'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!