Luke Casserly calls it a day after 18-years

?The time comes in every player?s life that retirement has to be considered and with work and family commitments I feel that now is probably the right time to do it.
?Physically I feel fit enough to go around one more time but after 18-years as a professional I feel it?s right and I would prefer to go out on my terms before anyone says I used to be alright,? he says laughing.
Casserly, formerly known as both ?Cruncher? and ‘Casper’ has packed a lot into those 18-years with Marconi Stallions (Twice), Northern Spirit and AIK Solna (Sweden) with whom he played UEFA Cup football and, of course, this season with Blacktown although many forget he also played with the Young Socceroos and represented Australia at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and collected 9-full international caps between 1997 and 2001 and won the Grand Final with Marconi Stallions in the old NSL in 1993.
Initially it was his ideology to play the game for as long as possible and then, perhaps, to tackle the role of coach but as he states: ?Coaching is something I thought long and hard about and maybe it?s something I will look into down the track but the reality is that this would not be possible for me at the moment for the same reasons I am giving the playing side away, work commitment particularly but also the family.
?Of course, come January it might be a different story as the work lode may have eased and if someone came along with a decent offer I might consider it but it?s not really in my thinking at the moment.
?That also goes for perhaps coaching in the future because I love this game too much to want to just walk away from it all together so right at this moment I feel it?s the right thing to do but, as I say, in January things could have changed but for now the game against Bankstown City Lions will be my last.?
What is particularly saddening is that Casserly has been a solid and loyal professional who has given everything for club and country over the years but should the onus of work commitment become too much the paying public would be robbed of a classy player just that bit too soon so it?s to be hoped he is afforded the opportunity to reconsider or at the very least take up the reins of coaching in the not too distant future.
-By Micky Brock