Day Out to Bromsgrove with Yozzer and Baz

1980 was also the year my interest in following the Steelmen was rekindled again. During the ‘Lockdown’ in 2023 I wrote a blog recalling how this came about, having given up on watching Corby Town F.C. for years. ‘Going back to October 25th 1980 the Steelmen were away to Bromsgrove Rovers in a Southern League Midland Division clash. But before this…. 1980 wasn’t a great year. The town was drowning in a sea of anguish and gloom. A national steel strike and the closure of the steelworks in April had resulted in thousands being made redundant. Despair hung over the town like a shadow on the lung. It goes without saying that at times like these football and entertainment often provide a means of escape, if only briefly, for those feeling as if they've been thrown on the scrapheap. Unfortunately in 1980 the football fans of Corby Town, those whom were still hanging in there, were also in despair. The end of the 1970s had been one of abject decline in the fortunes of the club. Finishing rock bottom of the league in the previous two campaigns, accumulating just 35points out of a possible 160 told its own story. Attendances dropping to double figures, the Occupation Road ground rapidly becoming derelict and unloved, the terraces overgrown, the stands in a state of collapse. Interest had all but disappeared. Entertainment value watching the Steelmen was zero. Light relief certainly wasn’t to be found at Occupation Road that was for sure. A proposed new stadium that had been designed and even published in the local press had also sunk without trace. The club was on the verge of oblivion, and it seemed, no one cared. After all, with thousands being made redundant in the town there were far more things to worry about than the fortunes of the local football club. This no doubt was the reason why, in February, the directors threw in the towel and tendered the club’s resignation from the Southern league. At the time I was into my third year working for the Royal Mail, and amongst other things, discussing football and the plight of the Steelmen with fellow posties Cliff ‘Yozzer’ Hughes and Dick Dighton who was passing his spare time keeping goal for minor teams like Rushden and the Diamonds. Dick had been a member of the Southern League Championship winning Kettering Town team in 1973. Injuries had blighted his career and he had latterly been keeping his hand in and getting a few extra bucks for his trouble, turning out for village side Cottingham. Thanks to Yozzer and myself, he would step back up to where he belonged and be keeping goal for the Steelmen 12 months down the line…but that’s another story and for another time. It was Yozzer, who it turns out, had been a Corby supporter for nearly as long as myself, going back to the early 60s, who happened to mention about some rumblings going on concerning the Steelmen during that summer of 1980. A new board of directors had assumed control, backed by the Hamblin Group who were behind the success of many of the county’s bingo halls and night clubs, including the Stardust Centre in the town’s George Street. The venue was the hub of entertainment in Corby throughout the 70s, attracting star names like P.J.Proby, Del Shannon, The Searchers, Billy J.Kramer, Alias Smith and Jones, Knobbs. And a game of Bingo. Anyhow, out of the blue it was announced in the press that Corby Town had successfully re-applied for membership to the Southern League and the directors, Arthur Pitcher, Mick York, Tom Haworth and co had appointed as player manager, Gordon Livsey, a goalkeeper of renown who had league experience with Chester, Wrexham, Hartlepools and also Kettering Town, Nuneaton Borough and Weymouth. Bit of a surprise it was, as was the signing of another experienced league player, midfielder Tony Moore from Chesterfield and his friend John Tandy from Northern Premier League side Worksop. Talking about this, a pre season friendly against Alliance Premier League A.P Leamington was coming up, and it spiked our interest enough to go and pay a visit. The Alliance had been inaugurated this year, as the tip of the non league pyramid. All the top non league sides in the country in the one division. Leamington was obviously going to be a test for the new look Steelmen. Well, to be honest, it was all new to me and Yozzer too. They did, apparently, have a number of ‘promising’ local youngsters and a couple of former Derby and Nottingham Forest youth players in the team, plus the ‘old heads’ of Livsey, Moore and Tandy to help them along. It did create a buzz and much to our surprise, a decent crowd turned up to find out, like ourselves, what was going on at Occupation Road. A great night it turned out to be. The young Steelmen overturning the illustrious visitors 1-0 and impressing everyone who was there. For all the promise and enthusiasm garnered against Leamington the season got off to the worst possible start with two 1-0 defeats against Minehead away and Kidderminster at home. Sandwiched in between however were two victories over the highly regarded Aylesbury in the Southern League Cup which was enough to retain the optimism. Trevor Morley, who came from Derby County youths and went on to have a great and successful career with Northampton, West Ham and Manchester City was undoubtedly the star, along with local lad Derek Walker. Both would be snapped up by Nuneaton, one of the top non league teams at the time managed by Graham Carr in the New Year, which was hugely disappointing for Steelmen fans. Morley and Walker lit up many a game with exhilarating displays down the flanks, one goal in particular embedded in the memory of all who were there came against Finchley in the F.A Trophy at Occy Road. Exchanging passes down the wing all the way from their own half, tearing the Finchley defence apart before Derek sent a cross over that Morley powered into the back of the net with his head. The place went nuts! We were scoring goals for fun by now which wasn’t going unnoticed. Attendances were creeping up every home game and it was catching the notice of the town, including my mate Pat McMahon who reveals his first Corby game was the week before the Bromsgrove game. A 4-0 hiding of British Timken in the Senior Cup. It was the start of his devotion to the Steelmen which would over time see him become a peripheral and often influential figure behind the scenes as the years rolled by. Pat was though, and some may say, still is, a moaner which was a trait that originally endeared him to all of the infamous BOTS, the ‘Back Of the Standers’ at the Rockingham Triangle ground later on and would secure his membership to the equally infamous Grumpys. Back to what I was talking about originally though, the Bromsgrove game. Finishing our mail delivery rounds on the Saturday morning, I went along with Yozzer, and his brother Barry, down to the Occupation Road ground to see if we could hitch a lift on the team bus. I can still remember manager Matt McIllwain’s face when he saw us standing there and we asked him. He looked as if we’d asked him for a fiver! Disbelief. It was probably the first time for a few years that the team had any supporters travelling with them! “Sure boys” Matt said, with a look of bemusement. “Get on”. Have to add, even the players looked slightly bemused! Arriving at Bromsgrove’s ground we were hesitant as what to do or where to go until Matt told us, “Grab hold of a bag fellers and follow the rest of us into the changing rooms. Anybody asks anything, tell them you’re injured!” We started laughing. Barry looked more like a rugby player, a prop forward at that, than a footballer! Still, we walked past a couple of Bromsgrove officials who looked a bit dubious at the three of us, as we put on a limp for good measure, and we were in. Joining in with some camaraderie for a bit of affect, we left the dressing rooms and made our way to the club bar in the ground for a couple of pints ahead of the game. We weren’t too optimistic about our chances, Rovers were one of the better teams in the league, and I can’t remember now exactly how the first half went, except that we were one up at half time, thanks to a Derek Walker goal. We were well chuffed as we made our way back to the bar for more refreshment during the interval. Bromsgrove were one of the favourites for promotion this year so as far as we were concerned, this was going better than expected. Then an announcement over the Tannoy as the teams came out for the second half lifted our spirits even further. The Bromsgrove goalkeeper was injured and the centre half (as we still called them those days) was replacing him in between the sticks. We were delighted with this naturally, and expecting an avalanche of goals, we made our way to behind the Bromsgrove goal to give their stand in goalkeeper as much stick as we could muster. All good humoured of course. ‘Hopeless’ etc Encouraged by this turn of events, the Steelmen duly bombarded the Bromsgrove goal, to little effect! Chances were being put on a plate but unfortunately they were usually being served up to our centre forward, a genial chap we called ‘Big’ Mee. Paul Mee was an honest player, let’s say. He did his best, as he always did, but…holy ****, I could have scored a hat full that day! Cheered on by Yozzer, Baz and myself, our boys poured forward towards us, standing alone by the fence in front of the stand. Time and again the ball sailed over our heads! Best chance of all came when ‘Big’ Mee was clear with only the stand-in keeper to beat. A guy who looked like a fish out of water. Surely we must score this time we thought. No. Big Paul scuffed his shot after the keeper had left a wide open goal for him after coming out to the edge of the area and found himself stranded. Once more the ball went flying over our heads, to a howl of groans. Exasperated, it was I who retrieved the ball, and with Paul looking on, with a hint of embarrassment, I threw the ball at the back of the net and shouted to him, “there’s the goals!!” Even the goalie laughed! The whistle went soon afterwards however and despite everything, we had won 1-0! Brilliant. Back in the bar, Yozzer, Baz and I sat, all smiles, with a pint, waiting for the boys to come in and to celebrate the victory. Spying us, looking liking a bunch of numptys I guess, as they entered, Big Mee came over. Apologetically, he stammered, “bit disappointing that was lads, wasn’t it…’. Blimey, I suddenly felt sorry for him. The three of us cracked up, “don’t worry about it Paul…” Yozzer placated him, laughing, “we still won!” Paul did try to smile. Anyhow, what the hell, despite the numerous chances that were missed, we’d still pulled off a surprising away victory! Magic! Good day it was! ‘Big Mee’ did get his scoring boots on the following week, helping the Steelmen to a 1-1 draw at Bridgend. His final goal for the Steelmen before he was released and replaced by goalscoring machine Brian Beresford from Worcester City. For a reported fee of a £1000 no less! Strange days.’

