Spurs in History - 23rd November

23rd November, 1983

Bayern Munich 1 Spurs 0 UEFA Cup 3rd Round (1st Leg)

The previous season a weakened Spurs side had crashed out of the European Cup Winners’ Cup competition on a fog-bound night against Bayern, when no-one could see the pitch.

However, on this occasion, in freezing conditions (-5C), Spurs gave a good account of themselves defensively, only conceding the goal in the final five minutes, thus giving themselves a good chance with the return leg to be played at White Hart Lane.

Match Preview UEFA Cup

UEFA CUP Group Stages (Round 3)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen v Tottenham Hotspur

(L W D W L L ) - - - (D W W W L D)

After the champagne and caviar that were the wins over Brugge and Chelsea we’ve had to stomach the warm, flat beer of the performances and results against Reading and Blackburn.

Spurs are facing German opposition for the thirteenth time in European competition, although the official UEFA records will suggest it’s the fourteenth as they have included the farce that was the Intertoto competition. Spurs’ record of seven wins, one draw and four defeats has given them four aggregate wins in the six ties.

It will be Spurs’ first competitive match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen who drew 1-1 at Brugge in their only game in the group stages of the UEFA Cup. They qualified for this stage by defeating Sion of Switzerland 3-1 on aggregate after a scoreless draw in the first leg.

Last season Leverkusen finished in fifth place in the Bundesliga to qualify for the UEFA Cup but they have also played Champions League football and were beaten finalists in 2002, losing to Real Madrid having knocked out both Liverpool and Manchester United on the way to the final. This made them the first side to reach the final without winning their national championship.

They have played 122 European games, with 52 wins and 38 defeats but against English teams they have only won once, a 4-2 defeat of Liverpool in the quarter finals, while they neat United on away goals after two draws.

Their record against English teams is P 12 W 1 D 3 L 8.

Leverkusen are currently 12th in the eighteen team German Bundesliga, having lost their last two games 2-3 at Nurnberg last weekend and at home to Bayern Munich the previous week. In the game against Nurnberg having drawn level at 2-2 with twenty minutes to go, they conceded a goal with five minutes left. It was two late goals conceded in three minutes that led to their demise against Bayern having gone 2-1 ahead with ten minutes remaining. Their last two wins were away to two teams below them in the Bundesliga.

Their domestic record this season is: P 13 W 4 D 3 L 6 For 21 Ag 21 Pts 15

In the UEFA Cup their performance against Brugge probably merited more that a draw as the home goalkeeper put up an excellent performance.

Leverkusen are a team with great experience and probably the best known of the players is the German international midfielder Bernd Schneider who played in last summer’s World Cup and has scored twice in this season’s UEFA Cup – the goal against Brugge from over thirty yards – you’ve been warned Spurs. In their league competitions four players have each scored three goals – Ukraine striker Andrily Voronin, defenders Gonzalo Castro from seven starts and Ahmed Reda Madouni. They are also well served from midfield with Sergei Barbarez also scoring three and Carsten Ramelow two.

With squad rotation and players rested for important games it is always difficult to predict who will be playing but the Leverkusen team against Brugge was:

Butt, Stenman, Juan, Haggui, Madouni, Schneider, Barnetta, Barbarez, Rolfes, Ramelow, Kiessling

Dimitar Berbatov is the connection between the two clubs. He was the Leverkusen leading goalscorer last season with 21 goals before signing for Spurs in the summer. His quality has been most evident in the UEFA Cup and he will want to impress against his former club. Spurs go into the game knowing that a win will guarantee qualification for the knock out stages and that a draw will almost certainly secure it, so they have sufficient incentive to raise their game from the last two mundane performances. Martin Jol will be hoping that some of the injured players will recover in time to allow him to play as many as possible of what he must consider to be his strongest team with Keane as partner for Berbatov. He must find a balance in midfield which will be strong and competitive but also create opportunities for the strikers to have a chance on goal.

Are Spurs saving their best for Europe?

It has happened in previous seasons and certainly, on the evidence to date, the team have raised their game considerably for the European matches and played with a greater freedom. Hopefully they will again shake off their indifferent away League form and make the trip to Germany one to remember for all who are travelling over to support them.

