Who Needs Cup run anyway! Promotion!

1964/65 

Corby team that clinched promotion with victory over Deal Town.

This was my last year at school. Didn’t have a clue where I was heading. Without an inkling of what I wanted to do the steelworks was beckoning at the end of this term but meantime there was still much fun to be had. Football on Studfall Green was still a priority though numbers were dropping with some of the boys having already left school and entered the big bad world. We all had our dreams and Bip Wetherell’s was to be an entertainer. Bip fancied himself up there on stage belting out soul classics, which he achieved when joining a band called The Bent Society. None of us, less so than Bip, would have dreamt that 30 years down the line Bip would become chairman of the Steelmen. As far removed as me dreaming of being a rock singer with Zeppelin or.… the Bent Society! We were intoxicated with the music scene, the Beatles, Stones, Kinks, ‘Ready Steady Go’, which led us astray with the realisation of the attractions of the opposite sex. Our loins were stirring. The girls were hovering, hanging around and eyeing us all up as we kicked a ball around on the Green. Obviously we were aware and some posing would be done. But more about that later…

Fantasising is all part of growing up and if we were imagining what might be in store for us with the ladies we were still fantasising too that the Steelmen might finally achieve their goal of getting promoted out of the Southern League First Division!

On that front the ‘Boot Room’ had been a hive of activity during pre-season with shopkeeper David Yates being promoted to first team trainer with Donald Johnson taking over the affairs of the second string. 

Tony Read v Kettering

As it was, the omens weren’t good. Goalkeeper Alan Alexander was injured in a pre-season friendly which sidelined him for a couple of months, giving Larry Wealthall an opportunity to establish himself, and then Larry was taken off at Tunbridge Wells with an arm injury which effectively ended his Corby career! A temporary goalkeeper in the form of Tony Read from Peterborough came in to cover for Alan and Larry and it has to said, proved to be more than adequate. A superb goalkeeper, top class. He returned to the Posh and later signed for Luton Town, as centre forward - and became a prolific goalscorer!

The bulk of the team from the previous year started the campaign with just a couple of new recruits, one of whom made his debut at full back, Jim Walker from Bradford. Three defeats in the first four games didn’t bode well. Goalscorer Arthur Hukin was dropped and then promptly reminded Tommy Hadden he wasn’t finished by scoring a hat-trick for the reserves against Rothwell. They still lost 8-3 for all Arthur’s efforts. Bobby Laverick was an early departure, swapping places with Dick Whittaker at Kings Lynn. Dick was a former Republic of Ireland international full back with Chelsea and Peterborough. His experience would prove invaluable and he was soon elected club captain. Also added was inside forward Terry Curran from Kettering.

One of the most anticipated fixtures on the calendar was the league game with the Poppies. Although there had been many various cup games with Kettering down the years, the sides had only ever

played each other twice in the league which seemed remarkable. The first game came in September at Rockingham Road and a large contingent of supporters travelled over.

Tony Read making his debut was outstanding, Curran scored against his old team and Jagger rounded the afternoon off with a cracking shot from the edge of the area to send us Steelmen fans delirious. 2-1 to the Steelmen! Apart from that my best memory is a rather disgusting one really. Belching out loud, right into the ear of a Kettering fan, not intentionally I’d like to add but the chap turned round, with a runny egg sandwich dripping out of his mouth and muttered something indecipherable! Couldn’t make it out. He wasn’t happy. Course, everyone cracked up laughing! He moved away, with a less than favourable impression of us Corby fans!

An interesting game this season came with the newly elected to the Southern League, Wimbledon. The Dons were the outstanding amateur team of the era and proved to be too hot for most of their opponents this season. It was no surprise the way they developed and eventually gained league status and all that occurred later. The first game took place at Plough Lane on October 3rd and they were too strong for the Steelmen, defeating us 5-2.  The reporter on hand was in eloquent mood describing Corby as being trounced. Describing Corby’s first goal he expressed; ‘Tommy Crawley, as tenacious as a lone Indian seeking a breech in a well protected wagon train chased hopefully after a ball running loose near the Wimbledon area. The Don’s keeper Kelly missed it completely, (he was probably bored by the sound of things), and Tommy bundled the ball into the net’.

