'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!

The Last Waltz 1967.68

The Last Waltz 1967.68

Ex Steelman Jim Rayner scores for Boston at a snowbound Occupation Road

Having escaped relegation by a whisker the Steelmen were charged up to make sure they wouldn’t have a repeat of the previous season with manager Tommy Hadden boosting his squad with a number of new signings. In came Neil Burns and Paul Aldread from Mansfield, Mick Addy from Leeds United, Dick McNeil from Exeter, David Campbell from Wrexham, Jimmy Lofty from Bath City, David Sturrock from Bedford. Quite a few of the old guard had been released including long serving stalwart John Rennie and fan favourite Alex Stenhouse. Rennie had made his debut back in 1958, played in every position including goals, when Larry Wealthall injured his collarbone at Tunbridge Wells. "I was patched up with my arm in a sling and sent back on to play on the left wing" Larry reacalled, "tactic those days was, because there was no substitutes, I could be of nuisance value!" John Rennie's never say die attitude warmed him to the Occupation Road faithful. However, Tommy Hadden decided that after John had made 369 appearances he’d lost his edge, pace, desire to play in goals or whatever. Maybe 10 years of traipsing around the country had taken its toll, who knows? 1967 was the year of the ‘Summer of Love’, Sgt Pepper, Pink Floyd, San Fransisco, Engelbert, the year Celtic won the European Cup. So, everyone was cool. And I assume John was too! ’Peace and love man”.

Two pre season friendlies arranged against Cambridge United and First Division new boys Coventry City had the natives excited. ‘Lets Go To San Fransisco’ may have been on everyone’s mind - the Flowerpotmen were riding high in the charts - but Steelmen fans were crying, ‘Let’s Go To Occupation Road.’

The Coventry game in particular had the added attraction of Corby boy Dick Dighton in the Sky Blues squad. Dick wouldn’t make an appearance but we were all well chuffed for him, and wondering who it was had spotted him making saves up on Studfall Green. How come they didn’t notice me scoring goals past him for fun for starters? Or Bip Wetherell whizzing passed the Studfall shops with the ball tied to his feet? Or Frank Clayton also in goals for the 20 a-side games. Or dwarf Johnny McGrath kicking lumps out of our shins? Well maybe not Johnny to be fair, he was about ten years older than the rest of us and speed and skill were never his best assets.  

The Coventry game had a bizarre twist to the game with their manager Jimmy Hill - later to become famous as presenter of ‘Match of the Day’ and also substitute linesman at Highbury during an Arsenal v Liverpool game which our crowd were at - donated City’s young goalkeeper Martin Clamp to play for Corby when our trialist keeper Peter Butler failed to show.

‘I’m watching you Butler’ (On the Buses) couldn’t resist that pun, informed Tommy Hadden he couldn’t make the game due to an injured finger. Sceptics thought it was he couldn’t be arsed travelling down from Nottingham but whatever, Clamp had an absolute blinder, helping the Steelmen swat the Sky Blues aside in a remarkable 3-0 victory. We never saw or heard of Butler again. Could have been that the former Notts County and Bradford City keeper decided he was wasting his time against staking a claim for the shirt with Alan Alexander still in residence. 

He did however play against Cambridge United in what was described by the E.T reporter as a thriller, ‘a game that augers well for the coming season, a hard hitting attack backed up with an intelligent defence’. 4-3 to the Steelmen followed by the Coventry 3-0 result had the supporters daring to imagine a championship contesting campaign. Just as well they couldn’t fast forward nine months then. 

Riding high in the charts was Engelbert Humperdinck with ‘The Last Waltz’ - a prophetic indicator for the way the season would pan out.

The opening game was away at Cheltenham which was another 4-3 affair, only this time the result went the wrong way!  To the Robins. Helped by a hat-trick from centre forward Wally Gerrard, signed from Berwick Rangers the night before. So good was Wally, the Steelmen signed him later in the year. Sounds like it was a crazy game though, five goals scored in the last quarter of an hour. Another old foe, Wellington was next, and a 1-1 draw at Bucks Head gained Corby their first point of the season. There wouldn’t be many more but making a big impression was Barry Kelcher, soon attracting attention from scouts around the country. The new look side was looking good as the new boys settled in. Alan Alexander was looking as safe as ever, now in his 6th season and having clocked up 261 appearances to this point.

