Tommy Caton

Tommy Caton
Personal information
Full name Thomas Stephen Caton
Date of birth (1962-10-06)6 October 1962
Place of birth Kirkby, England
Date of death 30 April 1993(1993-04-30) (aged 30)
Place of death Oxfordshire, England
Playing position Central defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1979–1983 Manchester City 165 (8)
1983–1987 Arsenal 81 (2)
1987–1988 Oxford United 53 (3)
1988–1991 Charlton Athletic 57 (5)
Total 356 (18)
National team
1981–1984 England U21 14 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Thomas Stephen "Tommy" Caton (6 October 1962 – 30 April 1993) was an English football player who played for Man City, Arsenal, Oxford United and Charlton Athletic as a Central Defender. Caton captained Oxford during his time at the club as well as Manchester City and was named as City's Player of the Year in 1982.[1][2]

Career

Manchester City

Born in Kirkby, Lancashire, Caton was a centre half who played for (and captained) England schoolboys, before signing for Manchester City as an apprentice in 1978. He made his debut on Saturday 18 August 1979 aged 16, and soon became a regular in the City side, playing in the 1981 FA Cup Final, when still only 18 years old, and when team mate Tommy Hutchison put City in the lead it looked as though Caton was on his way to collect a winner's medal, but when Tottenham levelled as a result of Hutchison's own goal, a replay was forced and City lost it 3–2.[1]

He reached 100 First Division games on 6 March 1982, at the age of 19 years and 5 months he was the youngest player in Football League history to achieve this feat. He was also named City's Player of the Year for 1981/82. Caton scored eight times during his spell at Maine Road, the first one coming in a 1–1 draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday 13 March 1982 and he also scored two goals in one game against Arsenal on Saturday 4 December 1982. He scored his final City goal at Gay Meadow, home of Shrewsbury Town in a 3–1 City win on Saturday 5 November 1983.[1]

A season after he came close to collecting an FA Cup winner's medal, Caton was looking like a good bet for a Football League First Division title winner's medal as City went top of the league just after Christmas in 1981, but a dismal second half of the season meant they finished mid table and were left without even a UEFA Cup place. The lacklusture form continued into the 1982–83 season, at the end of which City were beaten 1–0 at home on the final day of the season by Luton Town, meaning that City were relegated and Luton stayed up. Caton was unwilling to remain at City now they were a Second Division club, and handed in a transfer request, but began the 1983–84 season still playing for the Citizens and he remained there until 1 December 1983 when he made the move to Arsenal for £500,000.[1][2]

Arsenal

He arrived at Highbury, making his debut against West Bromwich Albion two days after such. However, after playing as a first team regular under the management of Don Howe in his first two years at Arsenal as David O'Leary's partner, he was usurped by the young Tony Adams and Martin Keown during the 1985–86 season, at the end of which there was the appointment by George Graham as manager. Caton scored three goals in 95 appearances for Arsenal, but had not played first team game in almost a year.[2]

Oxford United

In February 1987, Caton was sold to Oxford United for £100,000. He was named club captain soon after his arrival and helped the U's' avoid relegation from the First Division during his opening months at the Manor Ground, but was unable to save them from the drop a year later. He also missed out on what would be his last chance of silverware when United were knocked out of the Football League Cup in the semi finals.[2]

Charlton Athletic

He remained at Oxford until 18 November 1988, when he was sold to Charlton Athletic for £100,000 in order to play in the First Division again.[2]

Caton stayed with Charlton after their relegation from the First Division in 1990, but was injured the following January and never played first team football again. He finally announced his retirement in March 1993 having failed to make a full recovery. He had played 57 league games for the Valiants, scoring five goals.[1]

Personal Life

He has three children with wife Gill, which includes two sons, Andy, who went on to play for Swindon Town and Stephen as well as his only daughter, Claire. In 1993, just after his announcement of retiring, Caton suddenly died of a heart attack at the age of 30. Claire is now an RAF Nurse based at RAF Brize Norton.[3]

Honours

Manchester City Player of the Year: 1982[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Tommy Caton- Biography of his football career at Man City". Sporting Heroes.net.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tommy Caton- Profile". Arsenal.com.
  3. ↑ "Caton dies aged 30". The Independent.co.uk.
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