When the end at Newcastle United is just the start
Sir Bobby Robson's brutal 'honesty' at Newcastle United helped Gary Caldwell make it as a footballer. Now, he's working wonders as a Exeter City manager.
It is always good to catch up with players I got to know early in their careers while reporting on Newcastle United.
Not all of them went on to play for the club.
Sometimes the end of their careers at St James’ Park was just the start for them.
That was the case for Gary Caldwell, who left the club in 2004 – and went on to win titles and play Champions League football with Celtic. He also represented Scotland 55 times.
Now an experienced manager, Caldwell’s helping fan-owned Exeter City “punch above their weight” in League One.
In the latest edition of FourFourTwo, Caldwell recalls what the late, great Sir Bobby Robson told him, aged 17, when he asked what he needed to do to make it as a professional footballer.
“He absolutely nailed me for about five minutes on all the things that I couldn’t do, and that I needed to do, to be a better centre-half,” said Caldwell.
“He did it in a way that I didn’t come out of the room on the floor. I came out feeling positive, but knowing how far off being a professional football player I was.”
Caldwell listened to Sir Bobby’s advice – and worked on his game.
“I had so many things I had to improve,” said Caldwell. “He was 100% right.”
Today, Caldwell has young Exeter players asking him the same question at the club, whose home ground is also called St James Park.
“I tell them ‘if you come into my office, and ask that question, you have to be open to an honest answer’,” said Caldwell.
Caldwell did not play a competitive first-team game for Newcastle, but his time at the club was the making of him.
FourFourTwo issue 378, which also features an interview with Bruno Guimaraes, is out now