Shame the rest of the team didn’t match his efforts though and league form in the early part of the season was poor apart from a a two legged victory over Bedford in the Southern League Cup, a competition that held a huge amount of kudos which has long dissipated.

Come October we were still looking for our first league victory which didn’t appear to be likely when we lost Neil Burns with a broken collarbone at Nuneaton and had to travel down to Hereford to meet the Bulls and the mighty John Charles again. And sure as hell, it wasn’t. 

Ronnie Moran struggled against King John. What chance did Corby's defenders have?

‘Steelmen never In the hunt’ E.T. told everyone. 

‘Outplayed from the very first whistle’

‘Only a fine performance from Alan Alexander kept the scoreline down.’

Two goals from King John, one that was allowed after he barged into Alexander which the referee didn’t seem to mind, and another from Rogerson gave the home team a comfortable victory to maintain their unbeaten home record.

The performance prompted a rallying call, more akin to the captain of the Titanic, from manager Tommy Hadden, to quell the rising tide of panic; ’All hands on deck!’ Tommy’s bold order was a plea for everyone, players, directors and fans to stick together to get through the crisis that was enveloping the club. 

The following week came the visit of high flyers Weymouth, and signs that Tommy’s cry was falling on deaf ears. Witnessed by the lowest gate of the season, 680, it was clear that many had already left the sinking ship. It was a match where the team surely reached the bottom of the barrel and Weymouth returned home to Dorset with as comfortable a 4-0 victory as they would ever have. 

Described by our erstwhile E.T. reporter. 

‘One of the most depressing displays the supporters have seen for a long time…’

‘Never a moment in the whole sorry affair did the white shirted players look like a football team..’

‘They were without plans either in defence or attack. their one visible aim - the long ball up the field - was worse than useless..’

‘Corby’s lack of method stuck out like a sore thumb..’

As it happens I do remember this game and checking my reliable diary from 1967 the E.T man obviously agreed with my own assessment. ‘Absolutely crap!’ I wrote, and, ‘it pissed down all day too.”

It was clear Tommy Hadden was struggling to keep the team afloat and in desperation he enticed former fans favourite winger Alex Stenhouse out of retirement. Alex with the rocket shot. Tommy was hoping Alex would fire a few cannonballs. Sadly, things continued to spiral downwards. 

Six defeats out of seven during these months saw us languishing at the wrong end of there table. During these depressing times, a distraction from the woes of watching the Steelmen came with a ‘’Package Show’ at Kettering’s Granada. The Who, The Tremeloes, Traffic, Marmalade and The Herd could cheer you up for the price of a 12/6 ticket. Ironically, The Tremeloes were in the charts at the time with ‘Even the Bad Times Are Good’, a platter I doubt was on the playlist of the ever stoic Occupation Road DJ!

The F.A.Cup gave some relief from league troubles when we were drawn at home against old rivals Cambridge City in the 4th Qualifying round. 1905 turned up at Occupation Road for the game which ended in a 2-2 draw. The replay three days later, in front of a crowd of 3077 saw the Steelmen unbelievably win the match 1-0 to set up a home tie against Boston United at home in the 1st Round proper. The fifth time we had  reached the stage.

Boston included former Steelmen favourite from the 50s, Jim Rayner, who scored 19 goals in 22 appearances for us  in the 56.57 season before he was released, surplus to requirements. In truth, I seem to remember a rumour he was released so he could pursue a career in the police force but whether that was true or not he was back here on his old beat 12 years later and scored one of the goals as the Pilgrims made progress with a 3-0 victory on a snowbound Occupation Road pitch. Three inches they reckoned! E.T. said ‘they (the Steelmen) were never in it’, ‘dozens of supporters were leaving long before the end’

My diary tells me..’Saw Corby play Boston in F.A.Cup. ‘They were bloody terrible. they’ve had it for this season!’

A miserable day all round then, exacerbated by the winter weather. Incidently, Jim Rayner had a remarkable goalscoring record. One season scoring 71 goals in 45 matches for Grantham and another when he scored 55 in one season at Boston! He also was a member of Peterborough United's brilliant team of 1960/61 when they walked away with the Fourth Division title at their first attempt. Jim played right half for the Posh which on the face of it, looks ridiculous. But they did have Terry Bly at centre forward who scored 52 himself that year. Begs the question. How much would these guys be worth in the 21st century? Priceless.

