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CORBY TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB | CLUB HISTORY
Formed in 1948, Corby started out playing in the United Counties League and were champions of that competition in 1950/51 and 1951/52. They then switched to the Midland League and almost completed a hat-trick of league titles, finishing as runners up to Nottingham Forest Reserves in 1952/53 after losing a last game of the season decider.
Corby remained in the Midland League for six years and although they never quite reached the heights of that first season they did enjoy some successful times. In 1954/55 they reached the First Round Proper of the F.A Cup for the first time ever and were beaten 2-0 at home by Watford in front of a crowd of 6,763 and in 1956/57 the ‘Steelmen’ beat Gainsborough Trinity 14-0 at Occupation Road in a Midland League fixture – still the club’s record victory.
In 1958 Corby moved to the Southern League, where they have remained ever since. During their time in this competition the 'Steelmen' have scaled the heights of topping the Premier Division in 1965 and plunged to the depths of finishing bottom of the league on several occasions.
In 1963/64 Corby lifted the Merit Cup as the highest scoring team in the Southern League.During their time in the competition they have also played in Division One (North), Division One (West), Division One (East), Southern Division and Midland Division.
The current season marks the 43rd anniversary of the club's greatest achievement, knocking Luton Town out of the F.A Cup in a Second Round replay at Kenilworth Road.In the Third Round Corby were beaten 6-0 away to Plymouth Argyle.
The Steelmen moved to their current Rockingham Triangle stadium on the outskirts of the town in 1985 having previously played at Occupation Road since their formation.
For the first time in their history Corby Town played some of their home games outside the town at the start of the 2005/06 season. Work on their Rockingham Triangle stadium meant that the 'Steelmen' played their opening games at Kettering Town's Rockingham Road ground. This did not prevent them from returning to the Southern League Premier Division after an 11 year absence by finishing as runners up to Boreham Wood in Division One East.
Corby are currently managed by ex-Stamford boss Graham Drury who was appointed in January 2008 by chairman Peter Mallinger. In January 2009 Drury's assistant manager Paul Holden MBE left the club and was replaced by Danny Nichols. Last season the club achieved a remarkable turn-around under Drury. In 2007-2008 the club were almost relegated but saved themselves by winning at Bedford Town 2-1 in the penultimate game of the season. But it was a different scenario last season when the club were promoted to the Football Conference after winning the Southern Premier League championship.
Among the players to have previously appeared for the club are full internationals Reg Smith, Johnny Morris and Henry Cockburn (England), Eric Caldow, Hugh Curran and John Robertson (Scotland), Gerry McElhinney (Northern Ireland) and Dick Whittaker, Mark Lawrenson and Eddie McGoldrick (Republic of Ireland).
Len Chalmers (Leicester), Andy McCabe (Chesterfield), Norman Dean (Southampton), Hugh Curran (Millwall), Peter Kearns (Aldershot), Dixie McNeil, Andy McGowan, Jim McNichol, George Reilly and Roger Russell (all Northampton Town), Paul Bannon (Carlisle United), David Dall (Scunthorpe United), Trevor Morley (Northampton, West Ham and Manchester City) Chris Mackenzie (Hereford and Chester), Matt Murphy (Oxford United and Swansea) and current Bristol Rovers skipper Stuart Campbell are among the players to have played in the Football League after leaving the ‘Steelmen’.
David Hofbauer is the club’s record goalscorer with 159 goals to his credit during the 1980’s – 1990’s while Derek Walker’s appearance record of 601 games looks set to stand for some time yet.