They Played for Spurs and Chelsea

Bobby Smith, Les Allen and Jimmy Greaves are just three of the players who have played for both Tottenham and Chelsea during their careers.  Looking back to the club's earliest days in the Football League and Vivian Woodward is a player who performed with distinction for both teams.

Jimmy Greaves

James Greaves started his career at Chelsea and made his scoring debut against Spurs at White Hart Lane in August, 1957.  In 1961 he had a short period in Italy with AC Milan before joining Spurs for £99,999, as Bill Nicholson didn't want him burdened with the label of being the 'first £100,000' player.  He marked his Tottenham debut with a hat-trick against Blackpool at White Hart Lane.  Spurs retained the FA Cup that season with Greaves scoring the first goal against Burnley and the next season he scored twice in the ECWC Final against Atletico Madrid as Spurs became the first British club to win a European trophy.  Greaves was in the 1967 FA Cup winning team and by the time he was transferred to West Ham United in 1970 he was Tottenham's record goalscorer - League: 220 goals, FA Cup: 32, League Cup: 5, Europe: 14.

Pre-Order: Code LH1

The leading goal scorers in the 1960 - 61 'Double' winning team both joined Spurs from Chelsea.

Bobby Smith who joined in 1955 was leading scorer with 33 League and Cup goals during the 1960 - 61 season, including two goals in the FA Cup semi-final win over Burnley and the first goal against Leicester City in the Final.  He also scored a goal in the1962 FA Cup Final against Burnley.  He was a typical 'old-fashioned' English type of centre forward who used to terrorise defenders and goalkeepers in the European competitions.  He joined Brighton in 1964 as the successful team of the early 1960s was rebuilt by Bill Nicholson.

Les Allen, the father of Clive Allen, was his strike partner.  He joined Spurs in 1959 and scored 27 goals in that successful season.  The arrival of Greaves led to him losing his place in the team but he remained with Spurs until 1965 being a very useful reserve to call upon at times of injury or loss of form.  He joined QPR and later became their manager.

Terry Venables joined Spurs in 1966 from Chelsea and was a member of the 1967 FA Cup winning team.  He left in 1969 to join QPR but returned to Tottenham as manager and led them to the 1991 FA Cup success.

Glenn Hoddle developed through the Spurs youth system to become a 'Legend' at the club.  His skill, vision and goals were a delight to behold and he was  a member of the successful team of the 1980s, winning FA Cup medals in 1981 and 1982, scoring the goals in the Final and replay win over QPR.  He left Spurs in 1987 and moved to France.  He played for Chelsea on his return to English football and managed them before returning to White Hart Lane as manager.

Mike Hazard grew up through the Tottenham youth scheme.  He was another member of the team in the early 1980s but suffered through competition with Hoddle, Ardiles and Villa.  A very skilful player with an outstanding passing ability who could score vital goals.  He played in the 1982 FA Cup team and the UEFA Cup winning team of 1984.  In 1985 he joined Chelsea but returned to Spurs towards the end of his career when Ossie Ardiles was manager.

Gus Poyet spent four years with Chelsea and joined Spurs in 2001, spending three years with the club, helping them reach the 2002 Worthington Cup Final.  After retirement he returned to Tottenham as Assistant to Juande Ramos who guided Spurs to Carling Cup success over Chelsea in 2008.

Vivian Woodward played for Spurs in their first season in the Football League helping them to promotion.  He was a true amateur with associations to the club since 1901 and was regarded widely as a 'gentleman' of football.  He became a director of the club in 1908 and played amateur internationals for England and captained the United Kingdom team which won the Olympics in 1908 and 1912.  He also played cricket and was often unavailable until the end of the cricket season.  In Tottenham's first season in the Football League he made 27 appearances, scoring 18 goals.  As Spurs prepared for their first year in the top flight the football world was shocked to hear of his retirement from football but the club was in even greater shock when a few months later he re-appeared with Chelsea for whom he played until the outbreak of the 1st World War.

