They Played for Tottenham and Villa

Danny Blanchfower, David Ginola and Alan Hutton have all played for Tottenham and Villa.  For the third successive match, Spurs play a team with former Tottenham players in their squad which always adds an extra something to the contest for both players and spectators.

Danny Blanchflower

One of the most important signings that Tottenham Hotspur have ever made came when the transfer of Danny Blanchflower from Aston Villa was completed in December, 1954.  When he retired through injury ten years later at the age of thirty eight, Spurs had experienced the most successful period in their history with a League and Cup 'Double', a second FA Cup success and become the first British team to achieve a European triumph.

Blanchflower grew up in Belfast and played for his local club, Glentoran.  He was transferred to Barnsley in 1949 and joined Villa two years later.  He was a great 'thinker' about football and wanted to play with style which often put him at odds with managers and coaches.  He complained that in training, players spent too much time on running and were denied the oportunity to practise with a football.

Tottenham manager, Arthur Rowe, signed Blanchflower, a Northern Ireland international, for £30,000 to replace Bill Nicholson who was nearing retirement.  He made his debut at Manchester City in a scoreless draw, taking Nicholson's place, and was ever present for the remainder of the season.  For the next number of seasons Tottenham's performances fluctuated and at times Blanchflower's graceful style of play didn't fit in with the endeavour that was required for a struggle near the foot of the table.

Blanchflower was appointed Captain and liked to take on-field decisions when he thought it necessary but that brought him into conflict with the manager on occasions.  Season 1955-56 was disappointing for Spurs in the League but they progressed to the FA Cup semi-finals.  In the 6th Round against West Ham at White Hart Lane on a very heavy pitch Spurs came from 2-3 down to earn a draw after as captain, Blanchflower, moved centre-half, Maurice Norman, forward to assist the attack.  The change worked as Spurs earned a draw and went on to win the replay 2-1.

They lost the semi-final to Manchester City but a goal down in the final minutes as Spurs battled for an equaliser, Blanchflower again moved Norman, forward into the attack as he had done successfully in the previous round.  It didn't work this time although Spurs nearly managed to equalise but the repercussions of the defeat went further than expected.  Manager, Jimmy Anderson was unimpressed with Blanchflower’s decision to make changes to the team during the game and in the ensuing row Blanchflower resigned as captain and did not take on the role for another two seasons.

Blanchflower won the Player of the Year award in 1957-58 season and captained Northern Ireland to a successful World Cup campaign in Sweden.

When Bill Nicholson was appointed manager, Blanchflower developed a better understanding with him which worked for the benefit of them and the team.  In the pre-season of 1960, Blanchflower boldly predicted that Spurs would win the 'Double'.  They did with a brand of exciting, flowing football that packed stadiums around the country.  The next year they reached the European Cup semi-finals, unlucky to lose to Benefica.  A second FA Cup triumph was achieved and they finished third in the League.  If they had won one of their two games against Champions, Ipswich Town, Spurs would have achieved a second 'double'.  The next year as injury started to take its toll on Blanchflower, he missed nearly half of the season but returned to inspire the team to the European Cup Winners' Cup success.  The following season he retired.

Blanchflower went into journalism and later briefly returned to football management.  On his resignation as Tottenham manger, Bill Nicholson recommended that Blanchflower, working with Johnny Giles, be appointed as his replacement.  The Board of Directors decided against such an appointment.

Blanchflower was one of Tottenham's most influential players and is a 'Legend' so important to the success that Spurs achieved at home and in Europe in the early 1960s.  He made 382 League and Cup appearances in his ten years with Tottenham.

Twenty five years after the Blanchflower transfer, the next transaction between the two clubs saw Gordon Smith arrive at White Hart Lane in February,1979.  A full back, he spent four years with Spurs as they tried to re-establish themselves in the 1st Division.  Injury problems delayed his debut and restricted his appearances so that he only made 45 League and Cup appearances before moving on to Wolverhampton Wanderers.  Not all transfers are a success.

David Ginola who was such a favourite at Tottenham during his three years at the club was transferred to Villa in 2000.  While at White Hart Lane he was a member of the Worthington Cup winning team of 1999 and brought excitement and skill to the team at what was a rather dull period in Tottenham's history.  He was signed by Gerry Francis from Newcastle United, played for Christian Gross and sold by George Graham.  On Graham's arrival it had been widely predicted that Ginola would be one of the first players to leave but he showed great application during this time and worked well for the team scoring a number of outstanding goals.  On returning to White Hart Lane the following season, to play in a rather dull scoreless draw for Villa, home spectators provided their own entertainment by cheering every time Ginola touched the ball.

Spurs Connections in Villa's Current Squad
Aston Villa's current squad contains three players with Tottenham connections in their past record.  Jermaine Jenas who is unavailable for this match as he is on a year long loan agreement with Villa joined Spurs from Newcastle in 2005.  He played in the Carling Cup win of 2008 and in the following season's losing Final team but has been a peripheral player at the club for the past two seasons.  A player of skill and endeavour, he too often failed to influence a game as much as his ability suggested he should and recurring injury problems restricted his appearances for Spurs as it has done at Villa.

Alan Hutton also joined Villa in August.  His transfer was completed as Kyle Walker who had finished last season on loan at Villa returned to White Hart Lane to claim the first team place and as former Tottenham player, Luke Young left Villa Park to sign for Queen's Park Rangers.  Hutton joined Spurs from Rangers in 2008 and a few weeks later was part of the Carling Cup success.  He fell out of favour following Harry Redknapp's appointment and went on loan to Sunderland.  It had been anticipated that he would leave sooner but he returned to the team in the first half of last season but out out again to Vedran Corluka.  A deal for £3 million was agreed with Villa in the summer and he expressed his disaffection for Spurs and the manager in articles in the press following his departure. 

Darren Bent was not happy at Tottenham following Harry Redknapp's quote after the striker missed an obvious goal scoring opportunity against Portsmouth.  He had joined Spurs from Charlton  Athletic in 2007 when Martin Jol was manager.  He never found his true goal scoring form with the club as he competed with Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Jermaine Defoe for a place in the team.  He was an unused substitute for the 2008 Carling Cup Final but played in the following year's losing team.  He finished leading goalscorer for Spurs in 2009 with 17 goals in all competitions.  He joined Sunderland in the summer of 2009 for £10 million after he had attracted attention with his infamous quotes on Twitter about which clubs he did and didn't want to sign for.

Since moving away from Tottenham Bent has shown much greater endeavour when playing against Spurs than he ever appeared to do when wearing the white shirt of Tottenham.  In his first game for Sunderland at White Hart Lane he lost his personal battle with Heurelho Gomes who saved his penalty awarded for what to many appeared to be a dive. as Spurs won 2 - 0.  However, in the return match he was fired up and scored two goals in the opening half hour, including a penalty.  In his continuing penalty shoot-out contest with Gomes, he lost out as Gomes saved two of the three penalties awarded as Spurs lost 1 - 3.  He joined Villa in January, 2011 for £18 million and has continued to add to his England appearances.