'Corky'

 

Corky

Corby Town 1962/63 with 'Corky'
on far right front row.

An interesting item turned up recently concerning a former Steelmen legend, John McCorkindale, better known in the day as ‘Big Corky’. John was featured in an article, ’70 years ago this weekend’ published in a Scottish newspaper. It came to light thanks to another former Corby Town player, Franny Taylor, who lives nowadays in Taunton and comes home regularly to catch up with his friends and brother Rab who is still a regular at Steelmen games at Steel Park.

Many of the older Steelmen supporters, those that are still around, will remember the giant guy who played predominantly on the left wing, in the number 11 shirt for the uninitiated, during the Johnny Morris and Tommy Hadden days at Occupation Road. 

‘Corky’ was from Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre. He was signed as a youngster by Kilmarnock, made one appearance and then headed south to try his luck and was snapped up by Southern League Tonbridge. The ‘Angels’ were delighted with him. ‘A tall, rangy player with exciting skills who made an instant impression’. He wasn’t at the Angel Ground for long though, Gillingham came in and signed him for what was described as a ‘nominal fee’ after just a handful of games for Tonbridge. 

He made less impression for the Gills and was soon headed down to the south coast for a season at Hastings United from where manager Johnny Morris signed him during the summer of 1960. Corky’s career at Occupation Road had an unfortunate beginning as he was carried off on a stretcher on his home debut against Gloucester City, leaving fans worried that he was going to be out injured for months. They needn’t have worried. He was back within  three weeks! Obviously the stretcher was a precautionary measure. Corby went on to beat Gloucester 3-0 without him as it happens.

For the record the team on that Tuesday night, August 23rd read;

Les Williams; Fred Patenall, Jack Smith; Bill Rodgers, Barry Parsons, Johnny Morris; John Tomlinson, John Garvie, Peter McKay, John McCorkindale, Tommy Garvie.

Peter McKay, who grabbed a hat-trick which included two penalties,  suffered an injury three weeks later at Poole Town, an injury which finished his career. In his position came Corky, moved to centre forward for a spell before reserve full back Dick Cruickshank was promoted from the stiffs to play in McKay’s position, and promptly netted 29 goals before the end of the season!

The Gloucester attendance incidentally was 1750.

6’6’’ Corky was very popular, his barnstorming travails down the left wing, leaving full backs in his wake, thrilled the home fans. Often heard was the cry “Open the gates!” They joked that if he didn’t look up he’d have run half way down Occupation Road. 

His final game in a Corby jersey came in a 3-0 defeat away at Peterborough United Reserves in a Midland Floodlit Cup game on April 11 1962. Fielding a side that was chiefly a trial for reserve team players, again some may remember the names. 

Larry Wealthall; Jimmy Fisher, David Boyd; Bill Rodgers, Barry Parsons, Ian Dey; Gordon Anderson, Jimmy Adam, Andy Easton, John McCorkindale, Bill Wiltshire.

Corky was released by manager Tommy Hadden at the end of the 61/62 season. John later played for Wellingborough Town.

Lockdown Trivia 3 - ‘Hyde and Seek.... On The Road with the Steelmen'

 

‘Hyde and Seek. On The Road…with the Steelmen

Another tale from the Steelman Programme archive. This time a trip to Hyde for a Blue Square North match on September 11th 2010. 

What a great league this was, I loved the Blue Square North, but I probably enjoyed it more than most with having my daughter Carly living more or less slap bang in the middle of Liverpool and Manchester. Two minutes off the M6 and M62 in a village called Winwick, a place of well renown for once being the site of one of Britain’s top lunatic asylums. Hyde itself has a somewhat lamentable history with its connections to the notorious child killers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley in the 1960s and more recently the infamous Dr. Harold Shipman. A real Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde character Harold was. This has nothing to do with football of course but another interesting piece of useless information is that Hyde United are in the record books for suffering the worst ever defeat in the F.A.Cup, having succumbed to the great Preston North End team, the Old Invincibles and Lillywhites, what a nickname that was, 26-0. 15th October 1887 was the date of the massacre. Still, something to be proud of I reckon.

Moving on 123 years, the Steelmen were hoping for at least, a modest victory if not a massacre of the Cheshire men, The Tigers. Which leads me to an obvious pun, predictable I know, that the Tigers must have been pretty toothless when they played Preston at Deepdale that infamous afternoon. Alright, move on.

What follows is the piece, report, call it what you want, I wrote for the Corby programme, ten years ago. With a few amendments.

‘Hyde and Seek. On The Road...with Clive Smith’

‘It was last season I made my bow at Hyde, deep in the suburbs of Manchester, having travelled up north on the Friday before the game, taking advantage of my daughter Carly's location in Winwick near Warrington - ideal for Corby games up North! A rail ticket purchased with my new senior citizen rail card for around £6 was a perfect start to the day. However as it is with British Rail, the train from Warrington Central to Manchester Piccadilly resembled an Indian Calcutta commuter express. Jam packed, a spot standing in the crowded doorway at the end of the carriage had to suffice. I found myself surrounded by braggart and obstreperous Manchester City fans on their way to see their team "stuff" their opponents, Blackburn Rovers. I suffered in silence as more and more of these such morons embarked at every station, conveying an arrogance only those who's club has been transformed overnight from 'run of the mill' to world beaters can. Unbearable. ‘Why do they have to speak so loud?’ ‘Who do they think they impress?’ were thoughts running through my mind as I felt like punching the lights out of them. Finally we pulled into Piccadilly and we all went our separate ways. I changed here for the connecting train to Hyde, a couple of stops away, twenty minutes or so. This is all timed to achieve the purpose of arriving at the Hyde ground around the same time as the Corby supporters who travelled up by bus. It's a bit weird switching from an overcrowded train of bandwagon Manchester City supporters to an empty train heading for a destination where very few care about their local football team. This is the world of Non League football. 