From a similar era was Percy Humphreys who played for almost two years with Chelsea before joining Spurs in December, 1909, having lost his place to Woodward.  At the close of that season Spurs and Chelsea were battling against relegation and met in the final game of the season at White Hart Lane.  Tottenham won 2 - 1 and survived while Chelsea were relegated.  Tottenham's winning goal being scored by Humphreys who spent two years with the club.

Of more recent players, Graham Roberts spent two years with Chelsea, Clive Allen had a year at Stamford Bridge later in his career as did Neil Sullivan and Mark Falco.

Gordon Durie had five years with Chelsea before joining Spurs in 1991 and spent three years with the club.  Defender Jason Cundy signed from Chelsea in 1992.

Others who played for both clubs were Tommy Harmer, Johnny Brooks, Keith Weller, Colin Lee, Sid Tickeridge and Clive Wilson.

Of the current players, Wiliam Gallas joined Chelsea in 2001 from Marseille.  After five years he moved to Arsenal and joined Tottenham at the start of last season on a free transfer.  Carlo Cudicini moved to White Hart Lane from Chelsea in January, 2009 as goalkeeping cover, having spent nine years at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham's Joy of Winning the Cup 10 (1961)

The 1961 FA Cup Final at Wembley against Leicester City was the most important game in the club's history.  Victory would bring down the curtain on the club's most successful season ever with the completion of the League and FA Cup 'Double'.  It brought Spurs another 'first' - the first team to win that accolade in the 20th century.


1961 FA Cup Final
Leicester City 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2

Bill Nicholson & Danny Blanchflower

No team had won the 'Double' in the 20th Century and it was regarded as an impossible task among commentators of that time.  The achievement had not been completed since the early days of the competitions - by Preston North End in 1889 and Aston Villa eight years later.  In those early days teams played a greatly reduced number of matches to achieve their goal - Preston had to play a total of twenty seven games while Villa had an additional eight League games.

However, undeterred by such views, Tottenham captain, Danny Blanchflower, made a confident prediction to his Chairman prior to the commencement of the 1960 - 61 season, that the team would win the 'double' in the season ahead.  Danny was always known for his 'gift of the gab' with a good story to tell but in this case he later confirmed that he truely believed it was possible.  The team then proceeded to win their first eleven matches, went undefeated for sixteen games until mid-November and by the start of the FA Cup in January, with 25 games played, Spurs were top of the 1st Division with a 10 point lead ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Road to Wembley
3rd Round v Charlton Athletic (h) Won 3 - 2  Allen (2), Dyson
Charlton from the old 2nd Division were expected to be easy prey for all conquering Tottenham but they came so close to causing a Cup up-set and for a long period it seemed that a replay would be on the cards.  The visitors took the game to Spurs in the early stages but a pass from Danny Blanchflower set up Les Allen to put Spurs ahead after six minutes.  Charlton continued their endeavour and were heartened as Tottenham missed a number of chances to increase their lead.  However, with less than half an hour gone, another Blanchflower pass enabled Allen to score his second.  Almost immediately, Charlton pulled a goal back, only for Terry Dyson to restore the two goal advantage.  A minute into the second half Charlton scored a second and suddenly Spurs were up against it as the visitors increased the pressure with Bill Brown coming to the rescue on a number of occasions.  Tottenham held out, relieved to have survived from a much more difficult game than they had ever anticipated.

4th Round v Crewe Alexandra (h) Won 5 - 1  Mackay, Jones, Smith, Allen, Dyson
A year previously the two clubs had met in the same round of the competition with Tottenham triumphing 13 - 2 in a replay at White Hart Lane after a 2 - 2 draw at Crewe's Gresty Road ground.  If Crewe, from the 4th Division, had been hoping for a good start to avoid another humiliation, they were to be disappointed as Dyson headed Spurs ahead from a corner after four minutes.  The Crewe goalkeeper, Williamson, was the hero of the day as he restricted Tottenham to five goals.  After twenty two minutes, Bobby Smith added a second but three minutes later, in a rare attack, Crewe scored their only goal.  Three minutes later Dave Mackay scored a third from a corner and in the second half, Cliff Jones and Allen completed the scoring, Allen having to settle for a solitary goal rather than the five he managed a year previously.