And there were Others
Other players who have worn both the claret and blue of Villa and the white of Spurs include:
Steve Hodge, Andy Gray, Colin Calderwood and Oyvind Leonhardsen. 

Older Players
Older players included Jimmy Cantrell who spent the early part of his career with Villa.  He joined Spurs in 1912 and was still an influential centre forward as Spurs won the 2nd Division in 1920 and the FA Cup the following season.  He was a few weeks short of his 39th birthday when he played in the 1921 FA Cup Final win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.  He retired in 1925 and played his last game for Spurs in April, 1923 - the oldest player to play for the club.

Cyril Spiers joined Tottenham from Villa in 1927 after a serious injury had led the Midlands club to believe that he would never be fit enough to play again.  However, he underwent surgery and after a successful trial joined Spurs.  He was their regular goalkeeper for over four seasons and was released in 1933 having made 169 League and Cup appearances.

Billy Cook and Ronnie Dix also served both clubs.

Scott Parker - Born to Play for Tottenham

Parker Joins Tottenham for £5 million

Throughout every transfer period players are linked with Tottenham Hotspur.  There are a number of players who are constantly connected with the club and are expected to sign for Spurs 'any day now'.  In most cases none of these players join the club but on this occasion one of them has finally been transferred to Spurs.  That player is Scott Parker - it has taken a long time for him to get to White Hart Lane but he has finally made it.

Scott Parker

Scott Parker has become a Tottenham Hotspur player at last.  On Tuesday, 31st August, 2011 after months of speculation and newspaper stories that he would be leaving West Ham United following their relegation and that he was more than likely going to sign for Spurs, it was confirmed by the club at 14.10, less than nine hours before the end of the summer transfer period, that a deal had been concluded.

This is not the first occasion that rumours were rife about Parker coming to White Hart Lane.  It has happened every time that he has moved club.  In January, 2004, after speculation over some years that he would leave Charlton Athletic, he signed for Chelsea.  Eighteen months later, having had little playing time at Stamford Bridge, he moved to Newcastle United.  After two years on Tyneside, he returned to London but not to Tottenham, instead, he signed for West Ham United.  On each occasion that he was transferred during that three and a half year period, the Tottenham manager at the time, Martin Jol, was very keen to get the signature of Scott Parker but to no avail.

Tottenham Hotspur have history for this - trying to sign the same player, transfer window after window.  In the past it has not always been successful.  In the mid-1990s, Gerry Francis pursued the transfer of Ramon Vega who clearly stated he didn't want to come to Tottenham.  However, in January, 1997, less than eight months later he was signed from Cagliari for £3.75million.  Vega wasn't the greatest player to pull on the white shirt of Tottenham although he did appear in the 1999 Worthington Cup Final.

Stewart Downing is another player who has often been linked with Spurs but has never signed.  While at Middlesbrough, there was such speculation of a transfer that when he played at White Hart Lane in an early season fixture, it was widely regarded by fans and media that that game would be his last for Boro before he signed for Tottenham during the final days of the August transfer period.  It didn't happen but the speculation was accurate enough because in an interview in the Sunday Times ahead of the match against Liverpool, he confirmed that there had been discussions that August, the following January and again the next summer, although by that time he was injured and Tottenham were reluctant to conclude a deal under such circumstances so he joined Aston Villa.

During recent transfer periods the names of many strikers have been in Tottenham's sights with reported offers having been made and rejected - the same names over and over again - Diego Forlan, Klass-Jan Huntelaar, Giuseppe Rossi - but none of them have signed.  At least this summer's deal for Scott Parker was completed  and on the evidence of his first two games for the club, he seems to be exactly what the team needs in midfield. 

Parker - the Midfield General

Scott Parker is very much the type of player Harry Redknapp likes to sign - a player he knows, someone with experience, a reliable player who will fit into the team, a player of character, a leader on the field and one who is combative but skilful as well.  Parker fits all of those categories and on the evidence of his first two matches for Spurs he looks as if he has been playing in the team for a lifetime.  He has linked very well with Luka Modric and has brought composure to central midfield where previous occupants have on occasions tended towards the 'headless chicken' approach - here, there and everywhere but not very effective or productive.  Didier Zakora brought a great deal of energy to midfield but much of it was wasted and while Wilson Palacios was combative, too often he gave away free-kicks or lost the ball with a poor pass.  Others, like Jermaine Jenas could on occasions go missing and the game passed him by and while Tom Huddlestone's great strength is his array of passing but his lack of pace and mobility were a handicap.

Parker appears to read the game well and can intercept passes before they reach their destination, he is combative without being over committed in the tackle which can lead to unnecessary tackles in dangerous positions and conceding unwanted free-kicks.  Parker's passing is controlled and while not the fastest player he is quite mobile around the pitch and links up well with the players around him.  Modric and he have have developed a good understanding of their combined role in the team and worked well together, giving Modric the freedom to go forward and be more creative in hi slink up play.

John White

Watching Parker in his first two games, his style of running reminds me of seeing football played in the mid-1960s and someone else suggested that he reminded them of the late, great John White who graced the 'Double' winning team before his tragic loss in 1964.  If Parker were to contribute half of what White brought to Tottenham, he would indeed be a great signing.  It is still early days in Parker's Spurs' career and only time will tell.

Captain Material?

Danny Blanchflower

It is many years since Tottenham have been captained by a player in midfield.  Many of the best Spurs teams have had midfield players as their captain - Ron Burgess, Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay, Alan Mullery, Martin Peters and Steve Perryman in his early days.  The more recent captains have been defenders or strikers and the great Bill Nicholson always thought that it was best to have a side with a captain in midfield where they were in contact with all the players and could lead by example.

Gary Mabbutt and Ledley king have been two captains who have led by example and set very high standards for themselves but King, in particular, is a quiet, undemonstrative player who is an excellent example of total commitment for the team in defence but he is isolated from the rest of the team by nature of his position.  In a similar way, strikers tend to be greedy looking for the scoring chance for themselves and have quite enough to focus and can't be so involved when the team is under pressure.

In midfield, Parker would look to be an ideal candidate to replace King if he is absent through injury.  he has fulfilled that role previously to good effect, leading by example in a weak West Ham team who were struggling in their battle against relegation.  He has the experience to take on such a role and command the respect of the players around him.  Although in a struggling side last year he maintained his own standards to win the Football Writers' Player of the Year award - a rarity as the winner of such awards usually comes from one of the more successful teams.

Scott Parker has settled in the Spurs team with ease and as someone suggested, if only he had come sooner he might have become a Spurs' legend. 

