CASPER PENS FIRST PROFESSIONAL DEAL

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Young keeper' signs first pro contract at Turf Moor

2023-06-07T16:00:00.000Z

CASPER PENS FIRST PROFESSIONAL DEAL

Young keeper' signs first pro contract at Turf Moor

2023-06-07T16:00:00.000Z

Young keeper' signs first pro contract at Turf Moor

Burnley Football Club is pleased to announce that goalkeeper Charlie Casper has signed his first professional contract with the Club.

Casper is a familiar name at Turf Moor, as Charlie’s grandad Frank played for the Clarets making 237 appearances before managing the Club for two years. His father Chris was part of the famous Class of ’92 at Manchester United before forced to retire through injury at 24.

The 18-year-old has penned a two-year deal and says it’s a ‘dream come true’ to sign his first professional deal at Burnley as the local lad grew up supporting the Club as a child.

Casper, who joined the Clarets aged 11, explained: “It’s something that you dream of. When you first come in as a kid, it’s one of the biggest aims when coming through the academy.

CASPER PENS FIRST PROFESSIONAL DEAL - Image 1

“To now have achieved that and to do it at the club I support, it’s a dream come true and I’m really excited to start the season.

“I had a meeting with the coaches and they told me I had got my professional contract and as soon I got that it was a sense of excitement but also relief at the same time.

“Just to know that I’m cemented at the club for the next couple of years. It was just a great feeling to be honest”

The shot-stopper added: “The first people I told were my parents, they have been my biggest supporters since young. Taking me to and from training over so many years.

“They were buzzing for me. They were a little bit on edge the same as me leading up to it but we’re all just really happy.

CASPER PENS FIRST PROFESSIONAL DEAL - Image 2

“Having that football family background with my dad and grandad there has always been that support and advice there and no pressure at the same time.

“I’m proud, obviously having the same name and try carry on the tradition of keeping football running in the family.”

Chris, Charlies father, said: "I'm proud of him. He's worked ever so hard and the hard work continues for him. He's been here six 1/2 years now and it's the next part of his career now.

"He's playing for his boyhood club and that's every players dream really. His Grandad played a big part in Burnley's history and 50 years ago they won the Championship too. It's exciting for the family and it feels quite special for us all."

Casper trained with the first team on a regular basis throughout the 2022/23 campaign and was even named on the bench three times in the Sky Bet Championship.

CASPER PENS FIRST PROFESSIONAL DEAL - Image 3

The Burnley-born teenager described the training sessions as a ‘fantastic learning environment’ and receives advice from all the coaching staff.

“The coaching staff have been really good with me. I think it would be easy for the manager, Craig Bellamy and Jelle to prioritise the more senior and first team players.

“But every time we’re on the training pitch I’m getting advice from all the coaches and it’s a really fantastic learning environment to be around.” Said Casper.

The goalkeeper received both the Club’s ‘Academy Player of the Season’ award for the 2022/23 campaign and the Premier League’s ‘Scholar of the Year’ award.

He said: “It’s nice to have something tangible to look back on and show that season. I picked up an injury in the middle of the season then was back and then came back and just worked hard.

“I came back in and then got around the first team and got on the bench three times, so it will always be a memorable season to look back on.