Describing Gerry O’Rourke’s goal for the Dons; ‘O’Rourke jumped joyfully as a surprised election winner as a strong close range header eluded Tony Read’. 

If the game was a reality check regarding the prospects of promotion a cup run was on our minds again after beating Arniold 2-0 in the 4th qualifying round. We were given another ‘plum’ draw, this time against league side Hartlepools United. Given that they were perennial strugglers in the Fourth Division, hopes were high of a giant killing act. They did have some class in their team with goalkeeper Ken Simpkin, a Welsh Under 23 international even if he was carrying a bit of timber. Up front they had a Republic of Ireland international, Ambrose Fogerty, so it wasn’t worth getting too carried away. 

Confidence was high for all the esteemed guests and, checking the report - you cant expect me to remember all the finer details of these games, I’m not that good - Corby should have had a two goal lead inside the first twenty minutes. Tommy Crawley, that renowned goalscorer of all types of goals, ‘miskicked with only Simpkin to beat in the Pools goal’.

Simpkin saves point blank from Tommy Crawley

Oh well. Tommy did score more than he missed..something I do remember. Anyhow, against the run of play, our North Eastern friends took the lead when ‘Thompson prodded the ball home in the 26th minute.’ If heads went down, just before half time we were back in the game when left half Brian Wright smashed home a shot from all of 30 yards to draw us level. Half time it was 1-1 and boy did the Bovril taste good! Even now, when I sup a Bovril from Baxter’s Bistro at Steel Park, served by convivial hosts Mags and Sue, memories of the Hartlepools cup tie come flooding back. Well maybe I’m overstating it there but you can’t beat a bit of corn can you.

Simpkin can only watch as Brian Wright's howitzer flies into the net

The second half began with Corby pulverising the Pool - ‘they had Hartlepools in trouble’. But then, would you believe it, ‘in the visitor’s first dangerous attack of the half, the Steelmen conceded a penalty’. John Rennie was the unfortunate Steelman who gave it away, deemed by the ref to have handled the ball when he couldn’t get out of the way, much to the disgust and outrage of everyone  and Fogerty stepped up to place the ball in the back of the net with minimum fuss. The goal knocked the stuffing out of the Steelmen and ten minutes later ‘Entwistle prodded home number three for the visitors’. Does sound like Hartlepools were hoachy, and I do recall the feeling of abject disappointment that we couldn’t beat this lot but maybe the full time fitness was a factor. Did make me wonder though, is that how they scored their occasional goal? A prod here and there? 4511 was the official attendance and the windfall of cash may have softened the blow of defeat for the Steelmen directors, but apparently, no, it didn’t. In the next game’s programme, the following week against Crawley Town, they revealed; ‘Many of our visitors to last week’ game may think that we make a fortune out of such games. The attendance of 4511 brought in receipts of £470. Match expenses (Police, Advertising, Printing etc) totalled £134 (over which was Hartlepools Travel and Hotel Expenses) leaving a net balance of £336. The F.A. took 4% (£13) giving Corby £161 and Hartlepools the same! Taking into account the loss suffered in playing at Arnold in the previous round where we got little more than our Coach Travel, it can be truly said that the Cup brought little if any financial gain for Corby Town F.C !’

Embittered or not, we had to get our heads down again and go for that promotion to the Holy Grail of the Southern League Premier Division. And things weren’t all bad, there was still the opportunity to once again win a ‘Free Car’  in the ‘Jackpot Competition’ run by the Supporters Club. This time it was a brand new Ford Anglia. Seems to be a theme here, looking back I do remember now and again a car being driven round the pitch during half time at games but funny thing, I’ve failed to come across any report or acknowledgement of any winner. Not in the newspapers, not in the programmes. Did anyone actually win a car? The Anglia wasn’t the first car, there was the Austin A40 or whatever it was a year or so before, not casting aspersions here but.. well, make your own mind up. Or was it simply the winner didn’t wish to have any publicity? Couldn’t drive the thing or something? Or were the cars heaps of shite?