5th Round v Aston Villa (a) Won 2 - 0  Jones, Opp. o.g.
A more difficult examination of Tottenham's Cup winning credentials was expected from this tie against 1st Division opposition.  A week earlier the two clubs had met in the League at the same venue with Smith and Dyson scoring in a 2 - 1 victory.  Jones was the master on this occasion.  Having failed to stop Spurs a week earlier with strength and endeavour, Villa tried to use finesse and pure football but with the same result.  Tottenham took the lead after seventeen minutes through an own goal when the Villa full back diverted a Jones shot into the net.  Spurs were on top, with Brown making his first meaningful save just before half-time.  Then, almost immediately Tottenham responded and scored their second from Jones, following another flowing, passing movement.  Match over, Spurs strolled through the second half with Villa unable to unsettle them.


6th Round v Sunderland (a) Draw 1 - 1  Jones
This was undoubtedly Tottenham's most difficult match in the Cup campaign.  Second Division, Sunderland who had already defeated Arsenal, Liverpool and Norwich City in earlier rounds were determined to show that they could match their more illustrious opponents and in the end Spurs were relieved to return to London with the opportunity to settle matters in a replay.  Jones headed Tottenham ahead with a soft goal from a corner and then the game deteriorated with some quite dull football.  Before the interval, Smith's shot hit the post after he had rounded the goalkeeper but in the second half the match changed totally.  Sunderland, roared on by the home crowd, levelled after four minutes when a speculative shot was deflected past Brown.  Sunderland were energized and Tottenham were reduced to pulling everyone back to defend with only the occasional foray forward.  Tottenham had paid the price for being too casual in the first half and had to battle for the final forty minutes to keep their dream of the 'Double' alive.

6th Round (Replay) v Sunderland (h) Won 5 - 0  Mackay, Smith, Allen, Dyson (2)
The Tottenham players had learned their lesson from the first game four days earlier and they weren't going to get caught out again.  With the gates locked half an hour before kick-off and thousands still outside unable to get in, Sunderland started bravely but with almost half an hour played, Spurs scored through Allen.  Five minutes later Smith scored after Jones' shot had been parried by the goalkeeper and on half-time, John White and Jones set up Dyson for the third.  In the second half Spurs added further goals with a header from Dyson and a fifth from Mackay.


Semi-Final v Burnley (at Villa Park) Won 3 - 0  Jones, Smith (2)
Villa Park was not Spurs' favourite ground for FA Cup semi-finals, having lost the last three they had played there in 1948, 1953 and 1956.  At the fourth attempt, it was the ‘Double’ team elect that was to lay the ghost of Villa Park. 

Drawn to play defending League champions Burnley a tight game was expected as Burnley had recovered from a four goal deficit to earn a draw in the League game at White Hart Lane earlier in the season.  The semi-final tie saw Spurs take the lead after half an hour when a defensive mistake allowed Smith through on goal.  Burnley rallied and in the minutes before and after the interval Spurs survived a number of dangerous attacks.  Then with forty eight minutes gone Spurs went further ahead when Smith scored his second.  This deflated Burnley and Jones added the third near the end after good work from White and Dyson.  Spurs were on their way to Wembley for the very first time where they would find Leicester City attempting to prevent them completing an historic ‘Double.’  It would be Spurs third FA Cup Final but their first since 1921.

Final v Leicester City (at Wembley) Won 2 - 0  Smith, Dyson
Many teams had failed at the final step in their pursuit of the 'Double' and Tottenham were determined not to fall in to that category.  They had won the League a few weeks earlier but their form had taken a dip and they had missed out on setting a new record for the number of points won as they lost two of their final three games, including defeats at Burnley and at home to West Bromwich Albion.  Leicester City had finished sixth in the league and had the distinction of being the first team to defeat Spurs at White Hart Lane that season, achieving a 3 - 2 success in February.

