’m starting to work on my fitness by going out on regular runs. We’ve also got some gym equipment at home which is getting some use.”
The future looks bright for Cass and the hope is that he will spend the next few seasons in West Cumbria before moving on to bigger and better things!
