Norman Catlin
Encyclopedia
Norman John Catlin was an English footballer, who showed considerable promise as a schoolboy which was not fulfilled as a professional with Southampton Football Club. He lost his life in the controversial sinking of HMS Gloucester off the coast of Crete
in May 1941.
but moved as a child to the Bitterne
area of Southampton
. When he scored 17 goals in an English Schools Shield match in 1932, he made the national sporting headlines. In all he scored 62 goals in 13 matches as Southampton schoolboys reached the final. This prolific goalscoring form attracted the attention of Arsenal
who signed him on amateur terms; he was shortly afterwards capped for the England Schoolboys.
He subsequently returned to Southampton, joining the "Saints" as an amateur in June 1933, before signing a professional contract on his 17th birthday in January 1935. After playing in the reserves, he made his first-team debut away to Swansea Town on 28 December 1935, when he played at outside-right as replacement for Arthur Holt
.
He appeared to find his slight build a disadvantage and failed to develop into the player that everyone had expected. After only six first-team appearances, his League career ended in March 1937, when aged only 19. He then played for Ryde Sports
on the Isle of Wight
, although he was re-signed by Southampton in 1938 on a part-time basis, without getting back into the first team.
On the outbreak of World War II
, Catlin enlisted in the Royal Navy
. He was a member of the crew of HMS Gloucester when she was attacked by German Stuka
dive bomber
s off the northern coast of Crete
and sank on 22 May 1941. Catlin was posted missing on 29 May, but is now confirmed to have died during the sinking. Of the 807 men aboard at the time of her sinking, only 85 survived.
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
in May 1941.
Football career
Catlin was born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
but moved as a child to the Bitterne
Bitterne
Bitterne is an eastern suburb and Electoral Ward of Southampton, England.Bitterne derives its name not from the similarly named bird, the Bittern but from the bend in the River Itchen; the Old English words byht and ærn together mean "house near a bend", most likely a reference to Bitterne Manor...
area of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. When he scored 17 goals in an English Schools Shield match in 1932, he made the national sporting headlines. In all he scored 62 goals in 13 matches as Southampton schoolboys reached the final. This prolific goalscoring form attracted the attention of Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
who signed him on amateur terms; he was shortly afterwards capped for the England Schoolboys.
He subsequently returned to Southampton, joining the "Saints" as an amateur in June 1933, before signing a professional contract on his 17th birthday in January 1935. After playing in the reserves, he made his first-team debut away to Swansea Town on 28 December 1935, when he played at outside-right as replacement for Arthur Holt
Arthur Holt (cricketer)
Arthur George Holt was a Hampshire cricketer in the 1930s and 1940s, who also played professional football for Southampton...
.
He appeared to find his slight build a disadvantage and failed to develop into the player that everyone had expected. After only six first-team appearances, his League career ended in March 1937, when aged only 19. He then played for Ryde Sports
Ryde Sports F.C.
Ryde Sports Football Club was an English football club based in Ryde, Isle of Wight.Before its demise, Ryde Sports was for many years a successful and significant club on the Isle of Wight and in Hampshire, and an important part of the town of Ryde.-Foundation:Ryde Sports F.C. was founded in 1888...
on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, although he was re-signed by Southampton in 1938 on a part-time basis, without getting back into the first team.
Naval career and death
After ending his full-time football career in 1937, Catlin joined the Cunard-White Star Company as a clerk.On the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Catlin enlisted in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. He was a member of the crew of HMS Gloucester when she was attacked by German Stuka
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
dive bomber
Dive bomber
A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target reduces the distance the bomb has to fall, which is the primary factor in determining the accuracy of the drop...
s off the northern coast of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
and sank on 22 May 1941. Catlin was posted missing on 29 May, but is now confirmed to have died during the sinking. Of the 807 men aboard at the time of her sinking, only 85 survived.