| view Caton's match-by-match record |
| Andy CATON | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Son of the former Manchester City defender Tommy, Caton signed for Swindon as a first year scholar during the 2004/05 pre-season, having previously been at the Southampton Centre of Excellence, and also having been top scorer for Hellenic League outfit North Leigh during 2003/04. He impressed during pre-season - scoring goals against Newbury and Cirencester for the youth team, and then being accredited with another in a game with Bristol Rovers for the first team - so when Lloyd Opara picked up a thigh strain, with the Town only having three professional strikers on the books, Caton was handed a place on the bench for the opening game of the season, at the tender age of 16. He took his chance well, coming on as a late substitute, and scoring a last minute consolation goal, as the Town went down 2-1 at Wrexham. Caton stayed on the fringes of the first team throughout the season, making his full debut in an LDV Vans Trophy win at Exeter in October, and a total of seven substitute appearances - before his full league debut on the last day of the season, a 1-1 draw with Chesterfield. During the season, he was also part of the youth squad that won the Youth Alliance South West Conference title and the Alliance Cup - partnering Ashan Holgate up front in the victorious final tie at Burnley. With a small squad for the 2005/06 season, it appeared as though manager Andy King would be ready to utilise Caton more throughout the season, and he was one of the few youth team players given a squad number in preparation. Unfortunately though, that was as far as it went - early in September, Caton picked up a knee injury playing for the under 18's, later confirmed to be cruciate ligament damage, predicted to force him out of action for the rest of the season. Recovering quickly, Caton returned to light training in December, but just two months later, he cracked his skull in a car accident that knocked back his recovery - though he did manage to appear in twenty minutes of reserve action before the season was out. As a result of his disrupted final year, the club successfully applied for an extension to his scholarship, running to February 2007. Caton's injury woes were to flare up again though early in the 2006/07 season. After coming on as a substitute in a Carling Cup tie against Brentford, Caton was handed a starting berth on the left side of midfield for the next game, but lasted just twenty minutes after badly gashing his head. The position was a new one for Caton, but with his great pace it was one that suited him, and in his next start, a dash into the box earned the match winning penalty against the MK Dons. At the beginning of October though, Caton succumbed to a hamstring injury - by the time he returned, Paul Sturrock had taken over as Town boss, and he picked Caton in a centre forward role against Salisbury in the Wiltshire Premier Shield. Not helped by his fitness levels, Caton gave a performance described as "uncomfortable", but before he could stake another claim for inclusion, a mystery ankle injury put him in plaster until January, and kept him out for the rest of the season. Sturrock gave Caton another chance to prove himself, handing him a short-term contract for the 2007/08 season. After admitting he needed games, Caton joined local side Supermarine for a month's loan in August, and he also went back to his old club North Leigh for a short spell - playing matches for them, but training with the Town. At the end of his short term deal, Caton was widely expected to be released - instead, the club extended his contract for another month, and allowed him to join Brackley Town on loan. The stay of execution was short-lived though, as Caton was finally released in January 2008 - Caton vowing to return to league football in "no time at all", and slamming Paul Sturrock's regime for not giving him a chance. PLAYING RECORD:
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date of birth
usual positions centre forward other positions left-sided attacking midfield youth career senior career website links |
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