Tottenham Hotspur Pre-Season Matches - 1960s Style

Spurs completed their pre-season preparation with a 2-1 win over Atletico Bilbao at White Hart Lane thanks to two goals early in the second half from Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe.  This season has seen the club visit South Africa where they won the Vodacom Challenge, playing three games against Orlando Pirates and Kaiser Chiefs.  They also defeated Brighton and Hove Albion in a friendly which marked the opening of the south coast club's new stadium.  These matches were used to provide match practice for the senior squad while a number of Spurs XI games were played to improve the fitness of the younger members of the playing squad.

This has been a much less active series of games compared with recent seasons which have seen the club visit the Far East, USA, Europe and the UK.  In the summer of 2004, new coach saw Spurs play a massive 12 games in the weeks leading up to the season which was not ideal preparation for a new season.  Last year, Harry Redknapp found the amount of travelling involved in the trip to the United States to be a hindrance to his preparations.

However, looking back over the years it can be seen that clubs preferred to prepare over a shorter period and much closer to home in their build up to a new season and the number of games they played prior to the start of the season was greatly restricted compared to modern day trends.

In the 1950s and 60s the only opportunity Spurs supporters had to see the team playing before the first game of the season was in the annual 'Public Trial' game - 'Whites' v 'Blues' played between the 1st team and the Reserves at White Hart Lane on the Saturday prior to the start of the season.  On occasions these games could be quite feisty affairs and frequently raised more questions than answers for the manager as the reserve players endeavoured to make a point about their non-selection.

In fact, on the Saturday before the start of the 1960 - 61 season after three weeks training Bill Nicholson watched as the reserves drew 4-4 with the soon to become famous 'Double' team.  In that game, watched by 11,677 spectators, the full strength team of Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay et al took a 4-1 lead mid-way through the second half but such was the determination of experienced players like Tony Marchi, Tommy Harmer and Terry Medwin and a young prospect called Frank Saul that they scored three quick goals to draw the game.  Cliff Jones had given the 'Whites' the lead from a hotly disputed penalty and Mackay doubled the lead before half-time.  Terry Dyson added the third before Medwin pulled one back for the 'Blues'.  Les Allen increased the lead but then Saul and Jimmy Collins (2) levelled the score.  Saul obviously impressed the manager as he made his League debut a few weeks later as replacement for the injured Bobby Smith in the derby match at Highbury when he scored as Spurs won 3-2 to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

This had been the customary preparation throughout the 1950s and it was only in the mid-1960s that changes occurred in the preparations teams made.  In the two seasons following the 'Double' success Spurs had the privilege of playing in the Charity Shield game, the official curtain raiser for the new season.  In 1961 they defeated and FA XI and the following year they took revenge on Champions Ipswich Town by winning 5-1 at Portman Road.

To this point there had been no pre-season friendly games played at home or abroad.  It was more customary for clubs to undertake extensive overseas tours at the end of the season and in the 1950s Spurs had twice visited North America on lengthy tours while at the end of season 1959 they visited USSR.  The first pre-season friendly that is recorded is in August, 1964 when Spurs went to Holland and lost 2-3 to Feyenoord - their only pre-season game.

August 1965 saw the introduction of a short tour to take part in a two day tournament in Spain.  Spurs won the Costa del Sol trophy after defeating Valencia 2 - 1 and then Standard Liege 1 - 0 in the Final.
The following year they returned to defend their trophy and retained it with victories over Malaga and Benefica, both 2 - 1.

In 1967 Spurs had the Charity Shield game at Old Trafford but a week earlier they went to Hampden Park to take on European Champions, Celtic and drew 3 - 3.  Strangely, the game against Manchester United ended with a similar scoreline but even more strangely, Pat Jennings was one of the Tottenham scorers that day.  Pre-season matches were now becoming more high profile and so it was to continue in the coming years.

For the next four years, a game against Glasgow Rangers became a regular feature of the pre-season fixture list and while rarely does anything memorable occur in such matches, the 1968 game against Rangers at White Hart Lane saw the debut of a young centre-half signed for £5,500 from non-league Chelmsford City.  Peter Collins scored twice in that game and although his career was ended prematurely through injury he will be remembered for the part he played in the successful 1971 League Cup campaign when he replaced the injured Mike England.  In 1968 Spurs also played in Austria while the following year saw Spurs renew acquaintances with Hearts, their Europa League opponents in ten days time.  In the mid-1950s the two clubs had participated in a short-lived Anglo-Scottish floodlight competition which lasted for a number of seasons.

The 1970 pre-season saw Tottenham also return to Spain to play in the Palma de Mallorca Tournament but there was no repeat of their previous success in Spain as they lost both games by a single goal to Cologne and Atletico Madrid.

In the years that followed the number of matches played remained at three or four.  It was in the mid to late 70s that saw additional games played with an increasing number overseas.  The tendency then became to take the players away to a foreign training camp where a number of games were played against local sides before returning to participate in more high profile games in the final weeks of preparation.

Every club does it differently and every manager has his own ideas on the best way to prepare but nowadays a club like Tottenham will include a tour to a destination where they can try to heighten their profile and create a new generation of supporters who will improve the financial standing of the club through increased sales of club merchandise.

At the end of the day pre-season results are meaningless, it's the result on the opening day of the season that really counts and how the team progresses from that point.  On occasions Spurs have gone through pre-season games with an unbeaten record with players scoring for fun but when the real games started their form has been poor but at other times the reverse has occurred - a poor pre-season run is followed by an exciting start to the new season.

In Search of Alan Gilzean (a book by James Morgan)

Alan Gilzean signed for Spurs in mid-December, 1964 and made his debut in a home game against Everton. He scored his first goal for the club a week later on Boxing Day as Spurs achieved their first and only away win of the season at Nottingham Forest. Two days later he scored his first League goal at White Hart Lane when Spurs defeated Forest 4-0 in the return match. This was the game which saw me become a Spurs supporter and so following the team closely through the rest of the 1960s and early 70s, I am familiar with Gilzean’s successful career at White Hart Lane.

However, what of Gilzean before and after his Tottenham days? I knew that Gillie had signed from Dundee for a fee of £72,500 and that he had already played for Scotland before coming to Tottenham and that after retiring in 1974 he had played in South Africa before returning to manage a transport business and that his son, Ian, had been a young player at Tottenham. Beyond those few basic points very little was known of Alan Gilzean who while at the club was ‘The King of White Hart Lane’.

In the summer of 2005, into this vacuum came some internet rumours of Gilzean being down and out and living somewhere in the west of England but no-one knew for certain whether this was true or not but with the immediacy of the internet, rumours very quickly become fact. There was much disappointment and sadness among Spurs’ fans that one of their ‘legends’ who had brought such enjoyment and success to the club, could be living in hardship.