Home of Hyde United

Hyde Station is bereft of life. No ticket collector, no cafe, nobody around. A proper old branch line. Hyde’s ground is situated fairly close by, a twenty minute walk down a main road, up a couple of back streets and there it is. Hyde F.C. Founded in 1885. ‘Were the locals more interested in their team back then’ I pondered? Did people in those long ago days have a predilection to follow their lofty neighbours, the Manchester clubs? One surprise about the ground was to discover that Manchester City had in fact come to Hyde's aid by playing all their reserve fixtures there. Extra revenue, obviously a bonus and surely some people would be interested enough to go along and watch some 'promising' juniors or the occasional first team player on a comeback trail after injury. You would think. But knowing the mindset of so-called 'Big team supporters' dwelling in these outposts, I doubt it. Hyde's ground boasts a stand, rather peculiar shaped one it has to be said, with two prominent structures protruding from the roof, like two funnels of an old cruise liner, each with the club's and their squatters logo. Nice touch. 

Brian and John agree - its an away banker!

Roly looking smug. 'Be a piece of piss today'

In the clubhouse it's nice to see familiar faces. Brian Dighton, Roly Davies, Martin Brothwell, John Crawley amongst them. General consensus was that the Steelmen with the best away form of any club in the league over the two previous two seasons were expected to win today. Hyde struggling near the foot of the table suggested an away victory. 'But you can't take anything for granted'. Confidence is omnipresent as we sup our pints of Tetley's Bitter. 

With hindsight, ninety minutes later, maybe the team was too over confident! Not that manager Graham Drury would allow any such thoughts. What unfolded left Graham and his staff as bemused as the fans. Chris MacKensie in goals, the ever reliable Chris, had a mare! Straying off his line on more than one occasion he was eventually caught out when he made a pig's ear of tackling a Hyde player very nearly on the half way line! The Hyde fans couldn't believe their luck. An open goal and their forwards made no mistake. 

JC wondering wtf is going on!

From then on it was all a desperate struggle. Another weak goal was conceded, Chris misjudging a high cross. One of those days! Taking a different vantage point in the stand by the half way line for the second half, it didn't look any better. Our presence (Crawley and I were late leaving the bar!), was given away when we objected rather loudly to a diabolical referee decision against Steve Towers. All eyes turned towards us. A few glares. No threat. Good banter. Apart from one noisy little squirt who was determined to batter our eardrums and all around as well, with a quick fire lesson of the ABC of Obscene Language. His intention, doubtless to intimidate us, failed. No saint myself but having to put up with this non stop vitriol spewing from his mouth; well you can only listen to so much! With just a hint of jest I told him to calm down. Told him he'd have a heart attack! Don't be a tool! A few more glares were cast our way but I did sense a degree of embarrassment from his fellow Hyde companions. Though one look at the dastardly figure of Crawley, well imbibed, was enough to make any of them have second thoughts of taking on their interlopers, their unexpected guests. They were happy enough anyway. Corby were crap and deserved to get beat 2-1. Hyde had more go about them on the day.

'Bugger all to smile about Graham', Martin tells Drury, 'We were shite today!'

A quick jar and post match analysis and I left to make my way back to the station. Again, not a soul around. Except for one old boy on the opposite platform looking as forlorn as the surroundings. Thoughts of following Liverpool many years ago, being chased and threatened in every bloody station in the country entered my head. Memories. Where was everybody? The place was desolate. This is the kind of station which inspired Paul Simon to write his classic ‘Homeward Bound’ in the 1960s. 

'I'm sitting on a railway station, got a ticket for my destination...' 

I could imagine Paul sitting here jotting down those lines. And in fact it wasn't far from here that he did write those lines. Widnes. Just by where my daughter lives! Apparently there's a plaque on the platform to commemorate the fact. Have to check it out I think.

Back at Piccadilly for the connecting train to Warrington, with its returning Man City fans surprisingly subdued, they were held to a draw! Great stuff I think to myself. Arrogant prats. My train of thought is interrupted; pardon the pun, by an announcement that the 18.27 to Liverpool calling at Warrington is delayed by half an hour. Brilliant! Thirty minutes later, the platform is looking more like an airport lounge there are so many disgruntled people hanging around. Another announcement. The Warrington train is cancelled! Only British Rail! I'm only going about twenty miles down the track. I could walk the bloody thing I think to myself.  My mobile rings. It's my daughter. 'Where are you?' 'Brilliant!' she exclaims. We are supposed to be going out for a meal at eight. The rail officials are being overwhelmed by angry travellers. ‘What's happened to the bloody train?’ ‘What are you going to do about it!’ Eventually a replacement is found, and we are on our way again, only an hour late but we’re on the move. 

Was I going to enjoy a pint!’ 

Corby Team; MacKensie; Pitham Hope Gulliver Charlton; Lavery Andy Hall, Towers Webster; Mackey Walker subs Jarman Kirk Diggin.  Mackey scored Corby’s goal from the penalty spot.

                                                                                    *

It was interesting afterwards to read a different view of the game as reported by the Manchester Evening News, highlighting a couple of facts we didn’t know before the game. Which made the result even more of a disappointment.

'Hyde gained their first win of the season thanks to a late winner from debutant substitute Dale Johnson. With his first touch, he picked up the ball just outside the area and beat three men before firing the ball past a despairing Chris Mackenzie.It was a great return to Hyde for Johnson and hopefully will provide the impetus for the Tigers upfront over the coming weeks.

Shaun Whalley had opening the scoring for the Tigers on eight minutes when he scored a great opportunist goal from wide on the right as he caught Mackenzie napping. Hyde could have increased their lead on 23 minutes when a long kick downfield from keeper Russell Saunders bounced over his counterpart, but was scrambled away by Asa Charlton before Carlos Logan could take advantage.

Corby received a lifeline right on half time when Chris Lynch was adjudged to have fouled Ben Mackey in the area. Mackey himself took the penalty and was relieved to see the ball roll over the line as Saunders just failed to keep it out. It was harsh on the keeper, making his home debut following the departure of Craig Mawson.

After the break Hyde relied on the pace of Logan and Whalley to keep the visitors under pressure. Both went close before Logan brought another good save from Mackenzie. Mackey had a late chance for Corby but this was very much Hyde’s day and lots of positives to build on.

The only sad note for Hyde was that Tom Manship limped off after 28 minutes on this return. However it was due to a knock on his knee rather than a recurrence of his Achilles injury, so hopefully he will not be out for too long.

Attendance: 268

Funny how people have a different view of games. No mention of MacKensie’s howler on the half way line but then again if it‘d been the home goalkeeper…didn’t matter probably, considering their form of late, going by the report, a goal was a goal however much help they needed!

Side note;

Manchester City F.C. Reserves and Academy used the facility as their permanent home until 2015, when a purpose-built academy stadium was opened on the campus at the Etihad Stadium.

