They Played for Spurs and Manchester United

Nine players have played for both Spurs and Manchester United with the most recent to move between the two clubs being Dimitar Berbatov who signed for United in the summer of 2008.  The most recent player to move from Old Trafford to Tottenham in a permanent deal was Teddy Sheringham when he resigned for Spurs in 2001.

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In recent times, it would appear as if Manchester United have viewed Totttenham as one of their feeder clubs as they have signed Teddy Sheringham, Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov to strengthen their trophy winning teams.  More recently, there has been speculation in the media of their interest in Luka Modric and with their ageing midfield, presumably, a further raid is something Spurs may have to ward off in the coming months.

The second player to play for both Spurs and United was a forward called Jimmy Brown (left).  He had spent two seasons with United and appeared to be a player of promise but after joining Brentford he failed to develop.  He spent two fairly unsuccessful years there before moving across London to join Spurs in 1936.  He made four League appearances without scoring and spent the rest of his time in the reserves before being released at the end of the season.  This raises an obvious question - in the light of his unimpressive time with Brentford, why did Spurs sign him? 

Jack Hall was a goalkeeper who had four seasons with United from 1932.  In season 1935-36, Hall impressed in the two games between the clubs, keeping a clean sheet on both occasions.  United were promoted but Spurs persuaded Hall to sign for them and he made his debut a few weeks ahead of James Brown.  He was almost an ever present in his first season but the next year, a loss of form saw him lose his place to Percy Hooper.  He was unavailable to Spurs during the War and when he returned in 1945 Spurs had Ted Ditchburn as a very promising goalkeeper and Hall was released.  In total he played 67 League and Cup games for Spurs.

Chris McGrath came into the Spurs team during Bill Nicholson's last full season, replacing Alan Gilzean.  From Belfast, he came through the Spurs youth team and made a good impression, especially in the European games as Spurs progressed to the UEFA Cup Final.  He made his debut in a 2 - 0 win over Arsenal in October, 1973 and played 22 League games that year with eight European appearances.  He scored 5 League goals and five goals in UEFA Cup, including one in the semi-final second leg game.  He made his international debut but after that initial successful run, it became more difficult for McGrath under the new manager, Terry Neill.  He joined United in 1976 for £35,000 having made only 47 League and Cup appearances for Spurs.  In five years at Old Trafford he made only 16 full League appearances.

Terry Gibson was another young player at Spurs who made a good start to his career but failed to develop.  He made his debut against Stoke City in December, 1979 while still an apprentice.  He was small in stature but an all action striker.  He made 26 League and Cup appearances, scoring 7 goals but being unable to get a regular place in the team, he joined Coventry City for £100,000 in 1983.  Three years later he joined United and spent eighteen months there but failed to make an impression. He joined Wimbledon where he had the most successful period of his career and was part of their FA Cup success in 1988.

Alan Brazil joined Spurs from Ipswich Town in March, 1983 for £450,000 after six successful years in East Anglia.  The Scottish international striker made 38 appearances for Spurs in all competitions and scored 13 goals.  He joined United in June, 1984 for £750,000 and spent eighteen months at Old Trafford.

Garth Crooks joined Spurs from Stoke in the summer of 1980 to form a goal scoring partnership with Steve Archibald which brought Cup success to Tottenham in the early 1980s.  He had a short loan spell with United in November, 1983.  He eventually joined West Bromwich Albion in July, 1985. He made over 180 League and Cup appearances for Spurs and scored 75 goals.

Teddy Sheringham joined Spurs from Nottingham Forest in 1992 and spent five years with the club before moving to United.  Glenn Hoddle brought him back  to Spurs in 2001 and he spent another two seasons at White Hart Lane.  He scored 98 League goals for Spurs in 236 appearances and his 27 Cup goals puts him combined total of goals, high on Tottenham's record goal scorers list.  in his time with United he scored vital goals as he helped them to League, Cup and European success.

Michael Carrick joined Spurs from West Ham in 2004 and became an integral part of Martin Jol's midfield.  After two seasons, and 64 League appearances, United made an offer for Carrick but Spurs didn't want to sell as he was important to the club's future development.   Eventually an offer of £14 million, rising to £18.6 million was accepted and he joined United in the summer of 2006.  He has made over 160 League appearances for United and added to his international appearances.