Spurs in History - 22nd November

22nd November, 1986

Oxford United 2 Spurs 4 (1st Division)

Do successful teams come about through careful planning or due to some good fortune?

That question could be asked after this game which is regarded as the first occasion that Spurs played with five players in midfield and Clive Allen as the lone striker. The five midfield players were to support Allen who was having an exceptional goal scoring season. With twelve League goals before this game he added two more in the first half as Spurs came back from an early goal scored by former player David Leworthy to end Oxford’s unbeaten home run. Chris Waddle scored the other goals, his first of the season.

Belgium International Nico Claesen was the player to miss out with the introduction of this new system which proved very effective although it didn’t lead to any silverware adorning the Boardroom at White Hart Lane, missing out in all competitions - Spurs ‘Nearly’ team under David Pleat.

Clive Allen finished the season with a record breaking total of 49 goals in all competitions. [League – 33, Littlewoods Cup – 12, F.A.Cup – 4]

Spurs in History - 21st November

21st November, 1931

Spurs 9 Port Vale 3 (2nd Division)

The first time that Spurs scored nine goals in a League game, something they have only done on a further two occasions.

Spurs had just missed out on promotion at the end of the previous season but the new season was proving a big disappointment although they had won their previous home game by 6-2 against Swansea.

Prior to the game Port Vale were above Spurs in the League table but Spurs ran out convincing winners.

Centre forward George Hunt scored twice and the rest of the goals came from the right side of the team. Right winger Willie Davies scored a hat-trick, inside right Jimmy Brain claimed two, while right half Dave Colquhoun and right back Albert Lyons scored one each, Lyons with a penalty.

Spurs in History - 20th November

Joe Kinnear's mistake led to Arsenal's late winner

20th November, 1968

Arsenal 1 Spurs 0 Football League Cup Semi-Final (1stLeg)

This was only the second occasion that Spurs had played Arsenal in a Cup competition. The previous time was in the FA Cup in 1949 when Spurs lost 0-3 at Highbury.

Spurs had reached their first League Cup semi-final in only the second year that they entered the competition by overcoming Aston Villa, Exeter, Peterborough and Southampton. The Arsenal goal came in injury time as Joe Kinnear attempted to head the ball back to Pat Jennings but his header was too weak and was cut out by the Arsenal striker who scored.

This set up an intriguing match for the second leg at White Hart Lane but made it that bit more difficult for Spurs.

Spurs in History - 19th November

19th November, 1887

Spurs 2 Woolwich Arsenal 1 (Friendly)

The Start of Spurs' Rivalry with Arsenal

The first game played against the team who were to become the club’s near neighbours and greatest rivals. The match was played at Tottenham Marshes, one of the last games Spurs played at their original home.

The visitors were based in south London, their place of origin, before their re-location to north of the river.

The match started late due to the visitor’s late arrival and had to be abandoned with fifteen minutes remaining because of bad light. Spurs were leading 2-1 when the game came to an early conclusion but the goal scorers and the team for this first win over Arsenal are unknown, no records having been kept.

19th November, 1994

Gerry Francis' first game as manager saw them lose 3-4 to Aston Villa at White Hart Lane.

Teddy Sheringham, Klinsmann (pen) and an o.g. provided Spurs' goalsbu they maintained their poor record following the sacking of Ossie Ardiles.

Pic: Gross is weclomed by Alan Sugar

Ironically, exactly three years later Christian Gross was appointed as manager to replace Francis. Gross was an unknown manager from Switzerland who was constantly ridiculed by the media, was unpopular with many of the players who were unaccustomed to his methods and was never accepted by the fans.

The media constantly referred to his arrival waving an Underground ticket he had used to make his way to Tottenham.

Not surprisingly his tenure as manager was brief. However, on his return to Switzerland he achieved success in League and European competition.

Spurs in History - 18th November

18th November, 1950

Spurs 7 Newcastle United 0 (1st Division)

An exhibition of ‘Push and Run’ football at its very best.

Arthur Rowe’s team produced one of the finest displays ever seen at White Hart Lane. Spurs were newly promoted and Newcastle came into the game in second place in the League, while Spurs were fourth having won their previous seven matches.