Fresh blood was introduced to the Steelmen ranks with the signing of the cultured wing half George Armour from Kettering, the inclusion of local youngster Maurice Goodall, affectionately known as Mo or Maureen to the fans and the signing of schemer Alex Garden from Ashford into the forward line. Maurice was destined for immortality a year later when scoring the goal that knocked Luton out of the F.A Cup but for this season when he replaced the injured Arthur Hukin, his 12 goals proved to be vital come the end of the campaign. 

The draw for the car took place at the Kettering game in February, which ended 2-2 and had the directors moaning again about the poor turn out, only 2000 supporters. In the match programme the club stated ‘The Car Must Be Won!’ Whoever the lucky, or otherwise recipient was, believe it or not, such was the success of this competition, a month later in March, it was announced that there were TWO cars to be won on the next Steelmen Raffle! 

Makes you think, maybe we could introduce a competition like this today. Who knows what fortunes it could bring to the coffers. Anyone know of any bangers going cheap? Can think of a few possible offers from some friends in the Rockingham Arms, ‘The Rock” but they may only have a month MOT or a couple of good wheels, a bald tyre, dodgy exhaust, cracked headlight, dent in the wing but if nothing else, we can promise you a car going cheap! Just the job for a raffle I’d say. 

Rockingham Arms, residence of a few 'Arthur Daley's'

Anyhow, back to the football. The return fixture with Wimbledon was an obvious special attraction, they were pushing for promotion alongside us and a goal from Mo exacted revenge for the 5-2 stuffing they handed to us previously. 1020 were overjoyed with the result.

There were still a number of ex pros plying their trade in non league which should have been a bonus for football fans and Worcester City seemed to have their share. When we travelled to play them in the Midland Floodlit Cup they boasted former F.A.Cup winners Norman Deeley (Wolves) and Peter McParkland (Aston Villa) in their ranks. They promptly hammered us 7-1!

Maurice Goodall challenging the Burton keeper lines to a cross.

Still, regarded as a ‘tit’ competition it didn’t really matter, the league was the main thing and as we approached the end of the season we were well in the running. A game that sticks out was against Sittingbourne at Occupation Road on Grand National Day. Only 375 turned up to watch the Steelmen race home 5-0. For those who sat at home watching the race on the box, they witnessed a horse called Jay Trump first passed the winning post at 100/6.  14 horses out of 47 completed the course. 

Excitement was increasing by the week, Garden was proving an astute signing, the defence was solid, forgetting the Worcester game that is, the team was responding and won 9 out of 10 games, including a 7-1 demolition of Burton Albion  to seal the coveted promotion spot alongside Hereford, Wimbledon and our old friends from the south coast, Poole Town. Deal Town had to be overcome to clinch the promotion and buoyed on by a crowd of 1650 they had no chance. At the final whistle, the fans were delirious, running onto the pitch to congratulate the heroes. Alexander, Whittaker, Pollard, Armour, Rennie, Jagger, Grassam, Garden, Goodall, Crawley and Stenhouse. Missing from the line up due to injury was the unfortunate Barry Parsons, a stalwart for over ten years at the club. Thus the versatile John Rennie, his best mate, was at centre half the game. 

One slight irritation for three of us on the night, myself, Nigel ‘Pop’ Portman and Dick Dighton was the pestering and interruptions of our ‘night to remember’ by three young ladies who were vying for our attention. We couldn’t believe it when they followed us to the match and stood behind us. Lovely they were but sorry girls, we were more excited by the Steelmen! How sad is, or was, that! We were only 15 though! And no, we didn’t walk them home afterwards. Can’t remember what the hell we did to be honest.

Part 7 Lot of Robin goin’ on..63/64

                                                         Lot of Robin goin’ on

                                                            
                                                                    1963/64

Bristol City players checking out the Occupation Road  quagmire before the F.A.Cup Tie

1963 is best remembered for the infamous Profumo Scandal involving Christine Keeler, Mandy Rice Davies, Tory MP John Profumo and the other participants in the sordid affair which brought down the Conservative Government. Commanding the headlines was also Dr Beeching's ‘Axe’ which wiped Corby off the railway map. Then there was the JFK assassination which stunned the world.. and Corby Town hosting Bristol City in the F.A.Cup. Two weeks before the start of the football season there was the Great Train Robbery. With all these events going on it makes you wonder how one could concentrate on sorting out a football team. Tommy Hadden was one manager who faced the task and Tommy was off on his travels again during the summer months with his trusty News of the World Annual in his pocket 

