The Last Waltz 1967.68
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| 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.
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| 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!
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| 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?
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| "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!
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| 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!
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.
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| 'Waiting with bated breath...any chance of the Law man comin' Eric? |
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