The highest crowd of the season, 70,336, watched the game which saw Spurs three ahead at half-time. The opening goal came from Les Bennett, Eddie Baily added a second and Les Medley scored the third.

In the second half Medley scored the fourth, Sonny Walters got the fifth while Medley completed his hat-trick for the sixth. The final goal was scored by Alf Ramsey from the penalty spot.

Newcastle were not as outplayed as the scoreline suggests but Spurs took their opportunities and played exceptionally well.

True to Tottenham form, a week later they went to Huddersfield, a team near the bottom of the League, and lost 2-3. Typical Spurs!

18th November, 1995

Spurs 2 Arsenal 1 (Premier League)

The departure of Klinsmann, Popescu and Dimitrescu the previous summer had made life more difficult for Spurs. They had only two home games although were unbeaten away from White Hart Lane but two of the summer signings, Ruel Fox and Chris Armstrong were to play a major role in this defeat of Arsenal.

Spurs' previous game had seen them win at Coventry but they found themselves a goal down following arsenal's early domination. However, Spurs showed determination and made a comeback in the second half led by Ruel Fox. His runs from the Spurs' half put the Arsenal defence under constant pressure and he set up the equaliser for Teddy Sheringham.

Spurs continued in a similar vein and Sheringham fed Chris Armstrong who got between two defenders to score the winner.

The Sunday Times headline read:

'Arsenal Fall to Frantic Fox Hunt'

Manager Gerry Francis described Spurs' second half performance - 'as good as anything since he began managing the club.'

18th November, 1965

Spurs 4 Hungarian Select XI 0 (Friendly)

Spurs had a comfortable win but at a cost. 'Double' winning centre half, Maurice Norman broke his leg in five places and eventually had to retire from fotball following a two year battle to regain full fitness.

Spurs goals were scored by Dave Mackay (p) and a hat-trick from Alan Gilzean.

18th November, 1967

Spurs 2 Chelsea 0 (1st Division)

Alan Gilzean and Cliff Jones scored for Spurs.

Spurs in History - 17th November

17th November, 2001

(Pic: Gus Poyet - the Hero of the Hour)

Spurs 1 Arsenal 1 (Premiership)

The North London derby occurs quite frequently in the month of November but in this case the match was of secondary importance.

This was Glenn Hoddle’s first home derby in charge and the team came into the game in a good vein of form in spite of losing their previous game at Leeds.

However, the main focus of attention was the return of Sol Campbell

(Sol Campbell - the Villain of the peace)

who had defected to the other team in North London during the summer on a Bosman deal, having let his contract run out. The atmosphere was hostile as Spurs fans vented their anger against their former captain.

Spurs played well with Ledley King outstanding but it was Arsenal who took the lead late in the second half and looked like holding on to take the three points until the final moments when Gus Poyet equalised with a volley that slipped through the goalkeeper’s fingers.

Salute Willie Hall

On 18th November, 1938 Spurs' inside forward, Willie Hall scored five goals for England against Northern Ireland in Manchester, including a hat-trick in three and a half minutes. He became only the fourth England player to score as many as five goals in an international.

Hall signed for Spurs from Notts County in December, 1932 to replace George Greenfield who had broken his leg. He made his Spurs debut against his old club, a game Spurs lost 0-3. However, in spite of that set-back Spurs went on to win promotion to the 1st Division. Withinh a year of joiningSpurs he had won his first England cap and Spurs had to pay a further £500 to Notts County as part of the transfer settlement. However, it was another four years before he won his next England cap.

in those four years he had been troubled by injury and Spurs' relegation to the 2nd Division. Hall was a clever dribbler and an accurate passer of the ball. He made a further eight appearances for England and in total played 375 games for Spurs, scoring 45 goals.

Sadly, a serious leg injury forced him to retire in 1944 and he later had the lower part of both legs amputated.

For a time he was coach and then manager of Clapham Orient but found his disabilities too much and resigned.

He ran a pub in east London for many years.

Spurs in History - 16th November

Gary Lineker scored twice

16th November, 1991

Spurs 4 Luton Town 1 (1st Division)

Spurs were a goal behind in the second half and looked likely to lose this game when the floodlights failed.