A week later I went to Liverpool for the first time, to see them play Manchester City. First of many journeys I would make over the coming decades. Those days we would catch the 7.30 bus to Northampton, the 9.30 train to Liverpool, changing at Rugby, and the return journey would be a similar escapade, eventually arriving back home just before midnight. Long days until one of us could drive and I’ve often reflected; ‘How did we do it!’ And why? But we were young and carefree. Now we are old.. and I like to think, still carefree!

Cracking game it was at Anfield, ending 1-1 which was a point that helped City become Champions that season! 

Winter colds were affecting everybody, my diary says ‘feeling crap, full of a cold’, which all the same, didn’t stop me from turning up to see Corby play Lockheed Leamington in the Midland Floodlit Cup on January 2nd. There’s loyalty for you! Probably made me feel better as we won 3-2. I also wrote a letter to a girl pen pal in Liverpool the diary reminds me. And I do remember, when I received a photograph off her in her reply, I was so disappointed I threw it in the fire! Ugly sow! Back to the drawing board!

Tommy Hadden

January 68’ was a much better month for Corby, some surprising victories over Yeovil Town 2-0 and an even better one over Wellington Town, 5-0. Which came after the announcement that the board of directors had decided it was time for a change, and manager Tommy Hadden was informed that his contract wasn’t going to be renewed in two months time at the end of March. Chairman Fred Deeley told a shocked press conference the news; ‘The club would like to convey their appreciation to Tommy Hadden for his loyalty and service rendered to the club over the years. Tom has done a fine job at Corby and his record bears full inspection. He has always suffered from the lack of money to compete with other clubs in the Southern League and everyone must realise that the poor support, puts the club at a great disadvantage. On average we need around £10,000 a year, which is £200 a week less than similar Southern League clubs. It is hoped a new look may bring increased support.’

So, Tommy had to go! The end of an era. The club stalwart, arguably the greatest manager Corby ever had, I know that doesn’t sound much in the context of what Shankly, Paisley, Clough, Ferguson achieved at a much higher level but nonetheless, the nearest anyone came close to Tommy for Corby was Graham Drury some 40 odd years later. Tommy the ex Airdrie and Stirling Albion full back joined the Steelmen in 1952 and by the time he was fired in 1968 had clocked up 16 years service. Not bad I would say. Where’s the statue?

"Where can ye get a decent clootie dumplin'?"

Rumours were soon spreading about who was going to take over. Brian Boggis at Wisbech Town was a favourite but the directors were clearly trying to project their ambitions and to the disbelief of half the town, Eric Caldow of Glasgow Rangers and Scotland fame was being courted! The rumours caused fervent debate around the town, in the steelworks, the pubs. Caldow, one of Scotland’s and Rangers’ most famous sons, one of the finest full backs of his generation, a blue nose nonetheless that left the green half of Corby aghast! Celtic fans were up in arms! Eric, running a pub ‘back hame’ but still playing at the time with Stirling Albion, was looking to the next stage of his football career, and applied for the Corby job more than likely because of its Scottish connections. He was pictured roaming around the Town Centre with his wife. They were seen looking at a house on the town’s new Lincoln estate. They had lunch with the directors. Then the announcement came; ‘Scotland star gets the job. Caldow to sign a two year contract’.

Some, to this day, have never forgiven or forgotten the decision to employ a hero of ‘The Hun’. ‘The directors alienated half of the club’s support, some never went back!’ - claimed an irate but still passionate Steelman supporter John Crawley.

The supporters however had to wait a couple of months until Tommy’s contract expired and Eric would make his bow. 

A number of trialists were given a chance meantime in the Midland Floodlit competition. Local youngster, goalkeeper John Leneghan impressed, Johnny Avins from Bradford on the wing, Bob Goodwin from Loughborough at full back likewise showed promise. Results in the league continued to be inconsistent though and if the directors were feeling browned off whilst waiting for the saviour Eric to take control, they weren’t helped when they then became involved in a remarkable row with Romford who they were due to play on Saturday February 17th. The game was called off by local referee Ray Baldwin at 10 0’clock in the morning due to a waterlogged pitch. Fred Deeley phoned the Essex to club to inform them of the decision. Pitch unfit. Romford’s chairman wasn’t convinced and told Fred that they were still coming. Fred couldn’t believe his ears, secretary Una Stubbs had contacted the match referee, Mr Bone of Luton to tell him what was happening. Bone had contacted Bill Dowell, secretary of the Southern League. Which still wasn’t good enough for the Romford boys and they continued on their merry way to Corby. Una  contacted the Romford chairman herself whilst they were having lunch in a motorway caff on the M1. ‘Well’ we’re still coming” he informed her. Exasperated, Deeley contacted the police to try and and get them to stop the bus on the M1 and get them to go home. When this failed, an attempt was made to get the BBC to announce the postponement on the radio! 