The 1961 FA Cup Final didn't live up to the high expectations of the pre-match hype.  Bobby Smith played despite an injury problem but it was an early injury to Len Chalmers, the Leicester full back which had the greatest bearing on the match as Leicester found themselves effectively reduced to ten men, although the injured full back hobbled on the wing.  Spurs had started brightly and could have scored in the opening minutes but then they let Leicester have more of the ball leading up the injury after twenty minutes when Allen and Chalmers collided.

Tottenham now had the advantage but couldn't find a way to goal.  Jones had a first half 'goal' incorrectly disallowed for offside but it wasn't until twenty minutes from time that they eventually went ahead.  Allen and Dyson set up Smith who turned and shot past Gordon Banks.  Seven minutes later, White dispossessed Chalmers and passed to Smith who crossed to the far post where Dyson headed home to secure Tottenham's 'Double' triumph.

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

The 'Double' had been achieved and although the Final hadn't been a classic, the team did what was required of them.  The players had produced many exhilarating, quality performances during the season but with the high level of expectation and pressure on the team, on this occasion it was a matter of the job had been completed as they became the first team in the 20th Century to win the elusive 'Double' as 1st Division Champions and FA Cup winners.

Tottenhan Hotspur 1960 - 61 The 'Double' Winners

(1960 - 61) League and Cup Appearances
Tottenham used only 17 players through the season and only 12 played in the FA Cup games - Terry Medwin replacing the injured Jones for the 3rd Round match.  In the League Blanchflower, Allen, Ron Henry and White were ever presents, Brown, Baker and Norman missed only one match while Dyson was missing from two.  Mackay made 37 appearances, Bobby Smith 36 and Jones 29.  Of the reserves Medwin played 14 games, Tony Marchi and Frank Saul made 6 appearances each, with John Hollowbread (goalkeeper), Ken Barton (full back) and John Smith (half back) making a single appearance each.

League and Cup Goals

Eleven players contributed to the season's goal tally of 115 in the League and 21 in the FA Cup.  Bobby Smith was leading goal scorer with 33 goals (28 Lge + 5 Cup), Les Allen was close behind with 27 (23 + 4) while Jones contributed 19 (15 + 4).  Terry Dyson who scored 17 (12 + 5) was joint top scorer with Smith in the Cup.  White contributed 13 in the League and Blanchflower and Mackay both managed 6, two of Mackay's coming in the Cup.  In the League, Medwin contributed 5, Norman scored 4, Frank Saul added 3 and Peter Baker scored once.  Two additional goals came courtesy of the opposition, one each in the League and the Cup.

The names of the 'Double' team will be forever etched in the memories of every Tottenham supporter.  Too easily are players now labelled 'legends' but this was a team of 'Legends' and the one that every subsequent Tottenham team have been trying emulate and live up to.

Van Der Vaart Scores in Five Successive Games

Rafael Van der Vaart's goal against Queen's Park Rangers at White Hart Lane was his sixth goal for Tottenham in the last five games.  Scoring for the fifth successive League game equals the club record for the Premier League era held by Teddy Sheringham and Robbie Keane who achieved it twice.  Van der Vaart will be looking to increase the record at Craven Cottage on Sunday against Fulham.

Rafael Van der Vaart's Record:

Five successive matches for Spurs since his early return from injury and Van der Vaart has scored six goals as Tottenham extend their unbeaten run.  Injured in the defeat to Manchester City at White Hart Lane, it was expected that Van der Vaart would be out for some considerable period of time.  This led to his omission from the Europa League squad, much to his annoyance, but at the time a quite reasonable decision as it appeared that he would miss most of the pre-Christmas campaign.  However, an unexpectedly early return to fitness following a visit to a specialist in Germany, saw Van der Vaart start the match against Wigan and an early goal from him set Tottenham on the road to victory.  He has since scored in the next five games and is playing with great confidence and composure.  It was only the exceptional performance of Paddy Kenny, the Queen's Park Rangers goalkeeper, which prevented him from scoring more than once on Sunday.  Kenny had to make a save in the opening minutes and made a number of saves in the second half.

