Jack Boxley R.I.P. (31/05/1931-21/03/2016)
CCFPA is sad to learn of the passing last week of our former winger John ‘Jack’ Boxley, aged 84. He will be remembered by older City fans as part of the Bantams forward line in a mid to late fifties squad which also included the likes of late CCFPA members Peter Hill and Ken Satchwell as well as Ray Sambrook, Alan ‘Digger’ Daley, Reg Ryan, Ray Straw and Jimmy Rogers. Current CCFPA members like Mick Kearns, Brian Hill, Ron Farmer, George Curtis, Lol Harvey and Brian Nicholas were also youthful contemporaries and will also remember him.
Jack was brought to Highfield Road from Bristol City along with Jimmy Rogers as a pair of Christmas 1956 presents for CCFC fans by manager Harry Warren. The left wing pair who had been prolific at Ashton gate had both scored for CCFC by the end of their second outing, Jack on his debut in a 2-1 home win against Southend United on December 29th 1956. In his three seasons at Highfield Road Jack made 94 league and cup appearances for CCFC scoring 18 goals before returning to Bristol at the start of the 1960-61 season. His last game for the Bantams (though a 2-1 defeat at Hartlepools United) confirmed City’s promotion from the inaugural season of Division 4 (albeit in second place).
Jack had been popular figures at Ashton Gate in the 1950s famed for his wonderful left foot and he was only 23 at the time of the Club’s historic 1954/55 Third Division South triumph making 44 appearances and netting 11 times that year for BCFC. In 2014, Bristol City supporters elected Jack into their Hall of Fame. A Brummy born in Cradley Heath, Jack joined the Bristol side for £2,000 from Stourbridge in October 1950, staying there for six years and also returned to them when his spell with the Bantams was completed. In total, Boxley made 213 appearances and scored 35 goals for the Bristol Club before starting a family in Long Ashton with wife Patricia. He also played for Chippenham Town (1961); Welton Rovers and Bath City before hanging up his boots and became a car salesman very near to the Bristol City ground.
