Keith Cassells

Keith Barrington Cassells (born 10 July 1957) is an English retired professional footballer, best remembered for his four seasons as a forward in the Football League with Mansfield Town. He also played league football for Watford, Oxford United, Brentford and briefly in the First Division for Southampton. He acquired the nickname "Rosie" during his playing career. A double promotion from the Fourth to the Second Division hampered Cassells' chances at Vicarage Road and he made just 17 appearances before his departure in November 1980.

Oxford United and Southampton In November 1980, Cassells dropped back down to the Third Division to join Oxford United as the makeweight in the deal which saw Les Taylor join Watford for a £100,000 fee. before making a surprise move to First Division club Southampton for an £80,000 fee in March 1982. Cassells failed to make a breakthrough at The Dell and made just 27 appearances and scored five goals before leaving the club in February 1983.

Brentford Cassells dropped back down to the Third Division to join Brentford for a £25,000 fee in February 1983. Signed as a replacement for the injured Tony Mahoney, over the following seasons he proved himself to be "a powerful-running frontman" and "a consistent, if unspectacular goalscorer". He experienced more success in the following season, winning the 1987 Football League Trophy Final, despite missing a penalty in the deciding shootout. His career was ended by injury in 1989,

Personal life Before becoming a professional footballer, Cassells worked as a postman. After his retirement from football in 1989, he joined the Hertfordshire Constabulary and rose to the rank of detective sergeant. He was awarded the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 2011.

Career statistics

Honours

Mansfield Town Football League Fourth Division third-place promotion: 1985–86 Football League Trophy: 1986–87

Individual

Football League Third Division PFA Team of the Year: 1981–82