First stop was Barnsley where he picked up wing half George Jagger.  George had a beard, not fashionable at the time. Only beard you saw those days was on the sailor on a packet of Players Cigarettes. Next stop on his journey was Glasgow where left winger Hugh Curran had been released by Third Lanark. Heading south again Tommy picked up former Hereford full back Davy Pollard. To round his trip off he then headed for Bedford where he signed the prolific goalscorer Arthur Hukin. Nice shopping trip you might think, don’t suppose it was like that for a minute really but it was a productive summer for Tom nonetheless. Pollard would become a huge favourite with his robust style of play, fair to say most wingers he faced cacked themselves. Arthur was a great foil for Tommy Crawley and the two of them became known to the fans, us lot anyway, as The Tommy and Arthur Show. Both sort of clumsy, scored goals anyhow or which way for fun. Arthur didn’t lack confidence, telling Tommy he’d guarantee him 30 goals this season. In fact, he was under selling himself, he scored 43! Hadden was confident going into the start of the season with his new look team and showing an element of his tactical genius, he switched Jagger and Curran with great success. George haring down the wing, beard bristling was a great sight. ‘Zigger Zagger, this is Jagger’ was a chant that resonated around Occupation Road from the fans behind the goal as he left another full back for dead. Curran with his sleeves rolled up, barrel chested, slick hairstyle could have been a rock star. Striding forward he was majestic. Formerly a youngster at Manchester United he was heading in the right direction again after his release from Third Lanark and would soon catch the attention of league scouts. Hugh eventually ended up playing for Wolves and Scotland. All thanks to Tommy Hadden

Hugh Curran

you could argue. So with all the enthusiasm and optimism flying around, we then promptly lost the first two games of the campaign against Folkestone and Canterbury! Some tinkering needed done and the next game, again against another Kent team, Deal Town saw the Steelmen return home after thrashing  The Hoops 5-1. Yes, that is their nickname. I’ll leave it there…Burton 3-0 was next before a Monday night return fixture with Canterbury that would long live in the memory. Barry Parsons was missing from the team which caused some consternation for the fans but reserve Frank Will proved an adequate replacement and had the easiest game of his career. The Steelmen won 9-0! Bobby Laverick and Hukin getting four apiece. The other was an own goal. For some reason I can still remember the City full back, a guy called Crombie, having a nightmare against the beard. Jagger ran him ragged and we laughed all night as George went past him time after time. It was the look on his face. Petrified. Laverick was another favourite, his class stood out a mile. 

By this time the fans were getting really excited and using toilet rolls as streamers every time the steelmen laid siege to the opponents goal. Dick Dighton, who would later become a Steelmen star in the 80s recalls: “We were at the Boys School and every Friday or the day before a game we would go round all the toilets in the school and nick the bog rolls. After a time suspicion grew with the caretaker who was scratching his head as to what was behind his disappearing Izals. These were the modern toilet rolls, a step up from the quartered Daily Mirror or Evening Telegraph hanging on a nail on the door in the outside toilet. And long before the more comfortable and softer Andrex. The Izal was the best. Hard as hell on your ass but great for streamers. The trick was to hold the last piece and hurl it on to the pitch or the back of the net. It did get on the club’s tits after a while and a watch was put on to get the culprits. Great fun it was.”

At the Boys School at the time was Frank McGregor, a strapping centre half, head and shoulders above everyone else, literally, he was a big lad. Frank was signed up by Manchester United. Matt Busby thought highly of him but as it turned out, he only lasted a season before after many warnings by Busby, he was released. It later emerged that Frank was ‘keeping the wrong company’, which included a young Irish guy called Georgie Best.  So the story goes.

A game that sticks in the memory was against Barry Town, how many times have I said that. This time it was all about the referee Roger Kirkpatrick. Roger was from Leicester, a squat slightly bald figure resembling Mr Pickwick a character out of a Charles Dickens novel, the Pickwick Papers. Comical he may have looked but he could run backwards faster than you could run forwards,

Roger stepping in between Liverpool's Tommy Smith and Leeds' Billy Bremner

amazing to watch. It was his enthusiasm that caused one of the most bizarre incidents Ive ever seen on a football pitch. Crouching down by the edge of the area for a Corby corner he suddenly choked, nearly keeled over and left everybody watching bemused. What had happened? Corby’s trainer wee Donald Johnson was summoned out of his dugout, hared across the pitch and found a distraught Roger choking on his pea! Well, actually he had bitten the end of his whistle off. You couldn’t make it up.

