Dave Caldwell

[SkyBlueGull]

I subscribe to a retro Football magazine called "Backpass" - issued quarterly and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone over 40 years of age.

There is a website to give you an idea of what it is all about - just google Backpass.

Just received the latest edition in the post and there is a fantastic article on Dave Caldwell.

Now this was before I switched allegiance from CCFC to Torquay so it is all news to me.

However it is fascinating and just a few snippets that regulars may wish to expand upon

a) When he retturned for his second stint at TQ1 a group of supporters were waiting for him at Newton Abbot railway station with flags/banners to welcome him back

b)CK signed him saying "he will be a disaster or the talk of the town"

c) For play off game against Scunthorpe he got a police escort - and that was just for the warm up!!!!!

d) In same match he and 2 Scunthorpe defenders had to be helped off the pitch and go to Torbay A&E in same ambulance!!!!!

e) Feelings were so high for 2nd leg at Scunthorpe that CK left him out of starting line up and only came on for last few minutes


plus much more

As I say - before my time - but perhaps some of you can expand on these snippets - he certainly seems to have been a character and with ( according to the article) both Lee Sharpe and a kindred spirit in Mark Loram that must have been an entertaining side

[Enzo]

A great blast from the past - up there with Lors, Davie Graham, Stevie Phillips and Jackie Gallagher in the Plainmoor drinking club. Can never tell how much one looks back with rose tinted glasses, but he was great to watch. Had Caldwell's over head kick gone in the cup game at Coventry in 88 they would still be showing it on TV now. Killer Kilcline knew he had been in a game that day!

Not seen the article, but he was a real character both on and off the pitch. I was too young at the time, but anyone who drank in some of the clubs around Torquay at that time (maybe the Hideaway??) is sure to have a story to tell. I am not sure how true it was, but there were various stories about people wanting to use his nuts as golf balls when he made quite a hasty exit from Torquay the first time around. If my memory serves me correctly his first departure to a Belgian club sparked a 24 hour resignation from Knowles.

Can't recall much about his second spell - rather like the cast of Auf Weidershen Pet, he epitomised the 1980s and and it is a shame he ever had to grow old. He has popped back to Plainmoor on the odd occasion (I think). In the old version of this website, there was even a poster who purported to be DC for a while. Not sure if he was genuine though.

[yellow]

Dirty Dave used to know how to terrorise an opposition defence by putting himself about a bit. He is a legend. I think ‘marauding’ is the term for him.

I certainly recall the Scunthorpe defender being treated to DC’s version of letting him know that he was there. It was only a few minutes into the game.

He scored important goals as well alongside Paul Dobson in what was an excellent side that really should have got automatic promotion in 1988. They blew it in the final match of the season losing at home 2-1 to Scunthorpe who we then faced again the next week in the play-off semis. Ultimately we lost the final 5-4 to Swansea City over 2 legs.

[uberwozza]

Greatest player EVER

Best moments were the diving header against Bristol City in FA Cup from Lors cross, overhead kick as mentioned and my personal favourite, punching himself in the face in away leg against Swansea trying to get a penalty

How we didn't win that rain swept second leg at Plainmoor I'll never know..................

LEGEND

[usagullmichigan]

Greatest player EVER

Best moments were the diving header against Bristol City in FA Cup from Lors cross, overhead kick as mentioned and my personal favourite, punching himself in the face in away leg against Swansea trying to get a penalty

How we didn't win that rain swept second leg at Plainmoor I'll never know..................

LEGEND

Agree with that. He was awesome. He tore Coventry apart in the FA cup game at Highfield Road. TOrquay support at the game was good too,

[stratfordgull]

As a Coventrian Gull I remember it well.....wasn't too shabby a performance against them in the cup a couple (forget how many exactly) of seasons ago either. Very late and undeserved Elliot Ward header if I remember.

I've still got the programme from the 1988 game too!

[Warwickgull]

As a Coventrian Gull I remember it well.....wasn't too shabby a performance against them in the cup a couple (forget how many exactly) of seasons ago either. Very late and undeserved Elliot Ward header if I remember.

I've still got the programme from the 1988 game too!

Daylight Robbery!

Went down with SkyBlue Gull and the Coventry supporting brother in law for that one, a hell of a long journey home! Best memory of the game was Nico having their (At the time highly rated) Michael Misfud in his pocket for the entire game.

[usagullmichigan]

If I remember. Caldwell was on the ground and Cyril Regis fell over him and the ref gave a pen.

[uberwozza]

While having slightly alcoholically blurred memories of the game, I vividly remember getting my head kicked in by about fifteen lads in the town centre on the way back to railway station

a valuable lesson never to wear your colours away, even if you think they will be viewed sympathetically as a genteel west country lower league club who had the grace to lose

live and learn

[Lloyder5]

My favourite TUFC centre-forward. All action is the word. Each game he was likely to be either sent off, stretchered off or carried off shoulder high after scoring some spectacular goal. The one against Hereford that season was great but my favourite was the header he scored against Scunthorpe in the play-offs, haven't seen many better. Nice scene is described in Lee Sharpe's autobiography of young Lee discussing the prospective deal with Man Utd with Dave and their landlady.

[westyorkshiregull]

hello gulls , im new to this forum so hello. yes going to get that backpass magazine as love to read bit about dave caldwell. one of my fav players as a youngster in the old mini stand. this is some footage on my youtube account of the scunthorpe game in question. if anyone wants me to put the whole game on youtube i can do.


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ps anyone see the backpass article about our mark loram. i can poat it if anyone wants to see it

[lexusguy]

I remember seeing Dave Caldwell taking a back elbow to the throat close to the pop side touch line. Was that the Scunthorpe game?

[Trojan 67]

When Dave Caldwell pops down to Plainmoor, he usually calls into the Union Inn to see Jeff the landlord.

That's when he also has to suffer the Plainmoor regulars, including me.

Dave Caldwell is socialable, approachable and it goes without saying, enjoys a good slurp.