Ken Oakley
{{short description|Welsh footballer (1929–2017)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name= Ken Oakley
| image =
| fullname = Kenneth Oakley{{Hugman|14775|accessdate=18 November 2018}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1929|05|09|df=y}}
| birth_place = Rhymney, Wales
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|03||1929|05|09|df=y}}
| death_place = Monmouthshire, Wales
| height =
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| position = Forward
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Rhymney Boys
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = Abertysswg Boys
| years1 = 1950–1951
| clubs1 = Cardiff City
| caps1 = 5
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 1951–1953
| clubs2 = Ebbw Vale
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| years3 = 1953–1954
| clubs3 = Cardiff City
| caps3 = 2
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1954–1955
| clubs4 = Northampton Town
| caps4 = 13
| goals4 = 6
| years5 = 1955–1965
| clubs5 = Ebbw Vale
| caps5 =
| goals5 =
}}
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.
Early life and education
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/former-bluebird-gets-kick-old-5795609 |title=Former player gets a kick from old team's victory |website=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last=Moffett |first=Liam |date=29 August 2013 |access-date=18 November 2018}}
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. He played in the opening five matches of the 1950–51 season, scoring once, before losing his place in the side.{{Cite book | title = The Who's Who of Cardiff City | first = Dean | last = Hayes | publisher = Breedon Books | year = 2006 | page=144 | location=Derby | isbn= 1-85983-462-0}}
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. 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. 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.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oakley, Ken}}
Category:Welsh men's footballers
Category:Sportspeople from Rhymney
Category:Footballers from Caerphilly County Borough
Category:Cardiff City F.C. players
Category:Ebbw Vale F.C. players
Category:Northampton Town F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:20th-century Royal Air Force personnel