I have nicked this from a Coventry site, anyone who ever saw or met the Catt will know just what a fantastic (if slightly mad) bloke he was.
There have been many folk heroes at Coventry City in the forty years I have been supporting them. Some, such as George Hudson, Ian Gibson and the great Tommy Hutchison were elevated to such status because they possessed that special brand of talent.
Others, such as Brian Roberts, Lloyd McGrath and George Curtis endeared themselves despite the absence of such skills because they would, often literally, give blood for the cause.
Chris Cattlin was a hero to a generation of City fans for perhaps more complex reasons. He was a cultured yet uncompromising left-back, he never gave less than 100 per cent for the team, he fitted perfectly into possibly the best defence City ever had and, ultimately, was treated appallingly by the club he loved.
Chris Cattlin was born at Milnrow, Lancashire on 25 June 1946. He became a product of the Huddersfield Town youth team, which was well known as a producer of many fine full-backs, including World Cup winner Ray Wilson.
City's first season in Division One had been a traumatic one, having struggled all season in the relegation zone. Three successive wins in February 1968 had given the fans some hope, and two influential deadline day signings by Manager Noel Cantwell ultimately kept City up. Chris Cattlin and Ernie Hunt came in on the eve of the home game with Manchester United, with Chris making his debut by shackling George Best for the entire 90 minutes.
Chris Cattlin
City won a famous victory, lost only three of the last 11 games and survived by a point. Cattlin was already a crowd favourite, and the following season gained international recognition with the England Under-23 Team.
Cattlin had several pretenders to the left-back position over the next few years. Wilf Smith was bought as a replacement but operated mostly at right-back or in midfield. Jimmy Holmes came in for a time but moved to centre-back. Each time, though, Cattlin battled back and won his place in the team, although the then manager, Gordon Milne, never rated him as highly as the fans clearly did.
This became apparent when in the summer of 1975 he signed Jim Brogan, a veteran of Celtic's European Cup Finals era, and clearly well past his best. Brogan started the 1975-76 season at left-back and, despite struggling regularly, it was to be February before Cattlin was restored to the team. He kept his place to the end of the season with some gritty performances. Milne however had one more nasty surprise for Chris Cattlin. A week after the season ended he handed him a free transfer. After 237 games, and before he had reached 30, he was deemed surplus to requirements.
Chris had acquired a cult following in his eight years at City, being affectionately known to all as "Spider" due to his unfeasibly long legs with an apparently telescopic ability in the tackle. His fans wore "Spider" badges, and later "Spider" T-shirts. I still have mine. It was to his eternal regret that he never rewarded his fans with a goal.
Like all major news events, I remember where I was when I heard Chris had been freed by City. At that time I went to every game, home and away, and we were at an end-of-season friendly at Lincoln City. We were there to welcome the team as usual and the news was broken by coach Ron Wylie whilst giving us some tickets for the game. We asked why Chris wasn't on the coach and he told us the devastating news.
During the game and on the way back, the shock of losing a loyal and talented player turned to resolve to try and do something about it. By the time we got back to Coventry, in the early hours of the next morning, I along with fellow supporters Dave Freeman and Lionel Bird had decided we would organise a petition.
We didn't know if it would do any good, but we were determined to try. We decided that we would need to speak to Chris Cattlin; there was no point in organising a petition if he wanted to leave, as Milne had implied in the local press. A meeting was set up in a Leamington pub, where we heard the full story.
Milne wanted Brogan in the team and saw no place for Cattlin. He had been treated appallingly, yet still loved the club and wanted desperately to play. I vividly remember Chris saying to us "I would walk eight miles on broken glass to play for this club." Somehow this all looks so dated now.
He was surprised and delighted that we planned a petition. The greatest problem now was that there were no games at which to gather support. We overcame this by assembling early on a warm sunny Saturday in May in the centre of Coventry, about eight strong, to collect signatures. Support was overwhelming. (We had also picketed the Supporters Club at closing time the previous night, since the geriatric blazers who ran the club refused to allow us to collect signatures inside the premises.
On our day in Broadgate, the Evening Telegraph turned up with a reporter and photographer, and we were later delighted to see that we had made the front page.
We were also contacted by the Sports Editor who offered to set up a meeting with Gordon Milne to present the petition.
So a few days later we arrived at Ryton with a petition containing 3,541 signatures. Milne agreed to the Telegraph photographer taking pictures, but would only meet us with no reporter present. He held court in the weights room and spent an hour trying to justify his decision. He was adamant that he saw Brogan as his first choice and that he had done Chris Cattlin a favour.
