14th March - Spurs in History

Contrasting Days for Spurs

1962 and 1963

One year apart but results with contrasting affects on the club.

1962 Spurs 1 Ipswich Town 3
This result, more than any other stopped Spurs winning the 'Double' for a second season. Ipswich were managed by former Spurs player, Alf Ramsay - later to be Sir Alf after the World Cup winin 1966, and they had won promotion from the Second Division the previous year. Ipswich took the First Division by surprise, Ramsay adopting a formation to best suit his players.

Spurs lost the first game in Ipswich but if they had won this home game by 3-1, they would then have been Champions on goal average, for a second year in succession.

The Ipswich game plan stiffled Spurs whose goal was scored by Jimmy Greaves.

The following August Spurs adapted their game to counter the Ipswich style and won the FA Charity Shield at Ipswich by 5-1.

One year on:

1963 Spurs 6 Slovan Bratislava 0 ECWC 2nd Round (2nd Leg)
Spurs were two goals down from the first game but as had happened the previous season, the crowd at White Hart Lane got behind the team to create an atmosphere to intimidate the visitors. Dave Mackay led the way as Spurs set out to reduce the arrears and in the first minute Mackay and Smith combined to unsettle the visiting goalkeeper.

Three goals in nine minutes, the first from Mackay after 30 minutes ensured a Spurs win. John White, Bobby Smith, Cliff Jones and Jimmy Greaves (2) scored the other goals which took Spurs into the semi-finals.

That was the famous 'Glory! Glory!' European nights at White Hart Lane. Spurs in their all -white European strip, the fans creating an atmosphere to unsettle the visiting team and Spurs inspired by Mackay powering past another European team.

We look forward to further nights like this at White Hart Lane in the not too distant future.

Come On You Spurs!