MARTIN CALLER: 1955-2026

Martin Caller, pictured far left, back row.

All at Corinthian-Casuals were saddened to hear that Martin Caller, who played for and managed the first team during the 1988/89 season, passed away on 12 January.

Caller – a firefighter and builder from Battersea – was a well-known figure on the local football scene. He was a prolific attacking force for Malden Vale, where he played more than 250 games and scored more than 100 goals in seven seasons, before joining Casuals in 1988.

It was our first season after moving to King George’s Field, following our amalgamation with Tolworth FC, whose management team took charge of the newly unified side for the 1988/89 Spartan League campaign.

Kevin Crouch was manager, with Gerry Young as his assistant, but Crouch departed the club in November, leaving us in need of a new man at the helm.

Young took one game as caretaker manager, having been given a day’s notice to put together a team and, following a humbling 10-1 defeat to Cheshunt, the club looked to the experienced Caller (pictured above on the far left, back row) to step into a new role in the dugout.

“Martin Caller took over as manager… and steadied the ship,” recalled Young, who added that “Martin had lots of ideas, and asked me to stay on the following season as his assistant.”

Caller would not be in charge the following season, though, as Steve Bangs was appointed manager that summer and a new era began at the club.

However, Martin – described by our former press officer, Rob Cavallini, as “a wonderful character, a passionate man and a real competitor” – will be remembered here for steering us clear of relegation in a tumultuous year as we finished in 16th place. On the pitch, he made 19 appearances and scored two goals. He went on to manage Croydon Athletic and Cobham, where former Casuals favourite Martin Firmo was his assistant.

Our thoughts are with Martin’s family at this difficult time.