Fred; "The game's off for chrissakes!"

Well, whether they turned up at Occupation Road or not I’m not sure but the game wasn’t on, Romford had to go back to London, and return a couple of weeks later, which they did, and got beat 3-2!  Star of the show was local amateur John O'Connor making his debut for Corby, scoring two of the goals.

New recruits were enlisted to join the fight against relegation. Experienced goalkeeper Rodney Slack arrived from Cambridge United when Alan Alexander was ruled out with injury. Local amateur John O’Connor made his mark, scoring some valuable goals, as did Wally Gerrard the ex Berwick star who was snapped up from Cheltenham. 

Eric Caldow took over at the beginning of April, making his debut in an admirable 1-1 draw with Barnet. Hopes of avoiding the drop were momentarily restored but six defeats in the  final nine games, including heavy losses against Guildford City away 0-5 and Nuneaton at home 0-6 put paid to those ideas. Engelbert’s ‘Last Waltz’ wailed over the tannoy. A sad refrain. And in my faithful diary I noted after the Nuneaton debacle; ‘Me and Wilf left when it was 5!’ Surprised we stayed that long to be honest! It was obviously the final straw as I see that the two of us decided it was more fun watching Liverpool during the last month of the season. Which included the Reds beating Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford! Sir Roger Hunt and Ron Yeats the scorers. Now I do remember that day!

An ignominious beginning to Caldow’s managerial career it was but the Steelmen were doomed to their fate long before he arrived and to that end, we all waited with bated breathe during the summer to see who he could encourage to sign for Corby. Some more famous Scottish stars? Come the following season the former Rangers man could get the broom out, sweep away the dead wood, start with a clean sheet. The battle cry was ‘onwards and upwards!’ 

Little did we know that 50 years later we would still be waiting to achieve the status we once held all those years ago. In the premier division of non league football.

'Waiting with bated breath...any chance of the Law man comin' Eric?

1966 and all that

1966 and all that

"Where's Harold?"

The country was awash with celebrations following England’s World Cup victory over West Germany. The exploits of Roger Hunt, Bobby Moore, Gordon Banks and the boys had entranced the nation. That is I suppose, apart from our Scottish cousins. Even the Welsh begrudgingly admired their achievement. Might be stretching it a tad there but all the same, overnight, footballers had become like pop stars, feted, celebrities. 

Reflected by an increase in attendances which rose significantly in 1966. Decades before the advent of the Premier League and Sky TV, crowds thronged to see the superstars of the day. T’was the dawn of football becoming showbiz. Glitz and glamour it was but down in the bowels of the football pyramid, clubs were to suffer a backlash. 

Memories of the World Cup for me are pretty scant really. There wasn’t the hype and overkill that there is nowadays and I remember starting shift work for the first time, having just turned 16 and being ensconced into the C.W.Mills in the ‘Works’ a month prior to the tournament. First impression was the Mills  being full of Jocks, Poles, Yugoslavs, Italians..so there was little interest in England’s efforts to win the World Cup. Put it this way, I can’t recall any celebrations, overjoy, hollering. 

The C.W. Mills

The other memory is of the wall next to the Number One Mill daubed with graffiti. FTP, FKB, Boyne 1690 and suchlike. This intrigued me and being a piss taker when nobody was around I grabbed the paintbrush and daubed on the wall..Hastings 1066 and changed 1690 to 1960! Caused an uproar! My workmate was Gavin Vint who wasn’t a shy fellow, Rangers through and through! Luckily he did have a sense of humour. Not like the nightshift manager, an overweight miserable looking old fellow, feeling his name was Wheatley, he used to prowl around the mills during the night, trilby perched on his head, looking as if he’d just woken up, annoyed at having being disturbed from his slumber and always with an eye on us youngsters. He caught me one night when I was writing LFC or something on the wall. “Oy!!” I looked round and saw the menacing Wheatley glowering at me. F—- me! I scarpered off to the canteen. He’d no idea who I was anyway. Another chap who worked alongside Gavin and us was another ‘old guy’ with the dubious nickname of Dainty, a big Celtic supporter. Taking the piss out of him when we were sitting on a bench, a wooden plank on bricks next to the wall, as he finished slinging a lift of tubes for the crane to take away, he turned round and promptly smashed me right in the mug! My head went back, hit the wall, blood streamed down from my nose, stars were circling. Taken off to the wash house to get cleaned up, someone asked if I hit him back…I didn’t answer…just thought to myself.. ‘I know when to stay down!!’ Dainty too was probably miffed at England’s success!