It was at this point that James Morgan, a sports journalist with the The Herald newspaper in Glasgow, set about trying to establish the truth of the matter. Morgan is a Spurs’ supporter and Alan Gilzean was his late father’s favourite player and he had frequently heard of Gilzean’s talent and contribution to Spurs’ success. His early research into Alan Gilzean yielded little, even Hunter Davies ‘The Glory Game’ shed little light on the subject, leading the author to feel that Gillie had become the forgotten man of both Scotland and Tottenham.

Morgan’s research has been extensive and he used his numerous contacts as a journalist to speak to former friends, colleagues and acquaintances of Gilzean in his endeavours to discover the truth. Everyone whom he spoke to regarded Gillie highly – in awe at his talent as a player and of his generosity as a person. His former colleagues recounted many stories of his playing days both north and south of the border and they regretted having lost touch with him and asked the author to pass on their best wishes to Alan if he managed to track him down.

Today, many sporting biographies detail the sensational lifestyle of a celebrity sportsman to shock the public and grab a striking headline for the newspaper serialisation. James Morgan has written this book about Alan Gilzean as a fitting tribute to the private man who displayed an exceptional talent as a player for Dundee, Tottenham Hotspur and Scotland.

‘In Search of Alan Gilzean’ covers his life from his youngest days in Coupar Angus in Scotland where he grew up and played football for the local team. It discovers the difficulties of combining National Service in the army with a developing football career. It details his successful career with Dundee when Gilzean was a vital member of the team that won the Scottish Championship in 1961- 62 and then was their star player as Dundee took European football by storm to reach the semi-final of the European Cup, only to lose in controversial circumstances, something all Spurs’ fans can relate to with their club’s experience against Benfica a year earlier.

Gilzean progressed to the Scotland team but suffered first with the selectors’ preference for players from the two Glasgow clubs while he was with Dundee and then their opposition to Anglo-Scots during his years at Tottenham. In total he made 22 appearances for his country and scored 12 goals but with a professional career spanning fifteen years in top flight football in Scotland and England, he surely deserved many more.

Gilzean arrived at Spurs following a protracted transfer saga as Bill Nicholson considered his suitability as the player to replace Bobby Smith. It was perhaps the two goals that Gillie scored for a Scotland XI at White Hart Lane in John White’s Memorial game that finally persuaded the manager to go ahead with the transfer. Gilzean immediately hit it off with his strike partner, Jimmy Greaves, who described him as ‘the greatest player I played with’.

Alan Gilzean was an adaptable player with an outstanding ability to head the ball both to score and to create chances for his team. He was a goal-scoring inside forward with Dundee but he played as centre forward for Spurs to support Greaves and when Martin Chivers arrived in 1967 he again adapted his style to play alongside the strong running centre forward. The arrival of Ralph Coates at Tottenham in 1971 suggested Gillie might be on his way out but he continued to be a part of the Tottenham team which won the UEFA Cup and a second League Cup to add to his earlier FA Cup success.

Gilzean seemed to improve with age and he grew in popularity among the fans as his partnership with Chivers and Martin Peters developed to such an extent that he was an important part of Spurs' creativity as his delicate headers created many goals for himself and his two colleagues.

His eventual departure from White Hart Lane in 1974 meant that Gilzean slipped off the football radar. Not for him, the corporate, hospitality work that many retired players have now become involved with. He moved out of football circles to retain his privacy and so became largely forgotten by all but a few ardent fans. Morgan discovered that many in Coupar Angus, his home town, had never heard of Alan Gilzean and the local council had done nothing to mark his contribution to Scottish football. The ‘forgotten man’ of Scottish football has only recently been inducted into both the Dundee and the Scottish Football Association’s Halls of Fame due to pressure from James Morgan who put Gilzean’s name forward as a worthy recipient for the award.

Many books have been written about Spurs since the 1950s and this book is a worthy addition to that collection and a fitting tribute to a Spurs great. Many players who have contributed much less to the Spurs' cause have had books written about them so it's good to have Gilzean's contribution marked in this way.

The author did a great job weaving the past detail of Gilzean's career with his search for the great man and his struggle to keep his emotions as a Spurs’ supporter in control was clearly evident as he met some of his past heroes for the first time so that his journalistic endeavours would be rewarded.

Many rumours and stories existed about Gilzean’s career and his life after football and Morgan has endeavoured to find answers for them and as one reads the book there is the constant temptation to turn to the final chapters to discover if the search was successful.

Why did Alan Gilzean so dislike Bob Wilson, the Arsenal goalkeeper? The comparisons with Dimitar Berbatov are considered. Did Morgan meet up with Gillie? Those are some of the issues and questions you will have to read the book to find out about.

While Alan Gilzean has spent the last thirty six years avoiding the spotlight in order to maintain his privacy, perhaps this excellent book by James Morgan will demonstrate to him how highly he is regarded by those colleagues whom he played with and by those supporters who sang his name every week from the terraces and that if he were to return to White Hart Lane he would receive a rapturous reception.

A place awaits Alan Gilzean in the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame – a true legend of White Hart Lane.

Tottenham Hotspur Champions League Qualifier

Tottenham Learn Lessons from the ‘Double’ Team

Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham Hotspur team 2010 did their utmost to emulate Bill Nicholson’s great ‘Double’ winning team in their first foray into European football’s top club competition for forty nine years. Unfortunately, it was not one of that team’s outstanding performances that they tried to copy but rather one of their poorer and most surprising defeats.

In season 1961-62 as reward for winning the 1st Division title for the second time in their history, Spurs took part in the European Cup, the fore-runner of today’s Champions League, which had been in existence for only six years and had been the preserve of Real Madrid who had won the first five competitions.

13th September, 1961
European Cup (1st Round 1st Leg)
Tottenham were drawn against Polish champions, Gornik Zabreze with the first leg away from home. In front of a hostile 90,000 crowd Nicholson played his full strength ‘Double’ winning team and to their horror they were three goals behind at half-time. In the opening seconds the home side hit the bar and then were gifted the lead after eight minutes following a defensive error leading to an own goal. Gornik attacked at will and Spurs made numerous errors and went further behind on twenty minutes. Mistakes continued and a third goal came just before half-time. Two minutes after the interval, having failed to learn from the earlier mistakes, Gornik were presented with their fourth goal. The hostility of the crowd increased with Tottenham’s robust tackling which saw their team reduced to ten men as one of their players wentoff injured.

Twenty minutes from time the Tottenham revival started with the battling Dave Mackay making a run and cross that enabled Cliff Jones to head a goal to reduce the arrears. Four minutes later Mackay created a second with a cross that Bobby Smith knocked down for Terry Dyson to score. With no substitutes in those days Gornik Zabreze were reduced to nine men when their young centre forward went off injured twelve minutes from time.

