If Jake Caskey needs any reminder about the task ahead then he should take a look at the previous holders of his proud record.

A bright future beckons for the schoolboy midfielder who became Albion’s youngest ever peacetime player when he made his debut as a substitute in the closing stages of Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Yeovil at Withdean.

Caskey, the stepson of Albion striker Nicky Forster, was 16 years and 13 days when he came on for the final 14 minutes in the last game of the season.

He has already been handed a three-year deal by the Seagulls, starting a scholarship in July which will convert to a further two-year pro deal on his 17th birthday.

With Premier League clubs having already shown interest in the England under-16s midfielder, the future looks extremely bright.

But the road to success is not straight forward and many young, talented players have failed to live up to expectations throughout the years.

Caskey appears to be surrounded by good people who will keep his feet on the ground but a quick check of Albion’s previous teenage talents makes mixed reading.

He is the fifth 16-year-old to play in Albion’s first team and the fifth holder of the record of Albion’s youngest ever peacetime player since the Second World War.

Of the previous four, two enjoyed fine careers in the game and two disappeared out of sight.

First on the list is Steve Burtenshaw, who was 17 years 139 days when he made his debut away to Exeter City on April 11, 1953.

Burtenshaw went on to play 252 games for Albion but it was was a coach and manager away from the Goldstone Ground that he will best be remembered.

His greatest success came as Arsenal where he worked as chief coach, caretaker manager and chief coach. He also managed Sheffield Wednesday and QPR as well as holding positions at Everton, as coach, and Manchester City, as scout under Kevin Keegan.

Burtenshaw’s record lasted just over 20 years until Mick Conway made his Seagulls bow aged 17 years and 48 days, scoring an equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on April 28, 1973.

However, Conway made just one further appearance for Albion before being sold to Swansea for £3,000. He helped the Swans to promotion from the Fourth Division in 1978 but was badly hurt in a car crash in April that year which eventually forced him to retire.

Ian Chapman was the next holder of the record and the first 16-year-old to play for Albion when he made his debut aged 16 years 259 days away to Birmingham City on February 14, 1987.

He went on to play 331 games for Albion and later returned as coach under Dean Wilkins but the next holder of the record was barely out of his teens by the time his Football League career ended.

Striker Simon Fox was 16 years 238 days when he made his debut at home to Fulham on April 23, 1994, but after 24 games and no goals Fox was released and dropped into non-league football.

It was Fox’s record that Caskey broke but two other 16-year-olds played for the Seagulls in the interim, both enjoying only limited success.

Chris McPhee and Jake Robinson both scored a few goals for Albion without nailing down a regular place and are now playing with Kidderminster and Shrewsbury respectively. Robinson, though, is still the proud holder of being Albion’s youngest ever peacetime goalscorer.

It seems Caskey’s record will be hard to beat, although it already has been when you include players who appeared for Albion in wartime.

Full-back Reg Bowles was 15 years 258 days when he made the first of six appearances for Albion in 1941.

After the war, he enjoyed a successful career in Sussex non-league football.