Anyway, I digress. In 1966 the Southern League, the premier non-league division in the country, boasted clubs with ambition, aspiring higher status and dreaming of achieving the ultimate goal of election to the ‘Holy Grail’ of the Football League. Corby was now in that group. In 1966/67 we were looking for no more than consolidation at the top table of non league soccer. Dreaming that one day we might just be playing league fixtures against the likes of Chester, Workington, Stockport County… 

No disrespect intended here but they did sound a whole lot more glamorous than Kidlington, Biggleswade, Barton Rovers. 

Alas it was all but a dream.

The reality of life in 1966 was highlighted in the opening day match programme with Corby’s financial situation compared to our rivals, Wisbech, Romford, Bath, Rugby, Hinckley, Tunbridge Wells, Sittingbourne, Canterbury City and Burton Albion, all of whom were announcing they were in dire straits and considering resignation from the Southern league. “Many clubs are scraping the barrel” Manager Tommy Hadden observed in his notes.

If we were feeling smug by comparison, a reminder that we weren’t too far behind the

se clubs already mentioned came from director Harold Stimson; ‘Many of you may have noticed that our floodlights have recently failed to shine as brightly as they did some years ago. Lack of finance has again prevented regular maintenance and now they require major attention.’ 

Mr Stimson had a point!

Bright lights or not, Vice Chairman Jim Kerr was more sanguine when quoting a comment from a journalist in the Daily Mirror who wrote; ‘Corby has got the potential interest for league football’. 

“What do you think?” asked Jim to his followers, “My fellow directors are more than interested in what you, the fans, think about the present and the future of Corby Town Football Club.”

Well, they didn’t think too much apparently, attendances had never been absolutely brilliant compared to many other non league clubs and a run of early season defeats would see them dip even further. 

The season was kicked off with a home game against Wimbledon on August 20th with a number of new faces in the team. Jimmy Knox who had been recruited along with his pal Les Carter from Lockheed Leamington could play equally as well at centre half or centre forward, just like the great Welsh giant John Charles, ‘King John’, who was now player/manager at Hereford United. Jimmy had been on Tommy Hadden’s radar for years and Tom was well pleased when he eventually arrived at Occupation Road. Les had pedigree having played for Queen of the South and Gateshead and would regale his pals in the Rockingham Arms with tales of his adventures over a pint of Sovereign. Also along for the ride came Les Barratt from Southport, Tony Claypole from Cheltenham, Mick Walker from Rotherham, Joe Gadston from Brentford and Billy Harber from Luton. All of whom, apart from Barratt and Tony never lasted five minutes! Could have been Hadden’s promise of getting them a good job in the steelworks but who knows. 

The core of the Steelmen team from the last couple of years was still in place. Alan Alexander, Alan McBain, Davy Pollard, Alex Stenhouse, Alex Garden, Maurice Goodall, and John Rennie made a welcome return after having a miserable year at Kettering. 

Wimbledon confirmed their status as one of the favourites for the title by comfortably beating us 2-0 in front of a crowd of 1300 which was impressive but still a disappointment for the directors who were quick to moan about the turnout in the next programme. I too was disappointed as it happened. Reading a diary from way back I discovered my comment on the Corby performance as being ‘rudy useless!’ No wonder then that the following week I opted to go to Leicester to watch City play West Ham rather than travel to Cambridge City to see the Steelmen. The opportunity to see the World Cup trophy being paraded before the game by World Cup winners Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Matin Peters was obviously also an attraction. It all helped to make a great atmosphere at Filbert Street and a great game it turned out to be with  the Foxes beating the Hammers 5-4. 

As for the Corby fans who followed the team to Cambridge City, they too had an enjoyable afternoon as they saw the Steelmen win 4-1! With Alex Garden grabbing a hat-trick. Didn’t see that coming!