However, on the resumption after a break of fifteen minutes, Spurs were revitalised and went on to win, scoring four goals in the last quarter of the game. Substitute Scott Houghton equalised, scoring his first goal for Spurs. Houghton scored a second and Gary Lineker also scored twice as Spurs ran out comfortable winners against the team who were to be relegated at the end of the season.

16th November, 1968

Spurs 5 Sunderland 1 (1st Division)

'Greaves for England'

Jimmy Greaves had rediscovered his goal scoring touch and people were starting to call for his return to the England team.

Jimmy had already scored three hat-tricks in the first three months of the season against Burnley and Leicester City in the League and against Exeter City in the League Cup. This gave him a goal tally for the season, to date, of 19.

However, against Sunderland he went one better and scored four with Mike England scoring the other goal.

Although Jimmy maintained his goalscoring record Sir Alf Ramsay didn't recall him to the England team.

Spurs in History - 15th November

15th November, 1994

Gerry Francis appointed as Manager.

Following the sacking of Ossie Ardiles, Alan Sugar used the break for the Internationals to search for a replacement. Steve Perryman had been put in temporary charge for the next game and as usual there was considerable press speculation as to who would be appointed.

Gerry Francis had resigned as manager of Queen’s Park Rangers on a point of principle when the Board tried to appoint Rodney Marsh as Chief Executive but failed to tell Francis.

Following discussions Spurs announced his appointment along with his own coaching staff meaning that Perryman would be leaving White Hart Lane. Francis was the third Spurs' manager in two years.

Spurs in History - 14th November

14th November, 1998

Arsenal 0 Spurs 0 (Premiership)

This was the occasion of George Graham’s first visit to Highbury with a Tottenham team.

After only four League games in charge, Graham went to Highbury with an uninspiring record, one win, one draw and two defeats in the League. Spurs started the game in the lower half of the League and Graham used his usual defensive techniques to organise the team and restrict Arsenal.

Goalkeeper Espen Baardsen was outstanding along with the three central defenders as Spurs earned a hard-fought draw.

As one report put it ‘Graham had managed to turn those players with a reputation for lacking spirit, fight and resolve under previous managers into a team knowing the meaning of hard work and respect for their boss.’

Spurs in History - 13th November

13th November, 1920

Oldham Athletic 2 Spurs 5 (1st Division)

In those days teams met home and away in successive weeks. Newly promoted from the Second Division Spurs were having a mixed season. They had lost home and away to Aston Villa and Burnley but had won home and away against Manchester United (1-0 & 4-1) and Chelsea (5-0 & 4-0).

Spurs had beaten Oldham 5-1 at White Hart Lane seven days earlier and a full strength side showing just one change completed an emphatic double over them. Jimmy Seed scored twice, just as he had done in the home game, centre forward Charlie Wilson also scored two and Bert Bliss scored once as he had done the previous week.

Spurs went on to finish sixth in the League but the team will be remembered for their Cup Final win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Newspaper Rumour

The Mail on Sunday reports that Chelsea and Barcelona are preparing to do battle for the signature of Spurs captain, Ledley King, in the summer with the starting price quoted as £25 million.

King has been the lynchpin of Spurs defence since the departure of Sol Campbell and he has matured into an excellent player and but for injury would surely have won more caps for England. He has developed an excellent understanding with Michael Dawson who is growing in stature with every game and both could feature in England's international match against Holland on Wednesday evening.
Spurs would not want to lose such an important player, especially to another Premiership team as happened with Michael Carrick and his transfer to Manchester United last summer. Such rumours increase the pressure on Martin Jol to ensure that the team finishes in a high enough League position to guarantee European football next year and preferrably Champions League games so as to encourage his star players to remain at White Hart Lane.

Other news suggests that Portsmouth are still interested in signing Jermain Defoe who has struggled to establish himself in the Spurs team and is having to rotate with Robbie Keane, although Keane seems to b eJol's preference for the 'big' games, having played against both Brugge and Chelsea last week. Defoe started aginst Port Vale in the Carling Cup and also against MK Dons, scoring three goals in the two games. It is thought that Keane wil return for today's Premiership game at Reading, a game that Spurs must win to maintain their progress up the League table towards a European place.