Lockdown Trivia -Dim Day Out At Milton Road

Milton Road

Re-visiting a Corby programme from the 90’s and recalling a day out at Cambridge City in 1986. The 86/87 season was the club’s second at the Rockingham Triangle arena and the first under the stewardship of ex Mansfield, Peterborough defender and former Kings Lynn manager, Colin Foster. This was also the season when former Scotland and Nottingham Forest European Cup winner John Robertson graced us 
with his presence for a few months. Goalkeeper Tim Garner also joined us from Kidderminster and

Colin Foster

became a huge favourite with the BOTS. Indeed, many thought he should have been selected for the England team this season. ‘Fozzie’ also dragged a few of his pals along from Lynn to make a contribution. Steve Hines, Martin Twigger and Tim Gale. Later on Clive Adams would also make the switch and looked a fine acquisition, when he was fit. Disappointingly he was crocked most of the short time he was here. The side was also boosted when Foster signed the experienced Pat Rayment from Cambridge United and Paul Curtis from the Cobblers. Pat would eventually be able to look back on his Steelmen career and claim to be the club record holder for the number of red cards received. Can’t remember how many to be honest, lost track! Fine player he was though. Wholehearted, fiery. Big favourite when he remained on the pitch. Paul Curtis added a lot of class to the side, silky smooth player, tenacious in the tackle, cool under pressure. He was also better known by the nickname bestowed on him by the BOTS - Saddam - for his uncanny likeness to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. For all this, results were pish. 13 games had yielded just 11 points out of a possible 39 when we had a visit to Cambridge City coming up. It would soon be 11 from 14 games! This was the game I recalled in the programme when City visited the Triangle in 1994. 

                                             A Dim Day Out At Milton Road 

 ‘A day watching the Steelmen at Cambridge City back on November 29th 1986 can only be described at best, as extraordinary. A car load of us made the short trip to see Corby, then under the command of Colin Foster, hoping at least to see a fair effort from our boys in the quest of some much needed points. Lingering at third bottom of the table, there hadn’t been much to shout home about of late. Still, optimism is a fair trait of a Steelmen supporter and this day would be no different. Arriving in Cambridgeshire, slightly ahead of schedule, pre match refreshment was sought and a search for the club bar ensued. It being a cold, damp day, the cosiness of the lounge welcomed us, deserted as it was, except for a lone barman going about his business, drying glasses. An enthusiastic ‘four pints of bitter please’ was greeted with a stony silence before the barman downed his towel and left the bar without a word. ‘What’d I say?’ I asked my companions. Four or five minutes later, the barman returned, took up position and said ‘four pints of bitter’. And a good day to you and all I thought. A few pints later, we left the bar and found that if we thought the welcome there was a wee bit off, the rest of the afternoon didn’t promise much better. Fog had descended to dampen the spirits a little, but we remained optimistic. Colin Foster had sprung a surprise with his team selection by making a few changes and reshaping the back four. A couple of new faces were on show as well in the shape of midfielder Ray Birch from Rushden and centre half John Flower, a big raw boned fellow from the reserve team. However, the new look defence of Elwyn Roberts at right back, Foster and Flower in the middle and Alan McIllwain at left back soon looked totally inadequate as Cambridge raced into a three goal lead before half time, Roberts having possibly his worst game ever in a Corby shirt. Foster looked pathetically unfit, Flower looked as rough as as you could look whilst McIllwain looked every inch a man playing out of position. “There’s a long way to go’ we decided as we headed for some half time tea, and oh yes, the chips did smell nice. Just what we needed to warm ourselves up. “Pie and chips’ I ventured to the lady in the hut. With that, she looked at her partner and said ‘what did e’ say?’ 'Christ I don’t sound that bad, do I?' I asked my pals now curling up with laughter. The usual suspects, Yozzer Hughes and his brother Barry. This is some day this is turning out to be, I thought. Anyway, Colin Foster obviously realised there was something wrong with his tactics during the intermission and he switched things around for the second half. Suddenly, Corby found themselves back in the game as first, Steve Hines was fouled in the area and Birch scored from the penalty spot. Roberts then blazed way over the bar from a matter of feet and then David Hofbauer reduced the deficit a little further a couple of minutes after that. Only 3-2 now and the travelling fans were getting ecstatic. ‘Take the piss Corby!’ the familiar war cry came out. On reflection it was perhaps that which stirred City back into action again, as three goals in as many minutes put to rest that idea. It was maybe as well we couldn’t see a lot of what was going on with the fog getting thicker by the minute. We did however see the final goal as in the last minute, Martin Twigger appeared out of the mist and planted the ball past the City keeper to make it 6-3. If nothing else, nine goals was value for money, even if we didn’t see half of them. 

Martin Twigger waiting for a cross to twitch the ball into the net with his head.

We headed for the bar again, only to find that this time, admission was not being granted for reasons unknown, and then a friendly debate began between ourselves and some gathering City supporters. One chap, obviously oblivious to the benefit of shampoo and changing you razor blades now and again joined in the conversation. With the white stuff covering his shoulders I tried a bit of humour at the fellow’s expense by asking him if it was snowing outside. He turned to me, with bike clips still round his ankles which looked a little amusing and replied, ‘no, but it is in Cardiff!’ Everybody fell around laughing as I tried to work out the significance of that one and gave up. With that, all was lost and it was a bemused bunch of Steelmen fans that trudged off home. Altogether, a strange day. Corby’s team that was battered was Tim Garner, Roberts, McIIlain, Paul Curtis, Flower, Foster, Tim Gale, Birch, Twigger, Hofbauer and Hines. Pat O’Keefe was the unused sub.’ 

 Looking back from a distance, this was quite an amazing game, had to be with nine goals I guess but it was one of those typical miserable damp November days. A real pea-souper. Sort of days I remember often at Occupation Road when the the ground was covered in smog. A mixture of mist and the crap from the steelworks polluting the air. The character in the bar afterwards too I remember. Though I’m not sure who was taking the piss the most here! His reply about ‘snowing in Cardiff’ threw me I have to admit! Good laugh all the same and that was and is, what following football, at this level in particular, is all about. My companions on the day, Yozzer Hughes and his brother Barry, ‘Baz’, and also Martin Donnelly and his pal, big feller can’t recall his name now, were there and were always great company and ready for a crack. Thinking of the barman before the game, when he disappeared when we had asked him for four pints, and he left us standing there looking like plums, recalls a similar scenario at Rushden’s Hayden Road ground following a Senior Cup match in the early 80’s. Quick pint or two was called for afterwards in the bar to celebrate our 2-1 victory. Packed with the smiling faces of Steelmen supporters, I asked the barmaid for five pints and Barry, sizing up the situation, immediately told her to serve up five more! She looked horrified and in disbelief. ‘Are you taking the piss?” she growled, looking like a bulldog chewing a wasp! Happy days!

John Robertson with European Cup.

'Saddam'. Paul Curtis.

Lockdown Trivia - October 1980

 

The 1980/81 side included stars Trevor Morley and Derek Walker

A Dive Into the Archive   

Thanks to the corona virus and the libraries being amongst a plethora of institutions indefinitely closed, the series I began 18 months or so back, on my Anfieldiron Blog, memories of every season I’ve bore witness to since I started following the Steelmen as a boy in 1958, meant due to the unavailability for research, the series ground to a halt. However, another idea came to me to help pass the time during this continuing pandemic, one based on and similar to articles I used to write occasionally for the Corby programme back down the decades. At one time they were called ‘A Dive Into the Archive’, other times it was ’40 years ago today..’ ’30 years..’ 

Anyway, we begin by going back to October 25th 1980 which I can’t believe is 40 years ago. How many times do we say this the older we get! This particular day the Steelmen were away to Bromsgrove Rovers in a Southern League Midland Division clash.

But before this….

1980 wasn’t a great year. The town was drowning in a sea of anguish and gloom. A national steel strike and the closure of the steelworks in April had resulted in thousands being made redundant. Despair hung over the town like a shadow on the lung. 

It goes without saying that at times like these football and entertainment often provide a means of escape, if only briefly, for those feeling as if they've been thrown on the scrapheap.

