Corby Town Football Club were saddened to hear that our former manager Eric Caldow has passed away. Eric was born in Cumnock, Ayrshire on May 14th 1934 and began his long association with Glasgow Rangers at the age of fourteen. He was sent out to Muirkirk Juniors to develop his natural ability and returned to Rangers at eighteen. He made his first team debut as understudy to George Young against Ayr United in September 1953 and played eight first team games during that 1953/54 season.
By 1955/56 Eric was a regular in the team at right back although it was to be on the opposite flank that he would eventually make his name. He made his full international debut for Scotland against Spain in May 1957 and went on to win 40 caps - captaining his country for three years and earning the reputation of being the best left back in world football for a time.
Eric's international career came to a sudden end in May 1963 when he suffered a horrific injury in the sixth minute of a Wembley victory over England - breaking his leg in three places in a challenge with Tottenham and England forward Bobby Smith.
He spent some time on the sidelines and despite making a full physical recovery he was never the same player again. In 1966 Eric left Rangers after making over four hundred appearances to join Stirling Albion and in February 1968 he was appointed player/manager of Corby Town amid great publicity.
He took charge of the team after moving into his new Lincoln Way home the following month and made his playing debut in a 1-1 home draw with Barnet. At the time of his appointment the Steelmen were in the Southern League Premier Division relegation zone and his arrival came too late to save them from the drop at the end of the 1967/68 season.
Spirits were high at the start of the following season when Corby hosted a high profile friendly against Glasgow Rangers - which the Steelmen won 2-1 - and the Supporters Club produced "I'm Backing Eric" lapel badges. Hopes of bouncing straight back up again quickly disappeared as the Southern League campaign began disappointingly and in February 1969 Eric travelled up to Scotland, apparently with the blessing of the Corby board, for an interview for the vacant manager's position at Raith Rovers.
He didn't get that job and when he returned to Corby on Monday 10th February he discovered that he didn't have a job here either as he had been sacked in his absence and his job given to ex-Arsenal goalkeeper and manager George Swindin! It seemed that the Corby board had got cold feet over the money his full time role was costing the club and had gone for a cheaper part-time option - Swindin was out of the game at the time and was running a petrol station in the town. During his year in charge Eric Caldow had overseen fifty Corby games, sixteen of which had been won, twelve drawn and twenty two lost.
Eric then returned to Scotland and in 1970 as appointed manager of non-league side Hurlford United. In 1973 he began a two-year stint as manager of Stranraer and later scouted for Queens Park Rangers before returning to Glasgow Rangers as a member of the club's matchday hospitality team. In 2007 he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.
In 2002 Eric had begun to show signs of dementia and in recent years he has suffered from Alzheimer's and required round the clock help at a care home in Ayrshire. His daughter Jackie McTaggart has been heavily involved in research into the links between football, the constant heading of the ball in particular, and dementia.
Everyone at Corby Town Football Club sends their condolences to all Eric's family and friends at this sad time.