Spurs in History - 12th November

Manager Bill Nicholson's Spurs lost at Sheffield Wednesday but as a player he had happier memories of defeating Sheffield United 7-0.

12th November, 1960

Sheffield Wednesday 2 Spurs 1 (1st Division)

Hillsborough has never been a ‘happy hunting ground’ for Spurs. Their last win on the ground had been in 1937 and that had been their only success in twenty five League and Cup visits.

Wednesday were second to Spurs in the League and in a full-blooded game brought Spurs’ undefeated run to an end. Both teams had chances to score in the first half before Wednesday went ahead after forty minutes but Spurs levelled two minutes later when Maurice Norman scored after a free-kick.

Spurs threatened to take control in the early stages of the second half but Wednesday went ahead at the mid-way point and Spurs were unable to come back again in spite of some intense pressure in the closing moments, losing their unbeaten run in the seventeenth game.

So by mid-November, Spurs' record was:

P 17 Won 15 D 1 L 1 For 54 Ag 20 Pts 31 (2pts for a win)

Team:

Brown, Baker, Henry, Blanchflower, Norman, Mackay, Jones, White, Smith, Allen, Dyson.


12th November, 1949

Spurs 7 Sheffield United 0 (2nd Division)

Spurs, under Arthur Rowe in his first season as manager, were striving for promotion from the 2nd Division, and had only suffered one defeat in the season to date, having lost the second home game to Blackburn Rovers. They won 10 of the next twelve games and Sheffield United had no answer to Spurs' fast, flowing football and were comprehensively defeated.

Spurs scored through Sonny walters (3), Len Duquemin (2), Les Medley (2).

The attendance was 54,193.

Spurs record was:

P 16 W 14 D 2 L 1 For 41 Ag 10 Pts 30

Team:

Ditchburn, Ramsey, Withers, Nicholson, Clarke, Burgess (Captain), Walters, Bennett, Duquemen, Baily, Medley.

Spurs v Southend United (Carling Cup Q/F Draw)

Carling Cup Draw:

Having defeated Port Vale 3-1 after extra time in the 4th round of the Carling Cup, Spurs have been drawn at home to Southend United in the Quarter-final tie to be played in the week before Christmas.

This will be part of a very busy month for Spurs who will play, weather permitting, ten games between the 2nd December and 1st January, 2007.

Southend United who are currently bottom of the Coca-Cola Championship had a great win over Manchester United in the last round. A Freddie Eastwood goal was enough to give them a 1-0 win at Roots Hall. The Southend team includes Mark Gower who made two substitute appearances for Spurs before his £32,500 transfer to Barnet.

Spurs and Southend have met on one previous occasion in the League Cup. In 1989-90 Spurs won the home game in the two legged 2nd Round tie by a single goal scored by Terry Fenwick. However, in the 2nd leg Spurs lost 2-3, but qualified on the away goals rule. The important away goals were scored by Paul Allen and Nayim.

Having rested regular players for the previous two games in the Carling Cup, Martin Jol will need to be wary of Southend who showed their capabilities against the Premiership leaders, while Jol's squad players struggled to impose themselves against a hard-working Port Vale team. Spurs were grateful to Tom Huddlestone for his two goals to ease ther passage to this stage of the competition.

The other games are:

Liverpool v Arsenal

Newcastle v Chelsea

Charlton v Wycombe

Spurs in History - 11th November

John White (far left) and the 'Double' team

11th November, 1964

In Memory of John White

Spurs 2 Scotland XI 6 (John White Memorial Match)

This game gave Spurs’ fans the opportunity to pay their respects to a 'Legend of White Hart Lane', the late John White, the Scottish International who had so tragically died when struck by lightning while playing golf during the summer.

John’s brother, Tommy who played professionally both in Scotland and England appeared as a guest player for Spurs, scoring one of the goals with the other coming from Tony Marchi.

Over 29,000 spectators attended the game which had been postponed from the previous night because of fog. Two of the Scotland XI’s goals were scored by Alan Gilzean who was to sign for Spurs from Dundee a few weeks later.

John White had been a very important member of the ‘Double’ team and his death at the age of twenty seven was a tragic loss. The programme for the game contained many tributes to the player from respected managers, players and journalists.

