Tony Caig
DOB 11/4/74
Tony Caig was a true local talent, he first played in goal aged
eleven when he found his local Cleator Moor side were short of a goal keeper one
Sunday morning. Within months he was playing at County level and by the
time he was 14 he had signed school boy terms at Carlisle United. He was still only 18
when he made his debut at Brunton Park in a 1 -1 draw with Halifax Town.
As a schoolboy Mark Prudhoe and David McKellar were the two
keepers at United, by the time he signed YTS terms it was Barry Siddall and Jason
Priestly. Caig lists Kelham O'Hanlon as his biggest influence at this
time, however in 1993 O'Hanlon moved to Preston North End. For a few
weeks Caig found himself the first and only choice as Carlisle's keeper but this
changed when first Tony Elliot was signed from Huddersfield Town,
then the new director of coaching Mick Wadsworth brought in Mervyn Day as
his number 1.
Day began the season but by the new year a determined Caig had
managed to regain his place
in the side, now with the added advantage of having
Day to coach him. Tony Elliot who had spent time at Lilleshall as a
youngster was also trying to claim the number 1 spot. Whilst the two were
friends off the pitch there was a rivalry and determination between the two to
be Carlisle's first keeper which probably benefited them both. After
Elliot moved on to Cardiff Caig claimed the number 1 spot as his own. He
featured in the 94/95 side that stormed division 3 and made the first
trip to Wembley. By the second Wembley visit in the 96/97 season he was an ever
present in the side and his contribution to the second Wembley final will never
be forgotten by the blue army. When it came to the penalty shoot out Carlisle
were a goal behind when Caig turned it round by saving Colchester's 4 and 5
strikes, leaving Stevie Hayward the task of scoring the winner. 
Reading the
interviews with players in the "Wembley Dreams" section on this
site, it is noticeable how many of them said about the shoot out, that they felt
Caigy would save at least one. The players and fans had faith in his undoubted
shot stopping abilities. Caig's philosophy for saving penalties was very simple:
"Ah, you just pick your side and go for it, don't
change your mind just go for it," Tony Caig.
Tony also made penalty saves in the AWS second round in 1998
against Scunthorpe but this time not content with just stopping goals he stepped
up and scored the winner in sudden death.
Caig had made 233 league appearances when he was sensationally
sold to Blackpool on transfer deadline day 1999 much to the shock and horror of
many fans. As United's reserve
keeper was injured it left Carlisle with no
keeper for the last games of the season being played in the heat of a relegation
battle. No one knows the true transfer price, accounts vary between ten
and forty thousand pounds.
The Blackpool move did not work out for Tony and he could
not command a first team place. Rescue came in 2001 when Charlton Athletic
suffered a keeper crisis and Caig got a loan spell with the premiership outfit.
He only got to make one first team appearance when he kept a clean sheet in the
second half against Derby County. Released at the end of the season Caig has
signed to play for Scottish club Hibs for the 2001/02 season. Still only 27
Caig still has plenty of games to play, we wish him all the best for
the future.
Back to Carlisle's
number 1
in the side, now with the added advantage of having
Day to coach him. Tony Elliot who had spent time at Lilleshall as a
youngster was also trying to claim the number 1 spot. Whilst the two were
friends off the pitch there was a rivalry and determination between the two to
be Carlisle's first keeper which probably benefited them both. After
Elliot moved on to Cardiff Caig claimed the number 1 spot as his own. He
featured in the 94/95 side that stormed division 3 and made the first
trip to Wembley. By the second Wembley visit in the 96/97 season he was an ever
present in the side and his contribution to the second Wembley final will never
be forgotten by the blue army. When it came to the penalty shoot out Carlisle
were a goal behind when Caig turned it round by saving Colchester's 4 and 5
strikes, leaving Stevie Hayward the task of scoring the winner. 
Reading the
interviews with players in the "Wembley Dreams" section on this
site, it is noticeable how many of them said about the shoot out, that they felt
Caigy would save at least one. The players and fans had faith in his undoubted
shot stopping abilities. Caig's philosophy for saving penalties was very simple:
"Ah, you just pick your side and go for it, don't
change your mind just go for it," Tony Caig.