Sept. 2011 PL v Wigan Athletic (a) Won 2 - 1  Van der Vaart, Bale
Scored after three minutes.

Oct. 2011 PL v Arsenal (h) Won 2 - 1  Van der Vaart, Walker
Scored opening goal after 40 minutes.

Oct. 2011 PL v Newcastle United (a) Draw 2 - 2  Van der Vaart (p), Defoe
Nerveless performance to score opening goal from the penalty spot after 40 minutes.

Oct. 2011 PL v Blackburn Rovers (a) Won 2 - 1  Van der Vaart (2)
For the fourth successive game he scored Tottenham's opening goal after 15 minutes.  Added a second in the 53rd minute after Rovers had equalised before the interval.

Oct. 2011 PL v QPR (h) Won 3 - 1  Bale (2), Van der Vaart 
Scored Tottenham's goal after 33 minutes, reacting quickly when a deflected shot came to him on the edge of penalty area. 

Robbie Keane's record: 

Robbie Keane managed to score in five successive League games on two occasions for Tottenham.  He first achieved it in January/February, 2004 and repeated the feat in February/April, 2007. 


Jan. 2004 PL v Birmingham City (h) Won 4 -1  Dalmat (2), Davies, Keane 

                 PL v Leeds United (a) Won 1 - 0  Keane
                 PL v Liverpool (h) Won 2- 1 Keane (p), Postiga 
                 PL v Fulham (a) Lost 1 - 2 Keane (p)
Feb. 2004 Pl v Portsmouth (h) Won 4 - 3  Defoe, Keane (2), Poyet  

Feb. 2007 PL v Bolton Wanderers (h) Won 4 - 1  Jenas, Lennon, Keane (2) 
Apr. 2007 PL v Reading (a) Won 1 - 0  Keane (p)
                 PL v Wigan Athletic (a) Draw 3 - 3  Berbatov, Keane (2) (1p)
                 PL v Arsenal (h) Draw 2 - 2  Keane, Jenas
                 PL v Middlesbrough (a) Won 3 - 2 Berbatov, Keane (2)

** Keane missed a number of matches with injury during this sequence so they are not five consecutive Tottenham matches but five successive games in which he played. 

Teddy Sheringham's Record:

In season 1993 - 94 Teddy Sheringham scored in five consecutive matches under manager Ossie Ardiles.  He sustained an injury in the next match at Manchester United which kept him out until near the end of the season.  The team then struggled against relegation and only survived following Sheringham's return in April when he scored another four goals to bring his total for the season to 13 from 17 (2) League appearances.

Sept. 1993 PL v Chelsea (h) Draw 1 - 1  Sheringham

                  PL v Sheffield United (a) Draw 2 - 2 Sheringham (2)

                  PL v Oldham Athletic (h) Won 5 - 0 Sheringham, Sedgley (2), Durie, Dozzell

                  PL v Ipswich Town (a) Draw 2 - 2 Sheringham (2)

Oct. 1993 PL v Everton (h) Won 3 - 2 Sheringham, Anderton, Caskey 

  ** Sheringham scored 9 of Tottenham's 17 goals in the opening 10 games of the season underlining his importance to the team

Pre-Premier League

Garth Crooks is the last Tottenham player to score in 6 consecutive games achieving that in season 1984 - 85, scoring six goals in matches played in December and January.

Other players to have achieved this feat in Tottenham's 129 year history are: 

Bobby Smith (Aug. - Sept. 1960) [12 goals] Div. 1 'Double' Season

Alfie Stokes (Jan. - Mar. 1957) [8 goals] Div. 1

Willie Evans (Dec. 1935 - Feb. 1936) [8 goals] Div. 2

Johnny Morrison (Oct. - Nov. 1935) [10 goals] Div. 2

Leading the way, however, is Jimmy Greaves who scored in 7 consecutive games at the start of season 1966 - 67.  He scored 8 goals in that sequence from August to October.

