Ken Oakley

Kenneth Oakley (9 May 1929 – March 2017) was a Welsh professional footballer who played as a forward. He played in the Football League for Cardiff City and Northampton Town.

Ken Oakley
Personal information
Full name Kenneth Oakley[1]
Date of birth (1929-05-09)9 May 1929
Place of birth Rhymney, Wales
Date of death March 2017(2017-03-00) (aged 87)
Place of death Monmouthshire, Wales
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Rhymney Boys
Abertysswg Boys
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1950–1951 Cardiff City 5 (1)
1951–1953 Ebbw Vale
1953–1954 Cardiff City 2 (0)
1954–1955 Northampton Town 13 (6)
1955–1965 Ebbw Vale
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

Born in Rhymney, Oakley was raised in Butetown. He attended Bargoed Technical School but left school at the age of 14 to take up a job in a factory in Dowlais.[2]

Career

Oakley began playing football at the age of 14 for Rhymney Boys before joining Abertysswg Boys two years later. He was selected for the Wales under-18 side twice, playing in matches against England and Scotland. He was spotted by Cardiff City at the age of 18 and signed for the club in 1950, being paid £7 a week during the season.[2] He played in the opening five matches of the 1950–51 season, scoring once, before losing his place in the side.[3]

At the end of the season, Oakley was called up to complete his national service. Given the option of working as a miner or joining the armed forces, he chose to join the Royal Air Force where he was a storeman.[2] During his service, he played for Welsh league side Ebbw Vale. He returned to Cardiff in 1953, making two further league appearances before joining Northampton Town.[3] He returned to Ebbw Vale in 1955 where he played for over ten years, retiring at the age of 35 after suffering a cracked femur.[2]

References
  1. "Ken Oakley". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  2. Moffett, Liam (29 August 2013). "Former player gets a kick from old team's victory". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  3. Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 144. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.
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