As Spurs left the pitch to booing and whistles, the Zabreze coach said that they had played many foreign teams but this Tottenham side was the hardest he had ever known. However, Bill Nicholson was confident Spurs would overhaul the Zabreze miners in the second leg at White Hart Lane. Desmond Hackett in his match report for the Daily Express wrote: ‘This was Super Spurs reduced from champs to chumps in ninety uneasy minutes.’

Team: Brown; Baker, Henry: Blanchflower (Capt), Norman, Mackay; Jones, White, Smith, Allen, Dyson.

17th August, 2010
Champions League (4th Qualifying Round 1st Leg)
After waiting so long this was Spurs’ opportunity to make a positive start towards the new world of the Champions League group stages. But what a start – inside four minutes Tottenham had seen Young Boys of Berne hit the post with Heurelho Gomes beaten, had Benoit Assou-Ekotto booked for tripping and conceded a goal which encouraged the Swiss team and their vociferous supporters to even greater efforts. Unable to settle on the artificial surface the Spurs players were tentative in their passing, unsure of their movement and looking in some disarray. This increased after thirteen minutes when a defensive error from Michael Dawson allowed the Berne striker through on goal to finish coolly past Gomes. After half-an-hour Spurs were three down when the defence was caught out by a through ball and Gomes had no chance. This was not in the script as perceived by the Spurs faithful many of whom had anticipated a safe passage past the ‘no-hopers’ from Switzerland. However, it was very much in line with the copycat performance of events in Poland forty nine years earlier.

Harry Redknapp introduced Tom Huddlestone before the interval and this brought an element of control to the Spurs play and for the first time in the game they weren’t chasing around hopelessly but started to exert some pressure in the match which resulted in a number of corners ahead of the break and from one of them Sebastien Bassong atoned for this defensive short-comings by heading the first Spurs goal.

The second half showed Spurs with more control but despite early possession they were unable to add to their goal tally. The Swiss continued to be dangerous on the break and could have increased their lead but this time, fortunately for Tottenham, they were not as clinical in their finishing. Then with seven minutes remaining Roman Pavlyuchenko who had experience of playing on a similar artificial surface with his former club but had had a very poor evening in Berne, received a pass from Robbie Keane and hammered an unstoppable shot inside the goalkeeper’s near post. Now, only a goal down Spurs settled for what Harry Redknapp described as a ‘great defeat’.

Team: Gomes; Corluka, Dawson (Capt), Bassong, Assou-Ekotto (Huddlestone); Dos Santos, Palacios, Modric (Kranjcar), Bale: Defoe (Keane), Pavlyuchenko.

Lessons Learned
In 1961 against Zabreze Bill Nicholson was unable to make any immediate change in personnel as no substitutes were permitted but he realised that for the away European Cup games he couldn’t afford to play the same style of football that had brought the ‘Double’ team such success in domestic competitions. In future away ties he introduced Tony Marchi as an extra defensive security. He had played football in Italy and his experience played a vital role in Spurs future progress.

Harry Redknapp was fortunate that with a bench of experienced players he had the opportunity to try to correct the failings identified early in the game against Young Boys. Huddlestone contributed greatly to the control that Spurs took of the game after his introduction and the other changes saw the manager work with a narrower midfield rather that the more extravagant wide players of Giovani Dos Santos and Gareth Bale. With Luka Modric and then Nico Kranjcar on the left of midfield they came inside much more and allowed Bale to attack from defence.

The Outcome
In 1961 the return leg introduced the football world to one to the first of those great ‘Gory, Glory European Nights’ at White Hart Lane. In an electric atmosphere, Spurs hit the bar inside thirty seconds and took the lead on nine minutes with a Danny Blanchflower penalty. Cliff Jones terrorised the Gornik defence and scored a first half hat-trick in seventeen minutes but the visitors also managed to grab a goal to keep their hopes alive. Before half-time Bobby Smith scored and Spurs were 7-5 ahead on aggregate. In the second half Smith added his second, Terry Dyson scored number seven and John White completed the scoring with a minute remaining to make the score 8-1 for Tottenham.

Having followed the 1961 script so closely for the away match, it is to be hoped that Tottenham 2010 will get their lines right in a similar fashion next week to ensure the club make it into the lucrative group stages of the UEFA Champions League and that the fans don’t have to wait another forty nine years to experience competition at the highest level in European football.

Spurs' Goals for the New Season

Another summer anticipating new signings at White Hart Lane draws to a close with nothing to show, as yet, but expectations for the new season remain high. It will be difficult to maintain the level of consistency shown throughout the greater part of last year when European games are added to the fixture list but that’s what Tottenham have been striving for over the past number of years. It’s fitting that Tottenham embark on their first season in the Champions League in the year that marks the fiftieth anniversary of Spurs’ greatest ever year and team – the 1960-61 ‘Double’ side. The team that earned Spurs a place in the European Cup and did so much to emblazon the name of Tottenham Hotspur across Europe and worldwide.


As the legendary Bill Nicholson said, “It's magnificent to be in Europe and this club - a club like Tottenham Hotspur - if we're not in Europe, we're nothing.”

Once again Spurs have that chance in Europe’s top competition and the opening matches of the season will go a long way to define the success or failure of the season that lies ahead. Failure and we could repeat the Everton scenario of their Champions League year, while success opens up bold, new horizons. There are the crucial qualifying games against Young Boys Berne to reach the group stages of the Champions League and three vital Premier League games before the end of August. Last year Spurs took nine points from the corresponding fixtures and to maintain a position in the top four that level of consistency is going to be vital. To fail in these games could really dampen the spirit of optimism surrounding the club and spectators as the season opens.

To date, transfer activity for Spurs has been limited to rumours of possible targets and probable departures. Presumably, the Chairman will be activating his usual ‘last-minute.com’ policy once he is aware of Spurs European status in the last week of August – Champions League or Europa League.

Spurs immediate goal for the season must be to reach the group stages of the Champions League with a long term objective of building on last season’s progress by maintaining their top four position. However, that will not be an easy task with Manchester City signing players for fun and lavishing excessive salaries upon them while Liverpool are determined to revitalise their flagging fortunes under Roy Hodgson and are fortunate to have retained their star players. If Spurs are unable to achieve these short and long-term targets Daniel Levy may regret his unwillingness to speculate in order to strengthen the team this summer.

There is much to look forward to this season and there is a great buzz of expectation around the club at this moment in time. Spurs are in their strongest position for many years and it is to be hoped that they will progress to an even higher level and by next May will have some silverware to show for all their efforts.

50 Years Ago today - Saturday, 13th August,1960

Spurs 'Double' winning team - 1960

It was 50 years ago today that Spurs supporters had the first glimpse of the greatest team in the club's history which was about to embark on a season that would never be forgotten and would set the standards for every other Tottenham Hotspur team, standards which, to date, none have ever reached.