Greaves' longest scoring sequence is 9 games in February - April, 1962 when he scored 11 goals.  This was his debut season for Spurs having joined from AC Milan for £99,999.  He marked his debut in November, 1961 by scoring  a hat-trick against Blackpool at White Hart Lane as Spurs recorded a 5 - 2 victory.

Spurs in History - 12th August

12th August, 1961

Spurs 3 F.A.XI 2 F.A.Charity Shield (White Hart Lane)

In 1961 as the ‘Double’ winners Spurs had no-one to play in this traditional curtain raiser to the season. An F.A.XI provided the opposition and Spurs won with goals from Les Allen(2) and Bobby Smith.

12th August, 1967

Manchester United 3 Spurs 3 F.A.Charity Shield (Old Trafford)

In 1967, this high scoring game is remembered for the identity of the scorer of Spurs' second goal. After two minutes Spurs took the lead when Jimmy Robertson scored from a Jimmy Greaves cross. Five minutes later, Pat Jennings played a long clearance up-field that bounced between Gilzean and United’s goalkeeper, Stepney, went over the keeper’s head and into the net.

United were level by the twentieth minute but Spurs went ahead again through Frank Saul, early in the second half. However, with fifteen minutes left United equalised and the clubs shared the trophy.

Spurs in History - 11th August

11th August, 1962

Ipswich Town 1 Spurs 5 F.A.Charity Shield (Portman Road)

The defeats by Ipswich in both League meetings during the previous season had cost Spurs the opportunity of retaining the Championship and completing a second ‘Double’.

Managed by former Spurs' full-back, Alf Ramsey, Ipswich had played a system that had taken most teams by surprise but in this game Spurs had found the tactics to nullify the system and won with ease.

Spurs' goals were scored by Jimmy Greaves(2), Terry Medwin, John White and Bobby Smith.

Spurs in History - 8th June

8th June, 1957

Spurs 3 Glasgow Celtic 1 (Friendly in Vancouver)

The nine match tour of North America included four games against Celtic and Spurs had been successful in the first two matches.

Throughout the games Bobby Smith had proved a great problem to the Celtic defence, scoring five times in the first two games. This match was no different as Smith scored his second hat-trick against the Scottish team.

A crowd of 24,198 watched the game, which was the second highest attendance in Canada for a football match. The largest attendance had been during the 1952 tour when Spurs played Manchester United.

Spurs in History - 19th May

19th May, 1957

Spurs 4 Celtic 3 in New York (Friendly)

End of season tours were a feature of the 1950’s and Spurs had been to America for a series of exhibition matches five years earlier. On this occasion this was the only game to be played in America with the rest taking place in Canada.

Celtic took an early two goal lead before Bobby Smith scored. Celtic again went two up, only for Smith to pull one back before half-time. In the second half, Smith completed his hat-trick and Micky Dulin scored the winner.

Spurs and Celtic were to meet on three more occasions in Canada, Spurs winning twice with Celtic winning the final game of the tour.

Spurs in History - 6th May

6th May, 1961

'The Double' Winners

Spurs 2 Leicester City 0 F.A.CUP FINAL at Wembley.

Spurs became the first club to win ‘The Double’ in the 20th Century. Having won the League, Spurs won the cup in unspectacular style, overcoming a team who had won at White Hart Lane earlier in the season.

The tension of the day prevented Spurs from performing as they had on many occasions during their memorable season and it was not until late in the game that Spurs took control.

Leicester overcame the early loss of their full back, Chalmers, to injury and battled gamely as he ‘hobbled’ on the wing. Bobby Smith scored a ‘magnificent solo goal’ after 69 minutes and Terry Dyson ensured victory seven minutes later with a headed goal from Smith’s cross.

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

Spurs in History - 5th May

5th May, 1962

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

My first memory of Tottenham Hotspur FC - Spurs, as a young boy, watching the game on the television in a furniture shop while my parents bought a dining room suite -they still have it. What a way to start, although it was a couple of years before I would become devoted to the club and the fanatic that I have been for the last forty years.

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

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

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

Spurs in History - 4th May

4th May, 1963
Spurs 4 Sheffield United 2 (1st Division)

Another Jimmy Greaves goal scoring record.