Roger recovered, a new whistle was found and the game carried on. He was destined for the top and a few years later I was witness at a game when he robbed Liverpool of the League championship at Highbury. Drawing 0-0 with the Arsenal John Toshack scored for the Reds with minutes to go. Enough to win the league. The scousers were ecstatic, until Roger blew his whistle and cancelled the goal out! He claimed Toshack was offside. The scousers went berserk, including our lot, John Wilson, Alan Clarkson, Pat Devlin, Dennis Taylor. Jeff Stewart was also at the match with his mates and recalled spying Roger on the train home afterwards. Having approached and chastising him, polite way of saying things, Roger made an escape to hide in the toilet. And the funny thing is, many years later, during the 90s, Jeff met up with Roger when Jeff was chaperoning a tour of sports people around in South Africa. And asked him if he remembered that night! I’m pleased to say there was good will and laughter all round.

This was by far the best start to a season for a long time and hopes were high of a decent cup run and reaching the first round proper for the first time in a decade. The last time was in 1954 when I was four, so it was before my time but Watford came along and knocked us out 2-0. Lockheed Leamington, nickname The Brakes, away in the 4th qualifying round had Corby fans dreaming of getting through and drawing a league team out of the hat in the first round. Had me dreaming too, so much that I booked a seat on the supporters bus even though I dreaded coach travel. Years of being sick on busses going to Wales had ingrained in me a fear of these charabancs. But, I took the bull by the horns, was on my own come to think of it, where were all my pals? And lo and behold, the relatively short trip to Leamington saw me spewing my guts up again! I recovered in time for the match and we managed to scrape through for a replay, 2-2. By the time of this, the draw had been made, Monday dinnertimes those days on the radio. essential. Another piece of magic Sky TV and the FA have managed to dispense with.

We were drawn at home to Bristol City! Wow. The Robins. They included former England

John Atyeo

international centre forward John Atyeo. I had a picture of him in a football book! Big J promised to give Barry Parsons a real test that was for sure. If we beat Leamington in the replay that was. Tension was appreciable. To make matters worse Tommy Crawley was missing with a thigh injury obtained at Leamington. Jimmy Stanley stepped in. A crowd of over 3000 turned out to see a nail biting encounter until Alex Stenhouse fired home after Laverick set him up. The jitters only intensified as Lockheed fought for an equaliser, taking their foot of the brakes you might say. Shorthose and Straw failed with only Alexander to beat and then they had a shot that crashed against the bar. I don’t remember this to be honest..I read it in the Telegraph when I was looking this up! Not long before the end a defender scored an own goal to make it 2-0 to the Steelmen and the men from the Brake manufacturing company of Lockheed were beaten. Worn down. Thats the best pun I can come up with but the final whistle was the cue for a pitch invasion which I do remember!

So to Bristol City. Cup fever hit the town big time. Programmes were printed and sold around the

pubs the week before the game, rosettes,  hundreds of them it seemed, were made and sold by some entrepreneurial wise guy. A daily bulletin of injuries and updates on City was posted in the press. One downer for the Steelmen fans was that Bobby Laverick would be missing due to suspension after being sent off a month before at Trowbridge. It was a feeling akin to when Roy Keane missed out the European Cup Final for Manchester United in 1999 under similar circumstances. Well OK might be getting carried away there but you get my drift. Laverick was an experienced former league player, saw service with Chelsea, Brighton and Everton, pure quality and to have him missing the most important Corby game for years was almost disastrous. Young Jimmy Stanley, who was having trials at Leicester City once again stood in. 