Spurs in History - 10th November

10th November, 1998

Liverpool 1 Spurs 3 Worthington Cup (4th Round)

'Spurs are on their way to Wembley.'

Having defeated Brentford and Northampton Town in the previous rounds, Spurs were drawn away to Liverpool.

Going to Anfield is always a difficult game but the ground was only half full as Liverpool were in poor form and in some managerial disarray.

Spurs’ fans enjoyed the game, taunting Liverpool, as they watched their team under George Graham continue their Cup progress with a comfortable and deserved victory.

Spurs scored with goals from Steffan Iversen after two minutes, John Scales on twenty and Allan Nielsen in the second half. Spurs spurned other goal scoring chances and Liverpool’s goal was a late consolation following a mistake from goalkeeper, Espen Baardsen.

Spurs in History - 9th November

9th November, 1988

Blackburn Rovers 1 Spurs 2 (aet) Littlewoods Cup (3rd Round Replay)

Apart from defeating Notts County in the earlier round, Spurs previous victory had been in the League in late September. Six games without a win and four successive League defeats preceded this game.

The first game at White Hart Lane had been scoreless but in the replay Mitchell Thomas gave Spurs the lead but a late equaliser took the game into extra time where Paul Stewart scored a deserved winner, Spurs having shown resilience and determination to progress to the next round where they were drawn to meet Southampton at the Dell.

March Report - Spurs v Port Vale

8th November, 2006
Spurs 3 Port Vale 1 (aet) Carling Cup 4th Round

Spurs lost their perfect home record agaunst Port Vale over ninety minutes but proved too strong in extra time for the Coca Cola Division 1 side. Spurs had won all of their previous seven home League and Cup games against Port vale but had to come from a goal down and be satisfied with a 1-1 scoreline at full-time to take the game into an extra half-hour.

Martin Jol only selected Michael Dawson from the team which had played so well in the last two wins over Brugge and Chelsea - the others were either out through injury or rested. Cerny returned in goal and Ifil and Lee were the full backs with Dawson partnered by Dorian Dervite making his debut. The midfield was Davids who captained the side, Murphy, Huddlestone and Steed Malbranque who made his long awaited debut following his operation, having signed from Fulham in August. Defoe was partnered by Barcham as Mido was injured in training. Jol had experience in reserve with Lennon, Ghaly and Berbatov on the substitutes bench.

Spurs exerted most of the pressure throughout but in spite of winning a number of corners and creating half chances, they were unable to score through a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping by Mark Goodlad. Spurs were troubled little in defence but were unable to rais ethe game sufficiently to really worry Port Vale who worked very hard throughout.

Eventually, it had to happen. Port Vale scored, after 64 minutes when their leading scorer, Leon Constantine prodded the ball through Cerny's legs. Spurs were stunned and a packed White Hart Lane thought they were going to be looking at another giant-killing act to match Southend's victory over Manchester United.

Would the euphoria of the Chelsea win be swept away by Port Vale? Martin Jol was taking no chances - he immediately sent on Berbatov and Ghaly to join Lennon who had come on just before the goal. Spurs looked livelier but still couldn't score that vital goal. Time wore on and with only ten minutes left Tom Huddlestone put in a free kick which evaded everyone and ended up in the net. His first goal for Spurs was so important and gave Spurs the breathing space and confidence they needed.

Two minutes into extra time, Spurs went ahead. A Spurs' attack was cleared, Berbatov picked up the ball and rolled it out to Huddlestone who fired home from thirty yards. A late goal by Defoe from an Ifil cross secured Spurs path to the quarter finals, having overcome a very hard working Port Vale.

Spurs in History - 8th November

Darren Anderton gave Spurs an early lead

8th November, 2003

Arsenal 2 Spurs 1 (Premiership)

Very much a case of what might have been.

Spurs went into this game having lost at home to Bolton the previous week but were ahead after four minutes when Darren Anderton scored. Spurs had two opportunities to increase their lead in the first half when Helder Postiga was clean through on goal but he lost his composure and was unable to score. Postiga, restored to the team and starting only his fifth game of the season had a real chance to make a name for himself at Spurs but the opportunity was gone.