This season, 1962 - 63, Spurs were looking to Europe for success but Greaves continued his phenomenal goal scoring feats by setting a new record for the number of League goals scored in a season.

The previous record of 36 had been set in 1930-31 by Ted Harper when Spurs were in the Second Division and equalled in 1957-58 by Bobby Smith.

Greaves created a new record of 37 when scoring Spurs third against United.

The other goals came from Frank Saul, Cliff Jones and Terry Dyson. Although three games remained, he failed to add to his total for the season.

The following year he scored 35 League goals and since then only Clive Allen has come near to his record, scoring 33 in 1986-87.

Spurs in History - 1st May

1st May, 1963

Spurs 3 OFK Belgrade 1 European Cup Winners Cup Semi Final (2nd Leg).

Holding a one goal lead from the 1st Leg, Spurs progressed to their first European Final. However, it was a difficult match and Spurs were made to fight all the way. Without Jimmy Greaves who was suspended, having been sent off in the first game, Spurs took the lead through Dave Mackay.

OFK fought back to equalize and put Spurs under considerable pressure. In a tense game, Bill Brown and all of the defenders had to be at their best and it was a relief to everyone when Cliff Jones restored Spurs lead before half-time. Bobby Smith completed the scoring in the second half to make Spurs the first English club to reach a European final - progressing 5-2 on aggregate.

In the Final Spurs would play Atletico Madrid in Rotterdam.

Spurs in History - 17th April

17th April, 1961

CHAMPIONS!

Danny Blanchflower receiving 1st Division trophy

Spurs 2 Sheffield Wednesday 1 (1st Division)

A Monday evening game at White Hart Lane against their closest rivals for the title, was the setting for this game. Wednesday had been the first team to beat them earlier in the season but Spurs had marched on and were now nearing the final glory.

In an exciting and tense match, considering all that was at stake, Wednesday went ahead after thirty minutes. With three minutes of the half remaining Spurs equalised through Bobby Smith. One minute later they were ahead when Les Allen scored.

The second half was a tough affair but when the final whistle blew, Spurs were Champions for the second time in their history.

Pandemonium broke out around White Hart Lane as the fans rushed onto the pitch. They chanted, “We want Danny!” and refused to leave until until the Captain led the players out to acknowledge their cheers.

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

Receiving medals after the game v West Brom

Spurs in History - 5th April

5th April, 1962

'The End of a Dream'

Spurs 2 Benfica 1 European Cup Semi Final (2nd Leg) (Lost 3-4 on agg.)

Spurs came so close to reaching the Final but they couldn’t pull back the two goal deficit against the reigning European Champions. In the first leg in Lisbon Spurs had two goals ruled out for offside and they were determined to comeback strongly as they had in earlier rounds of the competition.

However, their task became even more difficult when they went a goal behind after 15 minutes. From then on Spurs pounded the Benfica defence, Jimmy Greaves had another goal disallowed for offside but eventually equalised in the 35th minute when Bobby Smith scored. Spurs continued to force the visitors back and in the second minute of the second half, Danny Blanchflower scored from a penalty after a foul on John White.

The supporters roared Spurs on and they threw everything at Benfica, hitting the bar and missing some chances but couldn’t get that extra goal.

Benfica were greatly relieved to hear the final whistle.

Spurs in History - 4th April

4th April, 1961
Sunderland 1 Spurs 1 F.A.Cup 6th Round.

[Pic: Danny Blanchflower played a captain's role as Spurs held on for a replay]

This was a game that tested the soon to be ‘Double’ winning team to the limit Sunderland were in the 2nd Division and the atmosphere at Roker Park was extraordinary. Cliff Jones gave Spurs the lead after nine minutes with a header from a partially cleared corner. The rest of the half was tranquil but Bobby Smith hit the post just before halftime.

However, in the second half Sunderland were transformed and forced Spurs to defend. The 61,236 crowd awoke and roared their team to an equaliser. Weaker teams would have succumbed but Danny Blanchflower galvanized the team which held out for the replay.

