5th May - Spurs in History

5th May, 1962

Spurs 3 Burnley 1 F.A.CUP FINAL at Wembley.

My first memory of Tottenham Hotspur, as a young boy, watching the game on the television in a furniture shop. What a way to start, although it was a couple of years before I would become devoted to the club and the fanatic that I have been for the last forty years.

Burnley had finished second in the League, ahead of Spurs who had the perfect start when Greaves scored, as he predicted, in the opening minutes and they secured victory, after Burnley had equalised early in the second half, with further goals from Bobby Smith and a penalty from Danny Blanchflower.

Spurs had retained the F.A.Cup and secured a place in Europe which was to bring further success the following year.

Team: Brown; Baker, Henry; Blanchflower (Captain), Norman, Mackay; Medwin, White, Smith, Greaves, Jones.

'Glory Glory Hallelujah

Spurs go marching on.'

5th May, 1994

Oldham Athletic 0 Spurs 2 (Premier League)

Spurs were flirting with the relegation places as the end of the season approached. A very disappointing season under Ossie Ardiles was saved from further disaster when David Howells and Vinny Samways scored to secure Spurs win. The match was played on a Thursday evening, two days before the end of the season, as the original game the previous Saturday was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch due to torrential rain.

Spurs finished the season in 15th place but they were only three points ahead of the third relegated team, Sheffield United.

5th May, 1996

Newcastle United 1 Spurs 1

The last occasion when Spurs had something meaningful to play for in the final game of the season. The possibility of European football existed if Spurs could get three points and some other results went their way.

At one point, after Jason Dozzell put Spurs ahead, Tottenham were looking at a UEFA Cup place but then things started to fall apart - Newcastle equalised, Arsenal went on to win and claim the final European place, while Spurs finished eighth.