The demolition of the steelworks

Unfortunately in 1980 the football fans of Corby Town, those whom were still hanging in there, were also in despair. The end of the 1970s had been one of abject decline in the fortunes of the club. Finishing rock bottom of the league in the previous two campaigns, accumulating just 35points out of a possible 160 told its own story. Attendances dropping to double figures, the Occupation Road ground rapidly becoming derelict and unloved, the terraces overgrown, the stands in a state of collapse. Interest had all but disappeared. Entertainment value watching the Steelmen was zero. Light relief certainly wasn’t to be found at Occupation Road that was for sure.

Entrance to the Theatre of Dreams

A proposed new stadium that had been designed and even published in the local press had also sunk without trace. The club was on the verge of oblivion, and it seemed, no one cared. After all, with thousands being made redundant in the town there were far more things to worry about than the fortunes of the local football club. This no doubt was the reason why, in February, the directors threw in the towel and tendered the club’s resignation from the Southern league. 

At the time I was into my third year working for the Royal Mail, and amongst other things, discussing football and the plight of the Steelmen with fellow posties Cliff ‘Yozzer’ Hughes and Dick Dighton who was passing his spare time keeping goal for minor teams like Rushden and the Diamonds. Dick had been a member of the Southern League Championship winning Kettering Town team in 1973. Injuries had blighted his career and he had latterly been keeping his hand in and getting a few extra bucks for his trouble, turning out for village side Cottingham. Thanks to Yozzer and myself, he would step back up to where he belonged and be keeping goal for the Steelmen 12 months down the line…but that’s another story and for another time.

It was Yozzer, who it turns out, had been a Corby supporter for nearly as long as myself, going back to the early 60s, who happened to mention about some rumblings going on concerning the Steelmen during that summer of 1980. A new board of directors had assumed control, backed by the Hamblin Group who were behind the success of many of the county’s bingo halls and night clubs, including the Stardust Centre in the town’s George Street. The venue was the hub of entertainment in Corby throughout the 70s, attracting star names like P.J.Proby, Del Shannon, The Searchers, Billy J.Kramer, Alias Smith and Jones, Knobbs. And a game of Bingo.

Knobbs, with director Mick York on drums

Anyhow, out of the blue it was announced in the press that Corby Town had successfully re-applied for membership to the Southern League and the directors, Arthur Pitcher, Mick York, Tom Haworth and co had appointed as player manager, Gordon Livsey, a goalkeeper of renown who had league experience with Chester, Wrexham, Hartlepools and also Kettering Town, Nuneaton Borough and Weymouth. Bit of a surprise it was, as was the signing of another experienced league player, midfielder Tony Moore from Chesterfield and his friend John Tandy from Northern Premier League side Worksop. 

Talking about this, a pre season friendly against Alliance Premier League A.P Leamington was coming up, and it spiked our interest enough to go and pay a visit. The Alliance had been inaugurated this year, as the tip of the non league pyramid. All the top non league sides in the country in the one division. 

Leamington was obviously going to be a test for the new look Steelmen. Well, to be honest, it was all new to me and Yozzer too. They did, apparently, have a number of ‘promising’ local youngsters and a couple of former Derby and Nottingham Forest youth players in the team, plus the ‘old heads’ of Livsey, Moore and Tandy to help them along.  

It did create a buzz and much to our surprise, a decent crowd turned up to find out, like ourselves, what was going on at Occupation Road. A great night it turned out to be. The young Steelmen overturning the illustrious visitors 1-0 and impressing everyone who was there. 

For all the promise and enthusiasm garnered against Leamington the season got off to the worst possible start with two 1-0 defeats against Minehead away and Kidderminster at home. Sandwiched in between however were two victories over the highly regarded Aylesbury in the Southern League Cup which was enough to retain the optimism.

Trevor Morley, who came from Derby County youths and went on to have a great and successful career with Northampton, West Ham and Manchester City was undoubtedly the star, along with local lad Derek Walker. Both would be snapped up by Nuneaton, one of the top non league teams at the time managed by Graham Carr in the New Year, which was hugely disappointing for Steelmen fans. 

Morley and Walker lit up many a game with exhilarating displays down the flanks, one goal in particular embedded in the memory of all who were there came against Finchley in the F.A Trophy at Occy Road. Exchanging passes down the wing all the way from their own half, tearing the Finchley defence apart before Derek sent a cross over that Morley powered into the back of the net with his head. The place went nuts! We were scoring goals for fun by now which wasn’t going unnoticed. Attendances were creeping up every home game and it was catching the notice of the town, including my mate Pat McMahon who reveals his first Corby game was the week before the Bromsgrove game. A 4-0 hiding of British Timken in the Senior Cup. It was the start of his devotion to the Steelmen which would over time see him become a peripheral and often influential figure behind the scenes as the years rolled by. Pat was though, and some may say, still is, a moaning ‘get’ which was a trait that originally endeared him to all of the infamous BOTS, the ‘Back Of the Standers’ at the Rockingham Triangle ground later on and would secure his membership to the equally infamous Grumpys.

A leading critic over the years, Pat McMahon

Back to what I was talking about originally though, the Bromsgrove game. Finishing our mail delivery rounds on the Saturday morning, I went along with Yozzer, and his brother Barry, down to the Occupation Road ground to see if we could hitch a lift on the team bus. I can still remember manager Matt McIllwain’s face when he saw us standing there and we asked him. He looked as if we’d asked him for a fiver! Disbelief. It was probably the first time for a few years that the team had any supporters travelling with them! “Sure boys” Matt said, with a look of bemusement. “Get on”. Have to add, even the players looked slightly bemused!

The days when the Steelmen used to run 'football specials'

Arriving at Bromsgrove’s ground we were hesitant as what to do or where to go until Matt told us, “Grab hold of a bag fellers and follow the rest of us into the changing rooms. Anybody asks anything, tell them you’re injured!” We started laughing. Barry looked more like a rugby player, a prop forward at that, than a footballer! Still, we walked past a couple of Bromsgrove officials who looked a bit dubious at the three of us, as we put on a limp for good measure, and we were in.

Joining in with some camaraderie for a bit of affect, we left the dressing rooms and made our way to the club bar in the ground for a couple of pints ahead of the game. 

We weren’t too optimistic about our chances, Rovers were one of the better teams in the league, and I can’t remember now exactly how the first half went, except that we were one up at half time, thanks to a Derek Walker goal. We were well chuffed as we made our way back to the bar for more refreshment during the interval. Bromsgrove were one of the favourites for promotion this year so as far as we were concerned, this was going better than expected. Then an announcement over the Tannoy as the teams came out for the second half lifted our spirits even further. The Bromsgrove goalkeeper was injured and the centre half (as we still called them those days) was replacing him in between the sticks. We were delighted with this naturally, and expecting an avalanche of goals, we made our way to behind the Bromsgrove goal to give their stand in goalkeeper as much stick as we could muster. All good humoured of course. ’Tosser!’ ‘Hopeless’ etc

Encouraged by this turn of events, the Steelmen duly bombarded the Bromsgrove goal, to little effect! Chances were being put on a plate but unfortunately they were usually being served up to our centre forward, a genial chap we called ‘Big’ Mee. Paul Mee was an honest player, let’s say. He did his best, as he always did, but…holy shit, I could have scored a hat full that day!

Cheered on by Yozzer, Baz and myself, our boys poured forward towards us, standing alone by the fence in front of the stand. Time and again the ball sailed over our heads! Best chance of all came when ‘Big’ Mee was clear with only the stand-in keeper to beat. A guy who looked like a fish out of water. Surely we must score this time we thought. No. Big Paul scuffed his shot after the keeper had left a wide open goal for him after coming out to the edge of the area and found himself stranded. Once more the ball went flying over our heads, to a howl of groans. ‘F—-k me!’ ‘You couldn’t score in a brothel!’ ‘If you fell in a barrel of tits, you’d come out sucking your thumb!’

