Spurs in History - 27th May

27th May, 1982

Spurs 1 Queens Park Rangers 0 F.A.CUP FINAL REPLAY at Wembley.

This was Spurs 66th competitive game of the season and Captain Steve Perryman had been an ever present. It was hoped that the replay would be more entertaining than the first game and Spurs started brightly, taking the lead from a Glenn Hoddle penalty after Graham Roberts had been brought down on a strong run from midfield.

Spurs controlled the game without looking like adding to the score but in the second half Q.P.R. came at Spurs who had to defend doggedly with Ray Clemence making a number of good saves.

In the end Spurs were just relieved to hold on and have some reward for their long and exhausting season. They finished fourth in the League, reached the Final of the League Cup losing to Liverpool in extra time and were defeated in the semi-final of the European Cup Winners Cup by Barcelona. They retained the FA Cup and were still undefeated in seven F.A.Cup Finals, the defeat by Liverpool being their first defeat in a domestic Cup Final and their first in a Final at Wembley.

Team: Clemence; Perryman (Capt), Miller, Price, Hughton; Hazard (Brooke), Roberts,Hoddle, Galvin; Archibald, Crooks.

Spurs in History - 22nd May

22nd May, 1982

Spurs 1 Queen’s Park Rangers 1 F.A.CUP FINAL at Wembley (aet).

In their Centenary year, it was now down to this game if Spurs were to have any reward for a long and exhausting season which at one point had looked so promising. Fourth in the League, they had reached the League Cup Final and ECWC semi-finals and now success depended on this one game against 2nd Division Q.P.R., managed by Terry Venables.

It wasn’t a great game, Spurs, without Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa, were lethargic with weariness taking over and the doggedness of QPR making it very difficult. Scoreless after ninety minutes, Spurs went ahead in extra-time with a shot from Glenn Hoddle only for QPR to level and another replay was required.

Team: Clemence; Perryman (Capt), Miller, Price, Hughton: Hazard (Brooke), Roberts, Hoddle, Galvin: Archibald, Crooks.

Spurs in History - 21st May

21st May, 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 Pat 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.

Spurs in History - 20th May

20th May, 1967
Spurs 2 Chelsea 1 F.A.CUP FINAL at Wembley.

Spurs won the first all London Cup Final in a comfortable manner. It was only in the last few minutes that Chelsea became the force that everyone had expected them to be. The Spurs defence marshalled the Chelsea forwards and Alan Mullery and Dave Mackay dominated the game although the ‘star’ was Joe Kinnear, at right back, who played as if he was a seasoned professional but had only come into the team because of an injury to Phil Beal earlier in the year.

Jimmy Robertson scored the first after Mullery’s shot had rebounded to him and Frank Saul added the second in the second half. Chelsea scored just before the end but the Cup was returning to White Hart Lane.

Spurs had five F.A. Cup wins from five Cup Final appearances.

Team: Jennings; Kinnear, Knowles; Mullery, England, Mackay (Captain); Robertson, Greaves, Gilzean, Venables, Saul. Sub: Jones.

Spurs in History - 18th May

18th May, 1991

Spurs' Last F.A.Cup Success

Spurs 2 Nottingham Forest 1 (aet) F.A.CUP FINAL at Wembley

A difficult season ended in glory but at the expense of injury to the star who had single-handedly brought the team to the Final. Paul Gascoigne had been the talisman throughout the early rounds of the competition and inspired the team in the semi-final.

However, he was so fired up for the Final that he appeared to be almost out of control and in fact lasted only 13 minutes when he was carried off injured. Spurs were a goal down from the free-kick that had been awarded for his reckless challenge and he could have been sent off for an earlier indiscretion.

The rest of the team responded positively to these set backs and gradually pulled themselves back into the game. Gary Lineker had a goal disallowed for off-side and then had a penalty saved after being pulled down.

Into the second half and Paul Stewart stepped forward and proved himself the hero by scoring the equaliser to take the game into extra time.

From a corner, Des Walker deflected the ball into his own goal and Spurs had won their eighth F.A.Cup, a new record.