Incidently, the music being supplied by Harold Sturgess at BBS Records in the Town Centre for the Steelmen featured a whole swathe of sounds from the Merseybeat phenomenon. The Beatles were the sensations but at number one the week of the Bristol game was a record that would become iconic and the all time football anthem. Gerry and the Pacemakers with ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. Have to say that the faithful behind the Occupation Road goals weren’t singing this though. The repertoire which was usually led by our pal Frank Clayton included ‘Daisy daisy, give me an answer do…’ ‘Zigger zagger’ or as Frank preferred, ’this is shagger, this is shagger..’ and the old chestnut ‘A Steelman for me..’

Frank 'cheerleader Clayton pictured fourth from the right on back row of the Corby Boys School team 1963

The pitch was a typical Occupation Road quagmire. The middle resembling Skegness beach. Makes you smile nowadays wondering how some of the superstars would cope on a pitch like that.  A crowd of over 6000 crammed in, spectators even clambered up the floodlights to get a better view. When Barry Parsons led the team out, the roar deafened even the noise from the steelworks! Real cup stuff this was. The Steelmen tore into the Robins, headers from Crawley and Hukin grazed the bar before the place went wild when Tommy Crawley fired Corby into the lead. Bristol with Atyeo battering away up front, a feller called Jantzen Derrick on the wing, an England Under 23 international gathered their composure and before the half time whistle was blown, City were 2-1 up! The second half was similar to the first, Corby working tirelessly for the equaliser. Jagger, Stenhouse, Hukin, Stanley, Crawley all had efforts turned aside by Gibson in the Bristol goal. With time running out, Clark nailed it for City with the third goal two minutes from time. That was the dream over, but what an exciting game it was. Thats the magic of the F.A.Cup. Or was.

                                                         Jimmy Stanley goes close against Bristol City

After the disappointment of the cup exit, form dipped temporarily and it took until january to get things back on track in the league. Two 6-0 victories over Tunbridge Wells signalled the Steelmen were back. Disappointing for the fans though was that Hughie Curran was being tracked by a host of league clubs and it was inevitable when he left to sign for Millwall. He was converted to centre forward at The Den, moved on to Norwich and then Wolves, scoring goals everywhere and being  selected to play for Scotland in the Home Internationals. Funny the memories people have of players and one that George Bradshaw has is of Hughie Curran having a pint in the Raven the night before the Bristol City game. “Shouldn’t you be at home resting up for tomorrow?” George asked him. Curran looked at George, replied with two words and carried on with his darts match. 

Promotion was still the target and to bolster the team Tommy Hadden signed up a couple of players, wing half Brian Wright from Bedford, who would create his own bit of folklore for the Steelmen a year later, and a former Celtic forward, Jim Sharkey, who had been traipsing around England’s non league clubs before ending up at Wisbech, which is where Tommy Hadden signed him from. Jim made an impact right away, if not on the pitch, but off it. He regularly turned up for matches attired in his bowler hat! Bit of a poser but it went down well with the piss taking Corby crowd, which Jim undoubtedly loved. My memory of Jim was that he started off well, scoring twice in a 5-1 rout of Gravesend, and then got slower and slower. Like a slug in the end. Could be why he had so many

Jim Sharkey

clubs. 

The fight for promotion continued and was going well until a trip to the seaside at Clacton put a big dent into it. Around the time there was an outburst of fighting between so-called Mods and Rockers at Britain’s seaside resorts. The scooter brigade against the motorbike boys.  Clacton featured and though there was no connection with the football, there could have been a riot this night thanks to the referee. Arthur Hukin had two goals disallowed and was was then sent off by this gentleman when he thought he should have been given a penalty. In a game fractured with robust play by the hosts it was said the Clacton goalkeeper had the game of his life as his side won 2-1.

The Beatles had released their latest record ‘A Hard Days Night’ whilst Corby were striving to achieve their goal of promotion. You can assume if it was played on the radio on the return journey home this night, the players would have seen the irony.

After this, it was a deflated Steelmen that saw the season peter out. Folkestone were feted as the Champions. Corby trailed in 5th, their best effort since the early 50s. The Tommy and Arthur Show had produced some great entertainment, scoring 77 goals between them. Alex Stenhouse with his rocket shots added another 20 and Bobby Laverick chipped in with 19. 

The promotion so desired was as elusive as ever though and Tommy Hadden was determined to deliver it sooner rather than later. He would be waiting with anticipation for the News of the World Annual to come out in the summer! Bargain hunting again!