 

On the second Saturday of August the Public Trial Match was played at White Hart Lane.  In those days there were no pre-season tours or friendly matches played, the final preparation was the annual match between the 'Whites' (1st Team) and the 'Blues' (Reserves) and the public had their first opportunity to see the team ahead of the new season.  There were no new players on view and the first team only showed one change from the team which had finished the previous year - Les Allen replacing Tony Marchi. The matches were always very competitive as players tried to catch the manager's eye with an impressive performance that would ensure their place in the team for the first League game to be played the following Saturday at 3.00pm.

 

Reporting on the game in the match programme for the Everton game it was noted that the players had completed three weeks training at Cheshunt and 11,677 spectators were present to see a 4-4 draw with all the proceeds donated to charity. 

 

The match was evenly contested but midway through the second half the 'Whites' had taken a 4-1 lead and looked to be on their way to a comfortable win.  The 'Whites' went ahead from a Cliff Jones penalty half way through the first half and this was followed a few minutes later by a goal from Dave Mackay who having 'joined in a left-wing attack and from almost the bye-line lashed a fierce drive just inside the near post' - one of the highlights of the afternoon.

 

Early in the second half Terry Dyson scored the third after a shot from Les Allen hit the bar.  Immediately, the 'Blues' pulled a goal back when Terry Medwin scored from Frank Saul's cross with a flying header.  Immediately, Les Allen restored the three goal margin.

 

The 'Blues' staged a late comeback as Jimmy Collins and Frank Saul scored to reduce the arrears and then Collins added his second in the final minutes following a defensive mix-up.

 

Bill Nicholson obviously knew his best team as the 'Whites' team was composed of all the players who are most closely associated with the 'Double' team and who were to appear in the final 'Double' clinching match at Wembley the following May.

 

'Whites': Brown; Baker, Henry; Blanchflower, Norman, Mackay; Jones, White, Smith (R), Allen, Dyson.

 

'Blues': Hollowbread, Hills, Hopkins; Smith (J), Ryden, Marchi; Medwin, Harmer, Saul, Collins, Aitchison.

Spurs' Summer Expectations Shattered Once Again.

Ardiles - World Cup Winner

The early summer expectations of a World Cup that would throw up a host of foreign players who would enhance the Premier League were quickly dashed as the realisation dawned very early in the competition that South Africa 2010 was a rather poor and disappointing vintage to offer to the world.  Tottenham Hotspur have benefitted in the past from World Cup signings - they set high standards when Keith Burkinshaw returned to Argentina to sign World Cup winners, Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa.  In 1984 Alan Sugar pulled a rabbit out of the hat with the unexpected signing of Germany's Jurgen Klinsmann but on other occasions the stars of the World Cup have disappointed when faced with the rigours of English football.  This year there were few who did themselves much good in the shop window of the World Cup.

Every summer Spurs fans hope for an early resolution to all transfer negotiations as the manager, with the Chairman's assistance, endeavours to strengthen the Tottenham team for the following season.  The reasoning being that on the resumption of training all the new players will be in place and the work of preparing for the new season can commence in earnest.  However, sadly, once again, this has proved to be a forlorn and false hope as, to date, no new signings have appeared at White Hart Lane.  The only signing of note has been the acquisition of the young Brazilian midfield player, Sandro, but he remains in his homeland and is not expected to be available until September. 

The rumour mill has once again been in full swing with Spurs centre field for every conceivable target but no-one has signed on the dotted line and held up the lilywhite shirt at White Hart Lane.

For many years as Spurs have chased possible transfer targets, the lack of first, European football, and then Champions League football has always been held up as a reason why players have been reluctant to commit themselves to Spurs.  But now with Champions League football beckoning, players still show a reluctance to come to Tottenham.  In past years all we could do was watch as our star players went off to pastures new to fulfill their dreams of playing for the top clubs in the top competitions - Sol Campbell deserted Tottenham for our closest rivals, Arsenal, Teddy Sheringham, Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov couldn't wait to get to Old Trafford while Robbie Keane had to sign for his boyhood team, Liverpool.  Spurs couldn't offer those players the opportunity to play at the highest level so there was nothing the club could do but release them with their best wishes and accept the transfer fees to swell the coffers while we, the fans, felt betrayed and disconsolate.  However, now things have changed, Spurs have access to the Champions League while Liverpool are consigned to the Europa League, that should make a difference.  But No - Spurs are still struggling to make those important signings while Liverpool have managed to hold on to their stars - Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres and have persuaded Joe Cole to move north to Anfield rather than move to Tottenham.  So as Manchester City and Liverpool have proved, players aren't just interested in the playing opportunities, they're very interested in the money on offer and will go to wherever they get the best salary.  Perhaps, Mr Levy will have to reconsider his financial restrictions where transfer fees and salaries are concerned if Tottenham Hotspur are going to become one of the big players in the Premier League as well as in Europe.  No-one wants Spurs to spend foolishly or offer extravagant salaries but to achieve greatness there will have to be a loosening of the purse strings to attract quality players to the club.

With less than three weeks remaining of this very quiet transfer window, it is to be hoped that any signings will improve the quality of the team and not just be a signing for the sake of it - in the past Spurs have suffered through Mr Levy's desire to shop at 'last-minute.com'.  Late, hasty purchases rarely achieve great success.  Spurs need better than that if they are to maintain the progress achieved by Harry Redknapp in the past two years.

Jimmy Robertson - Unique at Tottenham Hotspur

Jimmy Robertson

This arose as a question on the COYS message board earlier today.


Which player who has played for both Spurs and Arsenal in a North London derby has scored for both clubs? - only one player has achieved this feat!

An update: (26th February, 2012) On this day, Jimmy Robertson lost his unique position in Tottenham history as Emmanuel Adebayor scored for Tottenham against Arsenal to add to his many goals scored against Spurs. (Read more)

Over Spurs' 125 years history there are only a small number of players who have played for both clubs and transfers between the two North London clubs are rare.

However, only one player has managed to score for both clubs in a North London derby and it was Jimmy Robertson.

He joined Spurs from St Mirren in 1963 and was a member of Spurs FA Cup winning team in 1967, scoring in the Final against Chelsea.

His goal for Spurs against Arsenal was in the 3-1 home win in October, 1964, the other goals scored by Jimmy Greaves and Frank Saul.

He was transferred to Arsenal in October, 1968, in exchange for David Jenkins - not one of manager Bill Nicholson's best transfer deals. Jenkins made only a few appearances for Spurs while Robertson played for Arsenal for two seasons before moving on to Ipswich Town and Stoke City.

His goal for Arsenal against Spurs was at Highbury in September, 1969 when Spurs won 3-2 with goals from Alan Gilzean, John Pratt and Martin Chivers.

Spurs in History - 29th August

29th August, 1974

‘The end of an era’

Following four defeats in the opening games of the season, Bill Nicholson announced his resignation as manager of Spurs, bringing to an end his association with the club that stretched back to 1936, as player, coach and manager.