The future of the club was still in doubt and Gascoigne’s career never really reached the heights that had promised before his serious injury.

Team: Thorstvedt; Edinburgh, Van den Hauwe; Sedgley, Howells, Mabbutt (Captain); Stewart, Gascoigne (Nayim), Samways (Walsh), Lineker, Allen.

Spurs in History - 17th May

17th May, 1972

Spurs 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1

UEFA CUP FINAL (2nd Leg)

Although ahead from the first game, this was a close, hard fought game. Playing their 68th competitive game, Spurs were drained but Alan Mullery increased their lead in the 29th minute when he threw himself full-length to head in a Martin Peters free-kick, injuring himself in the process.

However, he was able to continue and although Wolves equalised before half-time, they were unable to gain the ascendancy to threaten Spurs overall lead.

Alan Mullery went on to lift the trophy to give Spurs their second European trophy, the first British club to achieve that. It was to be his final competitive game for Spurs and while the rest of the weary squad retreated to the dressing rooms, he completed his own personal lap of honour surrounded by the jubilant fans.

Team: Jennings; Kinnear, Knowles: Mullery (Captain), England, Beal; Gilzean, Perryman, Chivers, Peters, Coates

Spurs in History - 16th May

16th May, 1987

Spurs' First Defeat in the FA Cup Final

Coventry City 3 Spurs 2 F.A.CUP FINAL at Wembley (aet).

The unthinkable had happened, Spurs lost an F.A.Cup Final.

A season that had promised so much had ended disappointingly with Spurs having nothing to show for all their exciting play and effort – David Pleat's ‘nearly’ team – beaten semi-finalists in the League Cup and third in the League. Spurs were favourites to win the Cup against unfancied Coventry and it had started so well with Clive Allen scoring his 49th goal of the season after two minutes. Coventry equalised shortly afterwards only for Gary Mabbuttt to restore Spurs’ lead.

In a very open game Coventry drew level to take the game into extra time and eventually won the Cup when a cross hit Gay Mabbutt and looped over Ray Clemence’s head into the goal.

Great disappointment and very hard on the great club player Mabbutt. A very disappointing end to a long season and especially for Glenn Hoddle who was playing his last game for Spurs.

Team: Clemence; Hughton (Claesen), Thomas,M.; Hodge, Gough (Captain), Mabbutt; Allen, C.,Allen, P.,Waddle, Hoddle, Ardiles (Stevens)

Spurs in History - 14th May

14th May, 1981

Spurs 3 Manchester City 2 F.A.CUP FINAL REPLAY at Wembley.

If the first match was a disappointment, the Replay made up for it. Many thought that Ricky Villa had missed his chance in that game but Keith Burkinshaw kept faith in him and he was repaid handsomely.

Within seven minutes Villa had given Spurs the lead but this only lasted three minutes as City equalised with a spectacular goal. Both teams were creating chances and City went ahead five minutes into the second half from a penalty.

The match became tense with tackles flying in on both sides. In the 71st minute Spurs equalised with a goal from Crooks.

Seven minutes later, Ricky Villa stepped forward and dribbled around and through the City defence to score the most incredible Cup Final winner of all time – Saturday’s ‘failure’ had become the Hero with a never to be forgotten goal.

Team: Aleksic; Perryman(Capt), Miller, Roberts, Hughton; Ardiles, Hoddle, Villa, Galvin; Archibald, Crooks. Sub:Brooke

Spurs in History - 13th May

13th May, 1967

Spurs 2 Sheffield United 0 (1st Division)

A successful end to a season as Spurs, undefeated from mid-January, climbed to third place in the League and were looking forward to a Cup Final appearance against Chelsea in a week’s time.

With a full strength team playing, the goals to ensure Spurs 24th win of the season were scored by Jimmy Greaves and Frank Saul.

Spurs had won nine of their previous ten games, the only blemish on that record was a scoreless draw at Liverpool. Having lost on Boxing Day, the team suffered only one defeat in twenty League games and were unbeaten in eight Cup games. They won 13 of the League games and drew six.