The week after this I was in London with Club Shop boss Wilf and future Steelmen custodian Dick Dighton with other friends, including Frank Clayton, to watch Liverpool play West Ham. A trip memorable for a couple of things, being ambushed by West Ham fans after the game and being bombarded with bricks, bottles, anything that came to hand as we made our way back to the tube station amongst all the scousers. Welcome to the world of ‘Big’ football! A battleground. Other thing was less serious and something you couldn’t do nowadays. Me and Dick posing for a photo outside 10 Downing Street, making out we were popping in to see the PM, Harold Wilson. We stood on the porch first before a scuffer, to use the scouse term for the police, told us to get off! Got the picture though.. as you can see.

Dick, Clive, Wilf and Frank before the Battle of West Ham

Hopes of success soared following the Cambridge result but were soon to be quashed with a succession of defeats, some heavy which saw our confidence, and attendances disintegrate. An ever changing line up didn’t help matters with Gadston, Walker and Harber all giving up the ghost after a few weeks which meant Hadden was on his bike again looking for replacements and soon enough, in came David Partridge from Kings Lynn who was a flier on the wing if you excuse the pun, centre forward Barry Kelcher from Rothwell, who it was rumoured, drove a tractor - lot of bollocks I think - but his uncompromising agricultural style soon ingratiated him to the supporters. Another guy who arrived and shone briefly was a wee ginger haired winger from Scotland, Pat Foley. Pat’s ‘wholehearted’ displays ensured he too was soon a big favourite - but he was gone before you knew it as well! Tommy had found him ‘digs’ at the notorious Brigstock Camp, which probably frightened him to death. Fights and the occasional murder amongst the inhabitants, immigrant steelworkers from north of the border, from across the Irish Sea, the Welsh Valleys and the Eastern Bloc was commonplace. Pat must have thought ‘Bollocks to this’ and ran off, it was rumoured, back up to North of the border. 

Tommy Hadden recalled Pat’s debut for the Steelmen when Dave Tilley and I were writing the 40 Years book in 1988. 

“Pat turned up late for his debut at Occupation Road and when I asked him where he’d been, he told me he didn’t know how to get to Corby from Brigstock and after getting directions, he walked the 5 miles to the ground!”

Pat had played for Alloa Athletic, Falkirk and East Stirlingshire and made 9 appearances for Corby before he went awol which had fans asking for weeks afterwards, ‘Where’s Pat?’ A reference to the popular Stanley Baker/ Tommy Steele film on at the Odeon at the time. ‘Where’s Jack?’ 

Joe Gadston incidentally signed for Cheltenham with the Steelmen receiving a fee of £22.10s. Yes, you read that right! Better than nothing I suppose. As a footnote, he later became a director at Exeter City. Interesting also and I know everything is relevant but this season Liverpool signed a young Emlyn Hughes from Blackpool for a fee of over £66,000. Obviously Gadston wasn’t rated as highly as ‘Crazy Horse’ as he became affectionately known at Anfield but surely Joe was worth more than a measly 22 notes! Begs the question of who it was that negotiated the fee with Cheltenham? Maw Broon in the Tuck Shop?

Knocked out of the F.A. Cup by Cambridge City didn’t do the finances much good and changes were made with some of the high earners at Occupation Road being told they were no longer required. Attracting players of quality was difficult though. Full-time clubs held an advantage as the best Corby could offer was part time wages and a job in the steelworks. Gone were the days when this was deemed a marvellous offer. Particularly if a house was thrown in as well but times had changed. Brigstock Camp was the best they could do at this point, and to be quite frank, its hardly a surprise many footballers declined Corby’s advances.

A run of five defeats and one draw in six league games didn’t bode well for the visit to Hereford in November even though Tony Needham had returned to the Steelmen defence. Tony was up against ‘King John’ - Wales and Juventus legend John Charles - and according to Tommy Hadden, “had a decent game helping to keep John Charles ‘subdued’ in the first half of the game played in atrocious conditions”. Tommy then reflected; “Big John then started roaming in the second half, dragging Tony all over the place and creating four chances for his fellow forwards which were all snapped up.” The Bulls won 4-0. 

“Hereford were much the better team”, conceded Tommy.