Spurs in History - 24th March

24th March, 1934

Newcastle United 1 Spurs 3 1st Division
A game which saw Spurs winning with a hat-trick from their prolific goal scoring centre forward, George Hunt. This was the second of his three hat-tricks in the space of six games and in total he scored five hat-tricks during the season including four in a game against Sheffield United. He scored 35 League and Cup goals in season 1933-34, as Spurs finished third in the League, to add to 36 the previous year and 26 in the season before that.
Hunt held the aggregate goal scoring record until Bobby Smith surpassed it. Capped by England on three occasions, he scored 138 goals in 198 appearances.

Spurs in History - 18th March

18th March, 1961

Burnley 0 Spurs 3 F.A.Cup Semi-Final at Villa Park.

At the fourth attempt, Spurs returned successfully from a semi-final tie at Villa Park. The two top teams met to decide who would be in the FA Cup Final at Wembley. Burnley were the reigning Champions and Spurs were well on the way to claiming their title. The League game at White Hart Lane in early December had been a classic. Spurs had gone four up but Burnley clawed themselves back into the game to earn a draw.

In the semi-final Spurs took the lead after half an hour and went further ahead when Bobby Smith scored his second in the second half. This deflated Burnley and Cliff Jones added the third before the end.

Spurs had reached the FA Cup Final for the first time in 40 years and were on their way to Wembley for the very first time. Over the next number of years Tottenham Hotspur were to become regular visitors at the famous stadium.

Spurs in History - 12th March

12th March, 1957
Spurs 4 Bolton Wanderers 1 1st Division

Spurs had started the season poorly, losing heavily in many of the early games. However, from late October their form had improved and inspired by Bobby Smith’s goal scoring they were making progress in the league.

This game showed Smith’s importance to the team as he completed his third hat-trick of the season, giving him seven goals in his last three League games. The other Spurs goal came from Johnny Brooks.

Spurs eventually finished 3rd in the League, something that would have seemed impossible given the early season results.

Spurs in History - 8th March

8th March, 1961

Spurs 5 Sunderland 0 FA Cup 6th Round Replay

The 6th Round F.A.Cup Replay, attracted 64,797 supporters willing Spurs to victory. Sunderland had had their day and now it was time for Spurs to show their superiority. Fans had queued for ten hours to get in and they saw Spurs sweep majestically into the semi-final.

Spurs were three ahead by half-time with goals from Les Allen, Bobby Smith and Terry Dyson. After 65 minutes Dyson scored his second and five minutes later Dave Mackay completed the scoring.

Spurs in Histroy - 4th March

4th March, 1961

Sunderland 1 Spurs 1 F.A.Cup 6th Round.

This was a game that tested the soon to be ‘Double’ winning team to the limit. Sunderland were in the 2nd Division and the atmosphere at Roker Park was extraordinary. Cliff Jones gave Spurs the lead after nine minutes with a header from a partially cleared corner. The rest of the half was tranquil but Smith hit the post just before halftime.

However, in the second half Sunderland were transformed and forced Spurs to defend. The 61,236 crowd awoke and roared their team to an equaliser. Weaker teams would have succumbed but Blanchflower galvanized the team which held out for the replay.

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

Spurs in History - a Leap Year Extra

29th February, 1964

Birmingham City 1 Spurs 2 1st Division

This is the last occasion that Spurs played on this unusual date. A First Division game at St. Andrews saw Spurs take the two points through goals from Cliff Jones and a Jimmy Greaves’ penalty. This was a transitional period after the ‘Double’ and Nicholson’s next successful team.

Danny Blanchflower was about to retire through injury, Dave Mackay was injured and Bill Brown and Bobby Smith were out of favour. The team contained some unfamiliar faces, including a centre-half, Laurie Brown, signed from Arsenal, playing at centre-forward.

Nicholson was active in the transfer market and a number of new players would soon be arriving at White Hart Lane, the nucleus of the new team - Alan Mullery, Jimmy Robertson, Pat Jennings and Cyril Knowles would all arrive before the start of the next season.