Despite public opinion, he thought he knew best. We had tried our best but alas to no avail. Ironically Brogan never played for City again and was released a few months later. City by then had bought a replacement in Bobby McDonald.
A few days later I had a call from Chris Cattlin. He thanked us all for our efforts, and told me that he had had an offer from Brighton. As a parting gesture, City had now agreed to play a testimonial match for him, but at Brighton, not Highfield Road. He invited us to attend as his guests.
Chris had a good first season at Brighton, helping them to promotion to the old Second Division. At the end of the season came the testimonial with City taking a strong team to the Goldstone Ground. From our point of view it was one of the best away trips of all time, and we certainly had a few to remember.
We stayed for three nights at the Granville Hotel, on the seafront at Brighton, which at that time was owned by Bill Glazier. Bill was the perfect host and we spent many hours reminiscing about his years with City.
The night of the testimonial game was memorable too. Chris provided us with the best seats, and looked at his best as Brighton beat City comfortably, 3-1. Gordon Milne, miserable to the last, refused to allow the City players to attend the post match function.
We were invited guests, of course, and the event was held in a private club in a select area of Brighton. We partied till the small hours with Chris and his wife and the rest of the Brighton players, including captain Brian Horton and Peter Ward who had just been called into the England squad. We staggered back to the hotel with a well-oiled Bill Glazier.
Chris Cattlin set himself up in business on Brighton seafront, with a shop selling rock and novelties. He remains there to this day. There was still a twist in the tale, as after he retired he did some coaching at Brighton. Suddenly he found himself manager, the team having been briefly in Division 1 and FA Cup Finalists.
He remained there for three years until 1986 when he was unjustly sacked, to allow Alan Mullery to return as manager. We were not surprised to hear that the Brighton fans held a rally in Hove Park to have him reinstated. Alas he never was, and for a second time he was treated disgracefully by a club he had given his all for.
I have visited Brighton a few times since and always looked in on Chris for a chat. He is as enthusiastic as ever.
But he never returned to Brighton, or to City, and it is to the shame of both clubs that one of their enduring heroes has been all but forgotten. At least the fans who were around then still hold him in the highest regard.
There have been many folk heroes at Coventry City in the forty years I have been supporting them. Some, such as George Hudson, Ian Gibson and the great Tommy Hutchison were elevated to such status because they possessed that special brand of talent.
Others, such as Brian Roberts, Lloyd McGrath and George Curtis endeared themselves despite the absence of such skills because they would, often literally, give blood for the cause.
Chris Cattlin was a hero to a generation of City fans for perhaps more complex reasons. He was a cultured yet uncompromising left-back, he never gave less than 100 per cent for the team, he fitted perfectly into possibly the best defence City ever had and, ultimately, was treated appallingly by the club he loved.
Chris Cattlin was born at Milnrow, Lancashire on 25 June 1946. He became a product of the Huddersfield Town youth team, which was well known as a producer of many fine full-backs, including World Cup winner Ray Wilson.
City's first season in Division One had been a traumatic one, having struggled all season in the relegation zone. Three successive wins in February 1968 had given the fans some hope, and two influential deadline day signings by Manager Noel Cantwell ultimately kept City up. Chris Cattlin and Ernie Hunt came in on the eve of the home game with Manchester United, with Chris making his debut by shackling George Best for the entire 90 minutes.
Chris Cattlin
City won a famous victory, lost only three of the last 11 games and survived by a point. Cattlin was already a crowd favourite, and the following season gained international recognition with the England Under-23 Team.
Cattlin had several pretenders to the left-back position over the next few years. Wilf Smith was bought as a replacement but operated mostly at right-back or in midfield. Jimmy Holmes came in for a time but moved to centre-back. Each time, though, Cattlin battled back and won his place in the team, although the then manager, Gordon Milne, never rated him as highly as the fans clearly did.
This became apparent when in the summer of 1975 he signed Jim Brogan, a veteran of Celtic's European Cup Finals era, and clearly well past his best. Brogan started the 1975-76 season at left-back and, despite struggling regularly, it was to be February before Cattlin was restored to the team. He kept his place to the end of the season with some gritty performances. Milne however had one more nasty surprise for Chris Cattlin. A week after the season ended he handed him a free transfer. After 237 games, and before he had reached 30, he was deemed surplus to requirements.