Inconsistency was a problem, defeats at Kings Lynn 1-5, Wimbledon 1-6, Nuneaton 1-3 sent the Occupation Road gates tumbling to around the 600 mark. A New Years Day 1-0 victory over Cambridge City thanks to an Alex Stenhouse goal gave rise to optimism for the second half of the season but league form was woeful. 22 points out of a possible 42 ensured a fight to the death to avoid relegation which eventually saw Bath, Worcester, Bedford and Folkestone all take the plunge. Corby’s last home game which was a six pointer, or four pointer back then, was at home to Bedford, a game which was won by the Steelmen 4-1 and sent the Eagles down. A game watched by a young Dale McCann, taken to the game by his dad. Such was the impression the game had on Dale, he’s been an avid supporter and still is to this day up at Steel Park. Think you always remember your first game. Mine was against Barry Town in 58’, like I have said before.

The Midland Floodlit Cup, now in its 8th season had expanded to nine clubs and if nothing else, provided some cracking free scoring games. 73 goals were scored in 16 Corby games alone, which gives you some idea.

To cover those players who had departed for pastures new, a number of trialists appeared in Corby’s MFC games, some making an impression, some not. Dave Mattocks was one who looked good, and for some reason acquired the nickname ‘Wild Bill’ Mattocks after scoring a couple of goals against Leamington. But ‘Bill’ couldn’t be persuaded to sign on. Not even with a free pair of overalls, paint brush and pair of totector boots thrown in. 

An interesting note is that the Steelmen fielded seven goalkeepers during the 66/67 season. Alan Alexander was the number one making 54 appearances out of a possible 64. The other keepers were Robin Paterson, Andy Williams, Bob Inchley, George Flecknor, Derek Skey and our good friend, then aged 15, Dick Dighton who became the youngest ever Steelman when he made his debut at Nuneaton in the MFC. And a great impression he made despite the Borough winning 3-1. Also in the team was Franny Taylor, brother of Rab who sits with us in the ‘Grumpies’ section at Steel Park. Franny, a highly promising midfield player played a couple of games for Corby before deciding to embark on a life of adventure on the ocean wave with the Merchant Navy. Around the same time in fact as another ‘Grumpy’, Danny Coyle. 

Return of the ancient mariners. Franny and Danny team up again with Rab in 2011at the Bristol Rovers F.A. Cup match.

Dick Dighton’s career which was launched at Nuneaton, sailed on and saw him signed by Jimmy Hill on leaving school in the summer, as an apprentice at Coventry City who had just gained promotion to the First Division of the Football League for the first time. Hill was the guy with the chocolate shortbread ‘goatie’, to this day I still call those biscuits ‘Jimmy Hill’s’. Dick would return to make his second appearance for Corby, some 16 years later! 

In between time he signed for Peterborough United after being released by Coventry where he shared duties with fellow youth team goalkeeper David Icke, the guy who went a wee bit bizarre shall we say. In later years Icke would announce on Terry Wogan’s TV Show - during his ‘turquoise period’ - when he wore nothing but turquoise  - that he was ‘the son of God’, which didn’t do him any favours, ‘Jesus was laughed at too’ he told a bemused Wogan to much laughter in the audience. Making a statement that the ‘Moon isn’t real’ also went down well. Dick often said that Icke was ‘normal’ when at Coventry, but there you go. Dick’s sojourn at London Road with the Posh lasted a couple of seasons, somewhat bizarrely he made his league debut when on loan to Stockport, and then Ron Atkinson signed him at Kettering Town. He was a member of their Southern League Championship winning team in 1973. Injuries blighted Dick’s career and he would spend the next few years playing for various sides in the UCL until Matt McIllwain came calling for him to help out at Occupation Road, and become a member of one of the Steelmen’s finest ever sides in the early 1980s. 

Having escaped relegation by a whisker it was clear that changes would have to be considered during the summer months but it was still a shock when the retained list was announced in the Evening Telegraph. Fans favourite Alex Stenhouse was being ditched to much disbelief. However as time would tell..you couldn't get rid of Alex that easy. Just a few months later he was back! Tommy Hadden would be in dire trouble and having seen Alex with his can of paint in the 'Works' where he still worked with Pearce's, Tommy enticed him back. But thats a story for the next season.

One Of Our Buses Is Missing.

One Of Our Buses Is Missing.

One of the most memorable days in Corby Town’s FA Cup history was on October 16th 1982 when we travelled to Kidderminster for a Third Qualifying Round tie. This game happened during the infamous reign of Colin Clarke as Player/Manager. An inspired move by the board of directors, getting Clarke to leave Kettering and come here, smacked of ambition. A charismatic figure, bellowing like a bulldog, he certainly added a bit of colour to the place. He was assembling a half decent team, we’d gained promotion to the newly reformed Premier Division and the crowds were improving all the time. 