Spurs in History - 9th May

9th May, 1981

Spurs 1 Manchester City 1 F.A.CUP FINAL at Wembley (aet).

The 100th F.A.Cup Final produced a disappointing display from Spurs in a game which is best remembered for the long, lonely walk of a disconsolate Ricky Villa as he slowly trudged around Wembley, having been substituted.

Spurs record of being undefeated in Cup Finals was still in place but it was a close run thing and they were eternally grateful to City’s Tommy Hutchinson for deflecting Hoddle’s shot from a free kick past his own goalkeeper with ten minutes left.

Hutchinson had given City the lead after half an hour and Spurs were glad of an opportunity to redeem themselves on another day in the replay.

Team: Aleksic; Perryman(Captain), Miller, Roberts, Hughton; Ardiles, Hoddle, Villa(Brooke), Galvin; Archibald, Crooks.

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 - 3rd May

3rd May, 1972

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Spurs 2 UEFA CUP FINAL (1st Leg)

An all English Final, disappointed players and supporters alike who had been hoping for further success on foreign fields.

Both teams played cautiously and it was as the hour approached that Martin Chivers broke the deadlock with a majestic headed goal from a long free kick taken by Mike England. Wolves equalised from a quick free-kick, twelve minutes later.

Spurs were now under pressure until Chivers awoke from his ‘famed’ lethargy and collected the ball out wide and headed for goal to crash home a shot from thirty yards - a goal worthy of any final.

Team: Jennings; Kinnear, Knowles; Mullery (Captain), England, Beal; Gilzean, Perryman, Chivers, Peters, Coates (Pratt).

Spurs in History - 27th April

27th April, 1901

Non-League Spurs FA Cup Winners

Spurs 3 Sheffield United 1 F.A.CUP FINAL REPLAY at Bolton

Only 20,740 were present to see Spurs go a goal behind, five minutes before half-time. The goal had been against the run of play and Spurs continued to take the game to United and equalised after 55 minutes from John Cameron.

Spurs then went ahead when winger Smith scored and Sandy Brown ensured victory with a header from the third of three quick corners, with seven minutes remaining.

Brown had become the first player to score in every round of the Cup, scoring 15 goals. On the final whistle joyous Spurs fans invaded the pitch and when the team returned to London at 1.00am the next morning, the fans who had been waiting for three hours, gave them a tremendous reception.

Team: Clawley; Erentz, Tait; Morris, Hughes, Jones (Captain); Smith, Cameron, Brown, Copeland, Kirwan.

Spurs in History - 23rd April

23rd April, 1921

Spurs 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 F.A.CUP FINAL at Stamford Bridge

The year ends in ‘1’ and Spurs have reached their second final against 2nd Division, Wolves. Just before kick off a torrential thunderstorm turned the pitch into a quagmire making it very difficult for both teams to play any football, the ball constantly sticking in the mud.

One piece of inspiration from 20 year old winger, Jimmy Dimmock, after 55 minutes was enough to win the trophy for Spurs. Picking up the ball on the left wing he made progress then cut in, ignoring other team members, he escaped the defenders and his shot from fifteen yards skidded off the greasy surface, under the body of the Wolves goalkeeper.

Team: Hunter; Clay, McDonald; Smith, Walters, Grimsdell (Captain); Banks, Seed, Cantrell, Bliss, Dimmock.

Spurs in History - 20th April

20th April, 1901

Spurs 2 Sheffield United 2 F.A.CUP FINAL at Crystal Palace

The non-League Giant Killers had reached the Final but no-one expected them to win again. An attendance of 114,815 watched as Spurs took on the experienced League team who took the lead after twelve minutes. Spurs equalised through Sandy Brown, thirteen minutes later and he put them ahead five minutes after half time.

However, a dubious refereeing decision gave United an equaliser one minute later. George Clawley, the Spurs goalkeeper, fumbled a shot but when challenged managed to scramble it clear for a corner as signalled by the linesman. However, the referee awarded the goal that never was. From this point the game drifted to a draw and a replay.

Two nights after the Replay, cinematic newsreel shots showed that the ball had not crossed the line and the United equaliser should not have counted.