Exasperated, it was I who retrieved the ball, and with Paul looking on, with a hint of embarrassment, I threw the ball at the back of the net and shouted to him, “there’s the f—-ing goals!!” Even the goalie laughed!

The whistle went soon afterwards however and despite everything, we had won 1-0! Brilliant. Back in the bar, Yozzer, Baz and I sat, all smiles, with a pint, waiting for the boys to come in and to celebrate the victory. Spying us, looking liking a bunch of numptys I guess, as they entered, Big Mee came over. Apologetically, he stammered, “bit disappointing that was lads, wasn’t it…’. Blimey, I suddenly felt sorry for him. The three of us cracked up, “don’t worry about it Paul…” Yozzer placated him, laughing, “we still won!” Paul did try to smile. Anyhow, what the hell, despite the numerous chances that were missed, we’d still pulled off a surprising away victory! Magic! lol Good day it was!

The team which was more or less the same every week throughout the first half of that season was Gordon Livsey; David Gill, Tony Ferns; Tony Moore, David ‘Dodge’ Rodger, Alan McIllwain; Jimmy Rogers, John Tandy, Paul Mee, Trevor  Morley and Derek Walker. 

‘Big Mee’ did get his scoring boots on the following week, helping the Steelmen to a 1-1 draw at Bridgend. His final goal for the Steelmen before he was released and replaced by goalscoring machine Brian Beresford from Worcester City. For a reported fee of a £1000 no less! Strange days. 

Time Of Our Lives - John Rennie

John with his pals and fellow Steelmen Barry Parsons, Jiommy Adam, Alex Harper and Buddy Irving 1958

A great favourite at Occupation Road in the late 1950s and early 60s was local lad John Rennie. John was a key member of the Corby team for over a decade, his versatility proving a great asset for the three managers he served under. There aren't many who can say they have played in every position, including goalkeeper, but John joined this exclusive club when taking over from the injured Bill Farmer during a Boxing Day clash at Cambridge United in 1959. We lost the game 2-0 but all John can remember about it though is "It was a bloody freezing day!" Born in Corby John went to the Boys School in James Watt Avenue, leaving in 1954 to take up an apprenticeship as a welder in the Pen Green Workshop of the Stewarts and Lloyds steelworks. Like many lads back in the 1950s he joined the Uppingham and Corby Boys Club and starred in a highly successful football team that also included his great friends Barry Parsons and Buddy Irving. All three were signed by Corby Town manager Wally Akers in 1955. John Rennie was initially a forward, scoring goals for fun as ex Liverpool star and TV pundit Alan Hansen would say. Playing for the Corby 'A' team he continued to find the onion bag and was soon rewarded with a call up to the reserve side playing in the Central Alliance. Nothing could stop John. Roy of the Rovers had nothing on him! His goalscoring record was maintained by netting 20 goals out of the 40 the whole team managed that season! The highlight of an otherwise average season for the reserves came with a two legged Knock Out Cup tie against Derbyshire mining side Clay Cross. The miners came to Corby for the first leg and shafted the junior Steelmen 5-2. The performance afterwards was described by the disconsolate reserve team manager John Bell 'as the pits!' Rennie and Terry Agnew scored for Corby in this game but the tie seemed lost. The return a week later was a forgone conclusion, or should have been, but a couple of changes by the 'tinkerman' John Bell, and some complacency by the home side plus a hat-trick from John and a solo effort from Andy Ross stunned the mining team and gained Corby Reserves a fantastic 4-0 victory and tie winning aggregate score of 6-5. Inside forward Mick Gallagher recalled that day; 'First of all I remember pre match that John Bell had ordered us a light snack of scrambled eggs in a hotel. Andy Ross took one look at it and went off to look for a chip shop! It was a filthy day, raining all game, the pitch was heavy with mud but we were obviously the fitter team, and John Rennie was unstoppable. And Andy ended up on his knees vomiting on the pitch!" Rennie's exploits didn't go unnoticed by Wally Akers and in February 1958 John was called up for his first team debut away at Bradford City Reserves in a Midland League fixture. The Steelmen lost 3-1 but John had the satisfaction of scoring the Corby goal. 

 During the summer of 1958 there were wholesale changes at the club. Wally Akers was replaced by former Manchester United, Leicester and England player Johnny Morris as manager to begin a new adventure in the revamped Southern League. One of Johnny's first signings was John Rennie on professional terms. Unfortunately these weren't the only forms signed by John, as the Army came calling for him to do his two year stint of national service. However because of his apprenticeship John's call-up was deferred and he joined up later in April 1960. After basic training in Dorset he was posted to the R.E.M.E unit in Aldershot. John played football regularly for the Army teams alongside players who were currently playing for league sides. Trevor Peck of Cardiff City was one. 'Pecky was a big blonde haired Welsh guy, thought he was better than he was! He was a good friend though who later played for Kettering." The North Western Division of the Southern League was a tough one with many old 'pro's' turning out for the opposition sides. Scottish international Charlie 'Cannonball ' Fleming at Bath City, Johnny Hancocks at Wellington Town, Welsh international captain Roy Paul at Worcester City just a few to mention. Playing against exalted company must have been a thrill but John wasn't one to be overawed or impressed. "They were just players on the way down picking up good part time wages." Under Johnny Morris, Rennie could find himself playing anywhere; on the left wing, right back. Morris's team selections often proved to be baffling, switching players around after defeats giving the impression of shutting the gate after the horse had bolted. Which gave credence to the thought that he didn't have a clue! Goals were Rennie's business as he proved when Johnny selected him in his favoured position at center forward against Barry Town and Kidderminster in September 1958. He scored five times! It didn't impress Johnny though and he was soon back in defence. Over the next couple of years John was yomping back and forth, playing only intermittingly for the Steelmen though it appears he did spend more time playing football than working on tanks! "I used to play a lot of mid-week games for Corby during this time. I'd get the late train back to St Pancras after the match, walk over London to Waterloo Station and catch the train to Aldershot. I'd generally arrive back at the barracks around four in the morning. They allowed me to stay in bed until about ten. If you were a sportsman you were given these sorts of privileges. I played rugby, football and boxed for the army. It was great." By the time of his demob, Tommy Hadden had taken over as Corby manager, beginning one of the best eras in the club's history. Hadden signed Tommy Crawley and Arthur Hukin, both renowned goalscorers. A young Scottish player called Hughie Curran, the mercurial Peter Kearns at inside forward. There was a strong Irish element to Hadden's teams with Bill Rodgers, Jimmy Fisher, Harry Robinson and Robin Trainor all coming over from the Emerald Isle. John Rennie was a fixture at half back alongside his old mate Barry Parsons. Stalwarts of the side. One miserable filthy day when Corby were playing Gloucester City, such was the state of the pitch, Rennie, who relished the conditions walked off at half time covered from head to toe in mud. When he re-appeared for the second half he had a new sparkling clean white shirt on and stuck out like a sore thumb. It reminded me of the Omo washing powder advert on TV. Before and after! Watching football during Tommy Hadden's reign as manager was a joy. The Steelmen reached the first round of the F.A.Cup in three consecutive seasons. John; "Bristol City in 1963 was a game which with a bit of luck we could have won. They included John Atyeo the ex England centre forward, a real hard man to play against, but our defence didn't do too bad. Hartlepools the year afterwards was also another tie we could have won. Republic of Ireland international Ambrose Fogerty was in their side. A big skilful inside forward who had all of us chasing around! They were great games despite us losing both 3-1." In 1963 Rennie and Parsons were awarded a testimonial for their loyalty with a game against Aldershot, arranged as part of the deal that had taken Peter Kearns there in 1962. Both players pocketed a nice wee sum, though John's wife Betty later complained; "They should have made more out of it. John and Barry didn't do enough to promote the game. The two of them were too laid back. They should have arranged a Benefit dance at the Raven and things like that but they didn't seem bothered. It was still good game though." Corby finally achieved their goal of promotion to the Southern League Premier Division in the 1964/65 season. You would have thought everyone was thrilled by the achievement but there were a couple of shocks during that summer. Tommy Crawley decided to move on and then most unexpectedly, John Rennie also left, to join great rivals Kettering Town! "That was the biggest mistake of my life. Worst move I ever made" said John with hindsight. Asked why he left, and returned to Corby after one season at Rockingham Road John replied; "I was just bored and fancied a change of scenery. Kettering's manager George Swindin got in touch and I went." John would later regret his move as Corby's first season without him saw them progress through to the third round of the F.A.Cup with games against Luton and Plymouth that would enter folklore. It must have been hard watching his home town team having a great year in his absence. He returned for one more season and was virtually ever present before calling it a day and settling for a few years playing for Stamford and local amateur sides. "I used to get calls asking if I fancied a game. I turned out for a number of clubs, I even played full back for Corby Rugby Club one season!" Following the steelworks closure in 1980 John and Betty decided on a career change and in 1985 they took over as stewards of the Liberal Club in Leyton, East London. A totally new experience as Betty recalls; "It was a real East End club, the people were rough but really friendly. What surprised us more than anything was the language! Terrible, every second word was an expletive but it was the way they talked. You got used to it after awhile and realised they weren't being disrespectful or anything. We were there for about a year before we decided to come home. We found the long hours in running a working men's club wasn't for us. We had a great send off from the club members, typical of the generosity of the cockneys." 