Player/Manager Colin Clarke bellowing once again..

The Kidderminster game came about as a result of knocking out Halesowen Town and Bedworth United and with only one defeat all season this game caught the imagination. A good following from Corby was guaranteed and on the day it seemed like hundreds had made the trek across to the West Midlands. Of course, Corby folk have never been slow to recognise when a good day out is in the offing. Buses were chartered by several watering holes around the town and with kick off time approaching the Corby crowd did their team proud. Topped up with ale, which helped, the Corby choir was in fine voice with various renditions of popular songs booming out of the cowshed of a stand. Two young police constables, obviously inexperienced in this sort of thing, panicked and nearly lost control. Although there was a lot of noise there was never a hint of any trouble but unfortunately one of the young officers couldn’t see that the crowd was only extracting the urine. Common sense happily prevailed and once the game was underway everybody calmed down a little and concentrated on the game. Corby’s team showed one change thanks to Billy Best being away on holiday and Richard Paterson took his place.  Team; Dick Dighton, Derek Walker, John Peacock, Andy McGowan, Richard Paterson, Colin Clarke, John Flanagan, Cass ‘Hamish’ Knight Roy Clayton, Elwyn Roberts and Charlie McGowan.

Dick Dighton showing how he became knows as The Flying Postman.

The game was only three minutes old when Kidderminster caught Corby cold, Phil Mullen heading home after the bellowing Clarke twice fumbled attempted clearances. Far from dampening the spirits of the travelling fans the noise intensified as Corby fought back. Efforts by Andy McGowan, Clayton and Paterson went agonisingly wide while Dighton was only called upon about twice. Advice was being given to the Corby team by many of the fans singing ‘Pass the ball down the left hand side’ - their version of of a reggae hit at the time. It was a reference to get the ball to John Flanagan and his famous left leg. At half time though, the score remained the same with Kidderminster having a 1-0 advantage. During the interval the talk was about the number of fans who had travelled from Corby. Remembering that this was the year of the Falklands War, a famous quote from one of the newsmen was  “I counted them all out, and I counted them all in”, referring to the number of Harrier jets leaving an aircraft carrier. A similar line was mentioned at Kidderminster but it referred to the number of buses to have left Corby. One was missing! It was during the half time that the biggest cheer of the afternoon went up. The rogue bus turned up to be welcomed by cries of ‘Is it a Flanagan’s?’ One of Murt’s charabancs. Reliable as ever it was once said that when a fleet of buses left Corby for Ireland to see the pope the roads were littered with broken down buses as most of them didn’t make it. ‘Enough to make a saint swear’ someone opined.

The second half got underway with Corby fighting for the equaliser. It duly came in the 66th minute. A free kick on the edge of the area usually resulted in a goal when ‘Flanny' was playing and this was no exception as a beautifully dipped shot sailed over the wall and the keeper. 

Thats's me and Gareth handing Flanny a cheque to get a couple of pints after scoring the goal that knocked the stuffing out of Kidderminster.

Just four minutes later Kidderminster keeper Parry fumbled an Elwyn Roberts shot and Cass Knight prodded the ball home to give Corby the lead.  The atmosphere was electric and the game was boiling up by the minute. Two minutes from time the game did finally boil over. Harriers’ John Horne climbed all over ‘Hamish’ Knight and they both went down in a tangle of arms and legs. The referee took drastic action and sent both of them off. It was soon forgotten though when a Charlie McGowan thunderbolt rebounded off keeper Parry and Roberts swept the ball home to kill the game stone dead. Corby had triumphed 3-1, a memorable afternoon that had everyone singing in the rain.

Elwyn Roberts

'Hamish'

On the following Monday there was an announcement that had ominous undertones, though on the face of it, it seemed a harmless enough statement. ‘Board members Arthur Pitcher and Mick York are seeking re-election at tonight’s AGM at the Supporters Club’.

The main topic though was to be; ‘How to trim the expenditure’, ‘How to cut back on expenses’ and ‘how to improve on the £14,000 accumulating deficit’. After the next round of the FA Cup was over ( the disastrous Holbeach game), we were all to find out. And so was Colin Clarke…