Although the Board, players and fans tried to persuade him to stay he was not for turning. The club’s greatest manager was leaving, citing the need for a rest from football. He had found the circumstances of the UEFA Cup Final defeat the previous May difficult to accept and was finding it more difficult to relate to ‘modern’ players. He remained in charge until a replacement was appointed but it was a great shock to everyone connected with the club.

Bill Nicholson’s name was synonymous with Tottenham Hotspur and he had known success as a player being a member of the ‘push and run’ team that won the 1st and 2nd Division Championships in successive seasons and as manager.

He managed the successful ‘Double’ team, F.A.Cup and League Cup winning teams as well as successful teams in Europe. He set the standards for THFC and the club has been striving to achieve them ever since.

Many managers and teams have found him a hard act to follow. It was a sad end to a glorious managerial career and unfortunately the Board chose to ignore his suggestions regarding his successor.

Spurs in History - 1st June

1st June, 1959

Dynamo Kiev 1 Spurs 2 (Friendly)

Spurs undertook a three match tour of the USSR during the close season. It was their first visit to the country and in ‘The Double’ by Ken Ferris, this Russian tour is identified as the time when Spurs ‘began to lay the foundations of a great side’.

Both Nicholson and Blanchflower began to realise that there was the makings of a great team. Many of the players were already at the club and with a few more signings and a little tinkering, the great team of the early sixties would appear.

Two goals from Johnny Brooks gave Spurs their second victory of the tour and weariness from the excessive travel contributed to their defeat in the final game, three days later.

The tour was a great success, bringing the players closer together and Dave Mackay is quoted as saying, ‘…I shall always believe we laid the foundations of the team-spirit and genuine friendship which has since played a notable part in the success of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.’ Other players, Cliff Jones and Ron Henry support that view with similar comments, ‘That’s where we saw the first signs,’ (Jones) and ‘It all came together in Russia.’ (Henry)

Spurs in History - 29th May

29th May, 1974

Feyenoord 2 Spurs 0 UEFA CUP FINAL (2nd Leg)

Spurs knew that they were facing a very difficult task in this game as they were going into it on level terms from the 1st Leg. The task became even more difficult as fans rioted before, during and after the game.

Feyenoord went ahead in the first half and during half-time when Bill Nicholson should have been trying to focus the team on the task on hand, he was having to appeal to the fans for calm.

In the second half, Feyenoord continued to be in control and scored a second to end Spurs' record of never having lost a major Cup Final.

The behaviour of the rioting fans brought discredit and shame on the Club, the team and those who went to loyally support the players as they tried to win another European trophy.

Bill Nicholson was disappointed and disillusioned and his resignation a few weeks into the new season could be linked to the events in Holland, bringing to an end his long association with Tottenham Hotspur.

Team: Jennings; Evans, Naylor; Pratt (Holder), England, Beal; McGrath, Perryman, Chivers, Peters (Captain), Coates.

Spurs in History - 15th May

15th May, 1963

A European Night to Remember!

Atletico Madrid 1 Spurs 5

EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS’ CUP FINAL in Rotterdam.

Spurs produced their best ever display in a Final to overcome difficult opponents who were the holders of the trophy. Spurs went into the game without their inspiration, Dave Mackay who was injured. Nicholson was reportedly very worried about the Spaniards and built them up but Blachflower reminded the players of their own success and capabilities.

Jimmy Greaves gave Spurs an early lead and John White added a second. Then Atletico came back at Spurs putting them under intense pressure, eventually conceding a penalty but Terry Dyson, playing the game of his life, increased Spurs lead with a long cross that sailed over the keeper’s head. Greaves scored his second and Dyson did likewise to complete a glorious European night for Spurs - the first British club to win a European trophy.

All of Tottenham had moved to Holland for that game and they celebrated long into the night.

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

Spurs in History - 13th March

13th March, 1982

Liverpool 3 Spurs 1(aet) LEAGUE/MILK CUP FINAL at Wembley.

Thirteenth, unlucky for some and certainly for Spurs in their centenary year. Two amazing records finally came to an end in this game – unbeaten in domestic Cup Finals and unbeaten at Wembley.

However, it looked to be going so well with Steve Archibald giving Spurs the lead after 11 minutes. Liverpool pressed but the Spurs defence was holding firm and then with four minutes remaining Archibald had a chance to secure victory but delayed his shot and the chance was gone. Within a minute Liverpool had equalised and in extra time they scored twice more against a deflated Spurs team. However, Spurs were still looking for success in the League, the F.A.Cup and in Europe.

Team: Clemence; Perryman, Hughton; Price, Hazard(Roberts), Miller; Ardiles, Archhibald, Galvin, Hoddle, Crooks.

13th March, 1936

On this day, one six line paragraph in the Weekly Herald, headlined 'On Trial' stated:

"Spurs are giving a month's trial to an amateur Wm. E. Nicholson, an inside right of Scarborough Working Man's Club. He recently celebrated his 17th birthday. His height is 5ft 8 ins and weight 10st 12 lbs."

And so Bill Nicholson arrived at Tottenham Hotspur where he served with distintion as a payer, coach and manager. He later returned as Consultant and became Club President.

Spurs Say 'Bye' to Feyenoord in UEFA Cup

Spurs became the first team to reach the Quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup when the 'bye' was confirmed by the Court of Arbitration who rejected Feyenoord's appeal.

The tie has been in doubt since the ban imposed on Feyenoord for the misbeheavour of their fans in an earlier round of the competition. Spurs progress was confirmed yesterday when the Dutch club lost their appeal. Spurs next opponents will be the winners of the tie between Parma (Italy) and Braga (Portugal).

There are problems surrounding this tie because of the difficulties in Italian football which was suspended last weekend when a policeman was killed by rioting fans. Now only grounds which have been passed as safe for play can be used and currently the Parma ground has not been included in the grounds that are fit for the resumption of play.

Spurs fans, while pleased to have qualified for the next round of the competition are disappointed that they have been denied the opportunity to renew acquaintances with the Dutch side which they have met on a number of previous European competitions.


Previous European meetings between Spurs and Feyenoord:

1961-62 European Cup (1st R) 1st Leg (a) Won 3-1, 2nd leg (h) Draw 1-1

1973 -74 UEFA Cup Final 1st Leg (h) Draw 2-2, 2nd Leg (a) Lost 0-2

1983 - 84 UEFA Cup (2nd R) 1st Leg (h) Won 4-2, 2nd Leg Won 2-0

1991 - 92 European Cup Winners' Cup (Q/F) 1st Leg (a) Lost 0-1, 2nd Leg (h) Draw 0-0

Spurs record against Feyenoord:

P 8 W 3 D 3 L 2 For 12 Ag 9

The most disappointing result was the UEFA Cup Final defeat in 1973 - 74. Spurs had been held at home in the first game but the 2nd Leg was ruined when Spurs fans rioted during the game and Bill Nicholson had to make an appeal for calm and restraint during the half-time interval.