John still takes an interest in the Steelmen, attending an occasional match at Steel Park. Indeed he attended the recent Dover F.A. Cup match. He also remains in touch with some of his old team mates, Alan Alexander, Gordon Anderson, Jimmy Adam, and Tommy Fulton. John Rennie, a true Steelmen legend.

'I'm Backing Eric' 1968.69

Maurice flies in to head past the Rangers keeper McDermott

1968 was a turbulent year. The assassinations of Senator Bobby Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King in America. The Soviets invading Prague. The Vietcong Tet Offensive in Vietnam. Riots and protests against the war in Paris, London, Tokyo, Chicago. Britain’s Pound devalued by Harold Wilson’s government with the country’s balance of payments deficit hitting an astronomic figure of £1,000,000,000 initiating a campaign which began with five Surbiton secretaries volunteering to work an extra half hour a day for no extra payment with the slogan ‘I’m Backing Britain’. A campaign which caught the imagination of nearly everyone. I hasten to say nearly because I remember a response to this from a workmate in the C.W; ‘Its bad enough working here for eight hours a day with pay, never mind working an extra half hour for f—- all!’

Amidst all this, and pardon for being flippant, the Steelmen were relegated to the Southern League Division One. A plight replicated by our neighbours the Cobblers who completed a full circle by ending up back in the Fourth Division from whence they began an incredible journey to the First in 1961. 

I was still ensconced in the Tubeworks, aged 18 and working three shifts in the Mills. I was also in love. With a girl I had met on a blind date during the summer who would later become my wife. And in love with Liverpool F.C. The mighty Reds of Anfield. Following Shankly’s great side was a definitive antidote to following the oft beleaguered Steelmen. I hadn’t given up completely. I mean, I even took my girlfriend Sue to watch the Steelmen play Dunstable. Can’t remember if she was  impressed with Corby winning 5-2 and Dixie McNeil grabbing a hat trick, but I was!

During the summer of 68’ there was a buzz around the town with the inaugural Highland Gathering taking place in the Welfare Grounds. Men tossing trees around, pipe bands and highland dancing providing ample excitement but Steelmen fans were equally excited about who manager Eric Caldow was going to bring in to rejuvenate his squad.  

There was also a new Supporters Club being built and the ground was being spruced up with a lick of paint. Which wasn't to everyone's taste as Celtic fan John Crawley recalled; “The whole ground was painted in Rangers colours! Red, white and blue! It was a disgrace! That was chairman Dr Devine, a Blue nose!!”

I don't know if director Danny Howitt was a ‘blue nose’ or a ‘green nose’ but it was with a flash of inspiration he announced an ambitious publicity campaign echoing that of the Surbiton ladies. Designed to catch the imagination of the Corby public, thousands of leaflets, posters, car stickers and badges adorning the slogan ‘I’m Backing Eric’ were to be distributed around the town. “It’s hopeful the campaign will attract more punters through the gate to support Eric and get the club back into the Premier Division at the first attempt” said Danny, “We are hoping ‘I’m Backing Eric’ will became a catchphrase in Corby.”  

Thanks to Eric’s obvious connections, Dan also announced that Glasgow Rangers would provide glamorous opposition for a pre-season friendly which was assumed, would attract a bumper crowd. Dan and his fellow directors were optimistic, perhaps over optimistic, declaring; “There will be a limit of a 10,000 attendance. Get your tickets now!” Problem was, Rangers were also playing a friendly in London at Arsenal the same day and as it proved, it was clear more people were interested in watching the Rangers first team rather than a composition of reserves and trialists at Corby. With just over 2500 turning up at Occupation Road its fair to surmise that  maybe the other 7000 did go off to London for the day. Still, there were a few ‘names’ on show for the Teddy Bears second string, including centre half Roger Hynd, nephew of the great Bill Shankly. Which was good enough for me.

Bertie Black being chased by Brazil World Cup legend Zozzimo

Caldow's side included new signings Jimmy McGeorge and Alan Gregory from Cambridge City, Tom McGinn from Glasgow side Kello Rovers, goalkeeper Harry Fallon from York City, Terry Brennan from RAF Cottesbrooke, not a flier on the wing but a forward nonetheless and Scottish legend, former Ayr United and Kilmarnock league championship winner, Bertie Black. 

Also returning, once more, was Alex Stenhouse! Seems like they couldn’t get rid of him! Alex was back for his 7th season at the club and earned a testimonial against Birmingham City in November. Only the 6th player in the club’s history to be awarded the honour.

The new players were impressive with the Steelmen defeating their illustrious opponents 2-1. Which led to half the town mocking their adversaries all week! Especially in the C.W. What a laugh that was! The victorious Corby team lined up; Fallon; Caldow Burns; Addy McGugan McNeil; McGeorge Goodall Black Brennan McGinn.

Much to the surprise, and delight of Steelmen fans, Corby were 1-0 up in 75 seconds. Old favourite amongst the raft of new boys Maurice Goodall diving to head home a cross  from Bertie Black. Dixie McNeil then inexplicably found the net, his own, to give Rangers an equaliser in the 50th minute and a free flowing game was won when Brennan, described by Jack Birtley in the E.T. ‘impressing with a scheming football brain’, scored the winner for Corby and the boys held out through a frantic onslaught in the final ten minutes to secure the victory. Jack was clearly excited about the club’s prospects; ’Conclusive evidence they will begin the campaign a vastly different kettle of fish to the relegated squad of last season’.