In the second half, Spurs were comfortable until Arsenal scored a debatable equaliser, looking offside, and with a deflected shot.

Spurs left Highbury deflated and frustrated at not getting anything from all their effort.

Match Preview - Spurs v Port Vale (Carling Cup)

W W D W W W

Spurs go in to the Carling Cup tie with a perfect home record against Port Vale, played 7 – won 7 (1 League and 1 FA Cup). The clubs haven’t met at White Hart Lane since the 4th Round Cup tie in January, 1955 but the last occasion they met saw 3rd Division Vale humiliate Spurs in 1988. Terry Venables’ team lost 1-2, thirty three years and one day after the previous meeting.

The two most notable players who have played for both clubs are Anthony Gardner who signed from Port Vale in 2000 and Eddie Baily who was transferred to Port Vale in January, 1956 after ten successful years at Spurs.

Following Spurs’ two exciting wins last week, Martin Jol will surely rest many of those players with important games coming up in the next fortnight. Injuries are also causing concern so some of the younger players may have an opportunity – Ifil, Dervite, Charlie Lee and Barcham are in the squad which also includes Steed Malbranque, now recovered from his operation and Lee Young-Pyo who is also fit. Spurs’ strength in depth will be tested with squad players like Davenport, Gardner and Stalteri injured but Mido and Defoe will probably start after their enforced rest and should have the opportunity to remind the manager of their goal scoring talents.

L D D* L W L (* Won on penalties)

Port Vale are currently 13th in Coca-Cola League 1.

On Saturday they lost 1-2 at Crewe to a twice taken injury time penalty. In three home ties, Port Vale have defeated Preston, Q.P.R and Norwich, on penalties, to reach this stage of the competition. Port Vale started the season brightly, winning their first four games but since then, apart from the Cup games, their form has slipped and they have won only three of thirteen games, two of them away from home.

Their leading scorer is Leon Constantine with 10 goals (9 league and 1 Cup) followed by Akpo Sodje on 5 (4 +1). Port Vale can call upon experienced midfielder, Danny Sonner and have Nigerian international defender George Abbey in their team. Vale striker Nathan Lowndes and midfielder Robin Hulbert are both doubtful but defender Mark McGregor could return. Michael Husbands and Luke Prosser are both in the squad.

It is important for Spurs to maintain the euphoria of Sunday’s win and with the right attitude and application will be in the draw for the next round and Spurs would be looking to add to their goal scoring record against Port Vale.

Home League record v Port Vale (2nd Division):

Nov. 1919 Won 2-0

Feb. 1929 Won 4-1

Nov. 1930 Won 5-0

Nov. 1931 Won 9-3 (1st time Spurs scored nine goals in a League game)

Nov. 1932 Won 4-0

Sept. 1935 Won 5-2

FA Cup:

Jan. 1955 Won 4-2

Spurs in History - 7th November

7th November, 1999

Spurs 2 Arsenal 1 (Premiership)

This is the last occasion when Spurs were victorious over Arsenal who ‘suffered a day of shame as they crashed against arch-rivals Tottenham.’

In an explosive game Spurs were two ahead inside twenty minutes. Steffan Iversen scored after six minutes with Tim Sherwood getting the second. Arsenal pulled one back just before half time but in the second they had Ljungberg and Keown sent off and a total of six players booked as the ‘red mist’ descended on them.

Spurs had played with passion in a game that was described as ‘brutal and unremittingly ferocious.’ It was a good win for Spurs who displayed a new level of commitment and determination.

Spurs in History - 6th November

6th November, 2002

Burnley 2 Spurs 1 Carling Cup (3rd Round)

The wheels were starting to come off the Glenn Hoddle management roller-coaster.

It was to take another ten months but serious questions were being asked about his managerial ability and the attitude and commitment of the players. Doubts were being raised in the minds of the fans who idolised Hoddle and wanted him to succeed at Tottenham.

On a wet winter’s night Spurs took the lead through Gus Poyet but once Burnley went ahead in the second half there was only going to be one winner.

An inept and very disappointing display as Spurs went out of the competition to a lower Division team without showing any fight or pride.

The clock was ticking for Glenn Hoddle as manager of Spurs.

Aaron Lennon's Goal v Chelsea