1974: Spurs 2 Feyenoord 2 UEFA CUP FINAL (1st Leg)

Spurs had reached their third European Final, the first English club to achieve this, and were undefeated through the early rounds. In a thrilling game, Spurs led twice but were pulled back by the soon to be crowned Dutch champions. Spurs started well and it was twenty minutes before Jennings touched the ball, from a back pass. They took the lead in the 39th minute, Mike England scoring with a header from a Ray Evans’ free-kick. However, they held the lead for only four minutes, a free-kick being bent round their defensive wall. Spurs regained the lead after an hour from another free-kick with England involved but a Dutch defender got the final touch. With nine minutes remaining, Phil Beal went off injured and three minutes later Feyenoord equalised to give them the upper hand going into the second leg.

Team: Jennings; Evans, Naylor; Pratt, England, Beal (Dillon); McGrath, Perryman, Chivers, Peters (Captain), Coates.

Feyenoord 2 Spurs 0 UEFA CUP FINAL (2nd Leg)

For the 2nd Leg in Rotterdam a week later, Spurs knew that they were facing a very difficult and daunting task as they were going into it on level terms from the 1st Leg. The task became even more difficult as fans rioted before, during and after the game.

Feyenoord went ahead in the first half and during half-time when Bill Nicholson should have been trying to focus the team on the task on hand, he was having to appeal to the fans for calm. In the second half, Feyenoord continued to be in control and scored a second to end Spurs record of never having lost a major Cup Final.

The behaviour of the rioting fans brought discredit on the Club, the team and those who went to loyally support the players as they tried to win another European trophy. Bill Nicholson was disappointed and disillusioned and his resignation a few weeks into the new season could be linked to the events in Holland, bringing to an end his long association with Tottenham Hotspur.

Team: Jennings; Evans, Naylor; Pratt (Holder), England, Beal; McGrath, Perryman, Chivers, Peters (Captain), Coates.

Happier memories surround the contests between the two clubs in the UEFA Cup 2nd round tie in 1983-84. Keith Burkinshaw's team were looking to add the European trophy to the impressive list of silverware acquired in the previous three seasons.

October, 1983: Spurs 4 Feyenoord 2 UEFA Cup 2nd Round (1st Leg)

The game matched Glenn Hoddle against an ageing Johan Cryff in a head to head contest. It was the younger star who was to stamp his class on the match as Cryff failed to live with Hoddle’s creativity and control.

Spurs were four ahead by half-time and Glenn Hoddle had played a part in all of the goals. He controlled the game and Spurs were supreme, going ahead after eight minutes through Steve Archibald. Ten minutes later a Hoddle cross was headed in by Tony Galvin. Archibald scored his second five minutes later with Galvin getting his second five minutes before half-time from a forty yard Hoddle pass. In the second half Feyenoord came more into the game to score twice but Hoddle had displayed his master class and Spurs were almost assured of qualification to the next round.

November, 1983: Feyenoord 0 Spurs 2 UEFA Cup 2nd Round (2nd Leg)

With two goals in hand in the 2nd leg, Spurs assured themselves of qualification for the next round when they gave an impressive display and scored through Chris Hughton after 25 minutes and then confirmed victory with a late goal from Tony Galvin. spurs aggregaste victory being an impressive 6-2 score line.

Spurs in History - 7th February

7th February, 1973

Spurs 3 Derby County 5 (aet) FA Cup 4th Round Replay

For some dates it is difficult even with over 100 years of history to find a match of note to record but for this date we are spoiled for choice.

There were the four goals in 4 minutes 44 seconds against Southampton in 1993 or the 2001 FA Cup fight back at Charlton as well as this 4th Round Replay.

In the first game four days earlier a goal from Martin Chivers had ensured the replay against Derby and at White Hart Lane with less than ten minutes to go, Spurs were comfortably looking forward to the 5th Round.

They were 3-1 ahead after goals from Martin Chivers, Alan Gilzean and a penalty from Mike England when Derby’s lanky centre forward, Roger Davies, took over scoring twice to level and take the game into extra time. Then he completed his hat-trick in extra time as Derby completed a remarkable comeback and left Spurs’ Cup dreams shattered for another year.

Even teams managed by the greatest of managers, Bill Nicholson, can suffer these unexpected and unexplainable results and 52,736 spectators were left stunned.

7th February, 1993

Spurs 4 Southampton 2 Premier League

Terry Venables as Chief Executive had delegated team matters to coaches, Doug Livermore and Ray Clemence but as the season progressed he again became more involved and Spurs were developing a young team capable of playing attractive football. In this game the four goals were scored in 4 minutes 44 seconds and transformed the game which had seen Southampton ahead and apparantly in control.

The goalscorers were Teddy Sheringham (2), Darren Anderton and Nicky Barmby.

7th February, 2001

Charlton Athletic 2 Spurs 4 FA Cup 4th Round

A memorable FA Cup game from recent times when Spurs’ Cup success has been minimal was back in 2001. Spurs were drawn away to fellow Premiership side Charlton who had won the earlier league game by a solitary goal and had earned a scoreless draw at Tottenham a few days earlier.

Spurs found themselves two goals behind early in the second half but staged a remarkable comeback to score three goals inside six minutes to change the game. Gary Doherty, Darren Anderton and Oyvind Leonhardsen got the goals while a late strike from Sergei Rebrov sealed the victory.

Spurs in History - 25th January

25th January, 1964

Spurs 3 Aston Villa 1 (1st Divison)

This was a season of transition as Bill Nicholson started to replace members of the ‘Double’ winning team. Injury had taken Blanchflower, Mackay and Medwin from the team and reserves were getting their opportunity.

For this game, Derek Possee replaced the injured Cliff Jones on the right wing for his only game of the season and scored on his debut. The other goals came from Jimmy Greaves and Terry Dyson.

Possee who had come through the Junior teams at Spurs, made a number of appearances in subsequent seasons before being transferred to Millwall in 1967 for £25,000.

Spurs in History - 11th January

11th January, 1975

Newcastle United 2 Spurs 5 (1st Divison)

This was a very disappointing season. Poor early results brought about the resignation of Bill Nicholson. He was replaced by Terry Neill who signed some new players but the results continued to be poor and Spurs were involved in a relegation fight throughout the season.

This result was totally unexpected and was inspired by a hat-trick from Alfie Conn, the last player signed by Bill Nicholson. Conn had been signed from Glasgow Rangers for £150,00 during the summer. The other goals came from Cyril Knowles and John Duncan.

At the end of the season, Spurs avoided relegation thanks to a last match victory over Leeds United, but they had much to thank Newcastle for – four points from two wins and 8 goals scored with 2 conceded.