Chris had acquired a cult following in his eight years at City, being affectionately known to all as "Spider" due to his unfeasibly long legs with an apparently telescopic ability in the tackle. His fans wore "Spider" badges, and later "Spider" T-shirts. I still have mine. It was to his eternal regret that he never rewarded his fans with a goal.
Like all major news events, I remember where I was when I heard Chris had been freed by City. At that time I went to every game, home and away, and we were at an end-of-season friendly at Lincoln City. We were there to welcome the team as usual and the news was broken by coach Ron Wylie whilst giving us some tickets for the game. We asked why Chris wasn't on the coach and he told us the devastating news.
During the game and on the way back, the shock of losing a loyal and talented player turned to resolve to try and do something about it. By the time we got back to Coventry, in the early hours of the next morning, I along with fellow supporters Dave Freeman and Lionel Bird had decided we would organise a petition.
We didn't know if it would do any good, but we were determined to try. We decided that we would need to speak to Chris Cattlin; there was no point in organising a petition if he wanted to leave, as Milne had implied in the local press. A meeting was set up in a Leamington pub, where we heard the full story.
Milne wanted Brogan in the team and saw no place for Cattlin. He had been treated appallingly, yet still loved the club and wanted desperately to play. I vividly remember Chris saying to us "I would walk eight miles on broken glass to play for this club." Somehow this all looks so dated now.
He was surprised and delighted that we planned a petition. The greatest problem now was that there were no games at which to gather support. We overcame this by assembling early on a warm sunny Saturday in May in the centre of Coventry, about eight strong, to collect signatures. Support was overwhelming. (We had also picketed the Supporters Club at closing time the previous night, since the geriatric blazers who ran the club refused to allow us to collect signatures inside the premises.
On our day in Broadgate, the Evening Telegraph turned up with a reporter and photographer, and we were later delighted to see that we had made the front page.
We were also contacted by the Sports Editor who offered to set up a meeting with Gordon Milne to present the petition.
So a few days later we arrived at Ryton with a petition containing 3,541 signatures. Milne agreed to the Telegraph photographer taking pictures, but would only meet us with no reporter present. He held court in the weights room and spent an hour trying to justify his decision. He was adamant that he saw Brogan as his first choice and that he had done Chris Cattlin a favour.
Despite public opinion, he thought he knew best. We had tried our best but alas to no avail. Ironically Brogan never played for City again and was released a few months later. City by then had bought a replacement in Bobby McDonald.
A few days later I had a call from Chris Cattlin. He thanked us all for our efforts, and told me that he had had an offer from Brighton. As a parting gesture, City had now agreed to play a testimonial match for him, but at Brighton, not Highfield Road. He invited us to attend as his guests.
Chris had a good first season at Brighton, helping them to promotion to the old Second Division. At the end of the season came the testimonial with City taking a strong team to the Goldstone Ground. From our point of view it was one of the best away trips of all time, and we certainly had a few to remember.
We stayed for three nights at the Granville Hotel, on the seafront at Brighton, which at that time was owned by Bill Glazier. Bill was the perfect host and we spent many hours reminiscing about his years with City.
The night of the testimonial game was memorable too. Chris provided us with the best seats, and looked at his best as Brighton beat City comfortably, 3-1. Gordon Milne, miserable to the last, refused to allow the City players to attend the post match function.
We were invited guests, of course, and the event was held in a private club in a select area of Brighton. We partied till the small hours with Chris and his wife and the rest of the Brighton players, including captain Brian Horton and Peter Ward who had just been called into the England squad. We staggered back to the hotel with a well-oiled Bill Glazier.
Chris Cattlin set himself up in business on Brighton seafront, with a shop selling rock and novelties. He remains there to this day. There was still a twist in the tale, as after he retired he did some coaching at Brighton. Suddenly he found himself manager, the team having been briefly in Division 1 and FA Cup Finalists.
He remained there for three years until 1986 when he was unjustly sacked, to allow Alan Mullery to return as manager. We were not surprised to hear that the Brighton fans held a rally in Hove Park to have him reinstated. Alas he never was, and for a second time he was treated disgracefully by a club he had given his all for.
I have visited Brighton a few times since and always looked in on Chris for a chat. He is as enthusiastic as ever.
But he never returned to Brighton, or to City, and it is to the shame of both clubs that one of their enduring heroes has been all but forgotten. At least the fans who were around then still hold him in the highest regard.