The Supporters Club which opened in time for the pre-season friendly was run by Ernie and Betty Leaker. Prior to becoming full time steward Ernie was a slinger in the C.W.Mills, working on Number 2 Mill. And I remember him nearly coming a cropper when he stepped in between railway wagons when he went to fill his teapot up in the C.W. Detail department. The warning lights were flashing, sirens blaring, shunters were coupling the wagons of scrapped tubes. Perhaps Ernie was thinking he wouldn’t have much longer in this place. He went to walk through a gap, just as the wagons crashed into each other! Ernie turned white, stepping back he blew out his cheeks. He’d very nearly had had his last cup of tea! Another time I recall Ernie asking me when I was going to the canteen, to get him a packet of cigarettes from the vending machine. I told him I’d be a good hour. Joining some pals playing cards, I forgot what Ernie wanted. I brought him back a packet of biscuits! He went berserk! Threw them at me! He must have thought I was a right divvy! 

Ernie and Betty’s clientele tended to be a bit of a clique. Dave Tilley, then aged 15, recalls the first time he went there, to buy a ticket for the bus on an away game; “There was a dominoes match going on. When I appeared it was like a scene from the westerns. Everybody stopped, looked around at me. Total silence. All that was missing was a guy in the corner playing a piano. Felt like a tense situation. As if I had a gun ready to draw. All eyes were on me. ‘Whos he?’ “What does he want?’ written on all the faces. I asked Ernie,  sheepishly, “Can I have a ticket for the bus?”

As you would expect, optimism was high following the Rangers game but just a week later, Dartford came to town, and demolished the euphoria by thrashing the Steelmen 5-1!

A crowd of over 1300 witnessed a display that left the home fans, and Jack from the E.T. watching in disbelief. 

‘Dartford wouldn’t have been flattered if they had scored another three in the final 20 minutes’ Jack groaned.

‘Corby floundered in their new all white strip like a squad of reluctant choir boys’

‘An important item on Caldow’s shopping list should be a blackboard and easel and a box of chalks, the team clearly need a series of tactical talks’.

‘When Dartford scored their third goal Corby’s resistance collapsed like a stack of playing cards on a shaky table’.

Have to say I missed the game, I was at Anfield with my mate John Wilson watching Liverpool beat Manchester City 2-1. And by the sound of it, I’m glad I was!

Three days later the team had the chance to redeem themselves with the visit of Cambridge City. Changes were made but the display against Dartford knocked 500 off the gate. Those who did bother to turn up saw a much improved performance, though I guess that couldn’t have been too hard. Dixie McNeil was moved into the forward line by Caldow, a move which proved to be a masterful tactical stroke. He ended up with 47 goals this season!

Corby's new striker force Dixie McNeil and Alan Gregory in another unfamiliar strip attack the Hastings goal.

Jack was in eloquent mode again; ‘Corby dominated first half like a band of well disciplined marauders’. 

Dixie’s goal and Black’s second in two games saw Corby going off for their half time cuppa with a comfortable 2-0 lead. With Mick Addy, who Jack described as ‘ruthless’ and Goodall and Neil Burns providing a solid backbone, the first points of the season appeared to be assured. Whether this was down to Eric and a new blackboard who knows, but in the second half they sat back on their lead and allowed City to score twice in the last ten minutes to get a draw. So I guess, for Eric, it was back to the drawing board. Or blackboard!

‘Corby’s flag still flying at half mast’, was all Jack could add.

It took Eric a while to get a settled team and when he did they started to fly more vibrantly than the flag. Local youngster Bobby Scott claimed the left half shirt once Dixie had vacated it. Fallon was more flash than the dependable Alexander in goals who was keeping the bench warm as substitute on occasion. Not sure what would have happened if Alan had been required to come on as centre forward or right wing, but he may have surprised us. 

Stenhouse was filling in when required, now 36 he was probably happy with that and when over 1600 turned out for his testimonial against Birmingham City he must have been delighted. Making a guest appearance for the Steelmen on the night was Eric’s old teammate and huge Steelmen favourite, Hugh Curran, now playing for Norwich City. Like McNeil, Hugh had played wing half for Corby but was moved up front when he signed for Millwall, and became a prolific goalscorer. Sold on to Norwich he would later sign for Wolverhampton Wanderers and play for Scotland. 

The Birmingham game was played at a leisurely pace and I’ve a feeling that many were disappointed that Curran didn’t put himself about a bit more than he did. He was remembered as a barnstorming wing half but obviously the Canaries had told him to take it easy. It was still great to see him back in a Corby shirt all the same. Bobby Scott scored Corby’s goal in the 1-1 draw.  

Results were picking up, goals were going in at a steady rate and the only blip in the early months of the season was a shock 1-0 home defeat to St Albans in the F.A.Cup. Leading the chase at the top of the table come Christmas was a new club for Corby fans to ponder, Brentwood Town. The Essex side came out of nowhere, or so it appeared, and the way things turned out, they returned to obscurity fairly quickly too. They did however do the double over Corby, 3-0 in Essex on Boxing Day and 3-1 in February at Occupation Road.

By which time manager Eric Caldow was reportedly courting Scottish League Division One Raith Rovers, which didn’t impress Corby’s directors too much. When they then heard he was seen in Scotland they were even less impressed, and sacked him! Headlines in the Evening Telegraph of Caldow’s dismissal shocked Steelmen supporters. “They’ll have to change the slogan now” Rab Taylor mused, “I’m backing Eric, to I’m sacking Eric!”

If this was too much to take in at short notice, next night the headlines blared ‘Swindin appointed manager of Steelmen!’ What was going on?

They didn’t hang around, you have to say that. George had been running the Garage on the Town Centre roundabout for some time and it could have been Dr Devine or one of his crew had called in for petrol and tapped the former Arsenal, Norwich and Cardiff manager up, knowing that Eric was on the verge of jumping ship anyway? Whatever was going on the whole scenario was messy to say the least and left supporters and players disillusioned, as could be seen by the inconsistent form witnessed from there on in. What had started as a very promising promotion campaign dissipated by the week, not helped it has to be said by a string of injuries, postponements due to the weather, heavy snow covered the country for weeks, and a flu virus doing the rounds which knocked a few of the players out. 

One of Caldow's last acts, as goalkeeper against Rushden in the Senior Cup.

For all the upheavals though, we still managed to come 5th in the table, five points behind Crawley Town who clinched the 4th promotion spot. Another era was thus over and another about to begin as we rolled on into the 1970s. George Swindin was another huge ‘football’ name, having played in the 1950 F.A.Cup Final for Arsenal against Liverpool and regarded as one of the best goalkeepers never to have played for England. He was manager of Peterborough during their Midland League championship winning days of the 50s before taking charge at Arsenal, Norwich City, Cardiff and the garage. Liked an oil change now and again did George.

A new competition Corby was involved in this season was an alternative to the Midland Floodlit Cup from which they had resigned at the end of the previous season with chairman Fred Deeley complaining ‘attendances were awful’. So it seemed incomprehensible that the new Anglia Floodlit Trophy would be any different. Still, it was only Corby, Nuneaton and Wisbech involved and the home game with Borough attracted 1276! There you go. The series of games saw the Steelmen triumphant, winning their first trophy for years. Excluding the Senior Cup and Samaritan Cup.

George got down to business in May, Five players were retained, five others offered new terms and

Harry Fallon

the rest released. “I have a budget to work to” was all he would say. Interestingly two of the players offered new terms were both goalkeepers Alan Alexander and Harry Fallon. Alan opted to stay and Harry decided for a change of scenery and signed for Kettering. 

The main topic of conversation throughout the summer had nothing to do with football, Everyone was focused on America’s efforts to land a man on the moon. Science fiction was coming to life. Apollo XI with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on board were heading for the stars. 

Simultaneously, back on Earth the countdown was beginning on the launch of another new season for the Steelmen, with Commander George Swindin at the controls.

…. I knew there was a pun in there somewhere!