'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!

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!

Fifty Years Ago This Week...November 1963

Corby v Dover Nov 9 2013

Jimmy Stanley heads wide against Bristol City in the F.A.Cup 1st Round at Occupation Road 1963

The world was stunned with the assassination of American President John F Kennedy, gunned down in Dallas, Texas. Conspiracy theorists have had a field day ever since over who really killed JFK. This was at the height of the so-called 'Cold War', East verses West, Russia verses the United States, CND marches, Soviet spies. Doom merchants predicted we were staring into the abyss of World War 3. Suddenly the world seemed a frightening place to be. "Where were you when you heard the news?" became the question generations would ask each other whenever the event was recalled.
Back in Corby, Tommy Hadden had other events on his mind. The manager of the Steelmen had his own spies out whilst attempting to plot the downfall of Third Division Bristol City in the F.A.Cup 1st Round Proper at Occupation Road. "Nothing to beat" Tommy was told, "this lot are cack". City may have been on an eleven match unbeaten run but Tommy was confident. "We too are on a ten match unbeaten run." He didn't go as far to say that 'we can shoot them down' but did say in his programme notes; "However good City are, I feel it is not beyond us to at least get a draw, our lads have proved as much against the glamorous Chelmsford City side." Which must have had the Bristol supporters quaking in their boots.
The Bristol City tie had the town buzzing with excitement. Programmes and rosettes adorned with 'Up The Steelmen!' were being sold in all the town pubs and clubs a week before the game. Schools were suddenly finding themselves short of toilet rolls as they were pilfered to be used as streamers at the game. Rattles were being oiled. Over 6,000 spectators jammed the roads with cars around the ground; Occupation Road resembled an early version of the M25. Non football fans on the 289 bus from the steelworks were less than enamored as it crawled through the traffic after the 6 to 2 shift. "Hurry up driver, the pubs shut at half two!" cried irate and gasping for a pint steelworkers.
A distraction from the excitement enveloping the town was provided with the announcement of the Dartford Tunnel being opened this week, the first episode of Dr Who being broadcast on BBC, 'With The Beatles' being released prior to the band departing on their first tour of the States and world domination. This was also the week that saw Gerry and the Pacemakers sitting proudly at the top of the record charts with a record that would be adopted by the supporters of their home town team Liverpool F.C and become the club's national anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone'.
Steelmen fans had their own anthem, 'Ye Canny Shuv Yer Grannie Aff A Bus!"

The Corby team showed one change from their regular line up with forward Bobby Laverick sitting the game out due to suspension following a sending off at Trowbridge a month before the cup game. It was a blow without a doubt; Laverick had been around for a long time playing for the likes of Everton, Chelsea and Brighton. His experience would have been invaluable. However as one door closes, another one opens they say and stepping into the breach was local lad Jimmy Stanley who had already caught the attention of league scouts for Leicester City and Bolton Wanderers. Bristol City were led out by former England international centre forward John Atyeo, a big strapping guy that must have seemed a daunting task for Corby's centre half Barry Parsons. Not that Barry lost much sleep over the prospect; he was one of the most laid back players you could meet. Alongside him in defence was his mate, the tireless John Rennie. The two of them were stalwarts in the Corby side and according to their pal and still Corby supporter, George Bradshaw, 'the Raven' also, for over a decade. George maintains to this day that after a game at Occupation Road, the two of them would be in the Raven bar before the supporters! The Raven, apparently, was a favourite haunt for the Corby Town players, a handy drinking hole around the corner from the ground where they could chew the fat after games, and quite often, before the games! Hughie Curran the shining star of the Corby team who moved onto greener pastures and won Scotland caps whilst with Wolves was in the bar arguing with regulars John Black and Willie Ross the night before. John said Curran was half blootered and told him he should be at home resting. Curran told them to bog off, or words to that affect!

The atmosphere in the ground was electric when they kicked off and erupted when Tommy Crawley narrowly headed a cross over the City bar in the 3rd minute. Crawley wasn't to be denied though and opened the scoring by guiding in a free kick from full back Davy Pollard after 18 minutes. Rolls of Izal were unfurled onto the pitch by ecstatic young Steelmen supporters now beginning to dream the unthinkable of the mystical 'giant killing act' famous in the F.A. Cup. The illustrious West of England visitors were there to be slain by the minnows from the Southern League. Atyeo and his brothers had other ideas. Before half time that had replied with two goals in eight minutes to stun the home crowd and take the sting out of the match. Corby continued to batter away at City in the second half with Curran driving his forwards on, showing no signs of an Ansells Ale too many. Crawley Hukin and Jimmy Stanley all went 'agonisingly close' before a third goal scored by England Under 23 player Jantzen Derrick proved to be the killer blow and the Steelmen were down and out. But what a fight it had been.
A great day in the annals of Steelmen history, even if we were humped.
Other notable results in the cup on the day was Kettering drawing at home to Millwall, Harwich getting hammered 8-2 at Crystal Palace and Coventry thumping Trowbridge away 6-1.