Career
Born in Kirkby, Liverpool, Caton was a centre half who played for (and captained) England schoolboys, before signing for Manchester City as an apprentice in 1978. Caton scored eight times during his spell at Maine Road, the first one coming in a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday 13 March 1982 and he also scored two goals in one game against Arsenal on Saturday 4 December 1982. The lacklusture form continued into the 1982-1983 season, at the end of which City were beaten 1-0 at home on the final day of the season by Luton Town, meaning that City were relegated and Luton stayed up.
Caton was unwilling to remain at City now they were a Second Division club, and handed in a transfer request, but began the 1983-1984 season still at Maine Road and he remained there until 1 December 1983 when he joined Arsenal for £500,000.
He arrived just 15 days before the dismissal of manager Terry Neill, who was succeeded by Don Howe. He made his debut against West Bromwich Albion two days later.
Caton scored three goals in 95 appearances for Arsenal, but had not played a first team game in almost a year before he was sold to Oxford United for £100,000 in February 1987. He was named club captain soon after his arrival and helped United avoid relegation from the First Division during his opening months at the Manor Ground, but was unable to save them from the drop a year later.
He also missed out on what would be his last chance of silverware when Oxford United were knocked out of the Football League Cup in the semi finals.
He remained at Oxford until 18 November 1988, when he was sold to Charlton Athletic for £100,000 in order to play in the First Division again. Caton stayed with Charlton after their relegation from the First Division in 1990, but was injured the following January and never played first team football again. He finally announced his retirement in March 1993 having failed to make a full recovery.
He had played 57 league games for the Addicks, scoring five goals.
Just a month later, on 30 April 1993, he suddenly died of a heart attack at the age of 30. He had three children, including a son Andy who went on to play for Swindon Town, his other children were Stephen and Claire.Claire is now an Royal Air Force Nurse based at Royal Air Force Brize Norton.