Dimitar Berbatov followed Carrick to United two seasons later in a similar but rather acrimonious circumstances.  Berbatov had joined Spurs in May, 2006 from Bayer Leverkusen and scored 27 League goals in 70 League appearances.  He helped them to their Carling Cup success in 2008, scoring the equaliser in the final from the penalty spot.  That summer United made an approach which was rejected but they persisted but after an official complaint by Spurs and as the end of the August transfer approached Berbatov appeared to be refusing to play for Spurs and on the last day of the month he joined United for over £30 million.  Spurs had accepted an offer from Manchester City but United highjacked the move in a chaotic day of transfer business.

Fraizer Campbell came to Spurs on a season's long loan as part of the Berbatov deal.  He made ten League appearances, scoring one, his first Premier League goal, after coming on as a substitute in the defeat at Fulham, the first loss after Redknapp became manager.  He helped Spurs reach the Carling Cup Final, scoring twice against Liverpool in the 4th Round, but was unable to play against United in that game.  He returned to United at the end of the season and joined Sunderland during that summer.
  
To ensure such transfers don't occur again, whereby United are strengthened to the detriment of Spurs, the progress that Spurs have made under Harry Redknapp must be maintained with Champions League football on a regular basis and trophies won as well.

Spurs Home record against United: Here

Spurs' Record against Liverpool at Anfield

Last season Spurs ended Kenny Dalglish's unbeaten home run since his return to Anfield as Liverpool manager and that remains his only home defeat.  Liverpool have shown recent improved form with last weekend's home victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup and holding City in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg match.  Their Premier League home record for this season shows seven draws and only four wins in eleven matches so Spurs will be looking to add to last year's success.

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Up until 1985 Tottenham's annual trip to Anfield was associated with the sinking of the Titanic as Spurs had not won there since before that sad event.  This year, 15th April, 2012 marks the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York.  A month earlier, Spurs had achieved their last win at Anfield on 16th March, 1912.

16th March, 1912  1st Div.  Won 2 - 1  Newman, Mason
Ahead of this game Spurs had won only twice since defeating Woolwich Arsenal 5 - 0 at White Hart Lane on Christmas Day.  There record included five defeats and four draws from eleven League and Cup games.  Spurs goals at Anfield were scored by Ernie Newman and Tom Mason.  This was Mason's only goal for Tottenham and neither player had lengthy careers with Spurs but events over the next 73 years finds them with a place in the Tottenham's history books. Spurs had taken a fifth minute lead with a header from Mason.  Newman added a second before half-time and although Liverpool scored early in the second half they couldn't get a second.  This was Spurs second success in three visits to Anfield, having won by the same score the previous season.

Seventy three years later, on the same date, 16th March, Spurs brought their terrible record at Anfield to an end.  During that time they had played 43 matches in League and Cup competitions, achieving 15 draws and 28 defeats.

16th March, 1985  1st Div.  Won 1 - 0  Crooks
Tottenham were challenging near the top of the 1st Division title but had lost in midweek at home to Manchester United.  It was actually their away record which was keeping them in the title race and they were undefeated in their previous 10 away League games with six victories.  They had lost at Anfield in the 4th Round of the FA Cup but on this occasion a garth Crooks goal with twenty minutes remaining earned them the three points.  Spurs finished the season in third place, level on points with Liverpool.

Over the next 27 years Tottenham have won at Anfield on another five occasions in League and Cup:

Premier League Record at Anfield

P  19  W  2  D  5  L  12  For  17  Ag  38

Last Season

May, 2011  PL  Won 2 - 0  Van der Vaart, Modric (pen)
Liverpool and Spurs were both in contention for a place in the Europa League with two matches tpo play at the end of the season.  Ledley King made a surprise return to the Tottenham defence having been absent since October and helped keep a clean sheet for the first time in ten games.  Rafael van der Vaart gave Spurs an early lead and Luka Modric's second half penalty helped secure the victory and Liverpool's first home defeat since Kenny Dalglish's return as manager.  This was only Spurs second Premier League win at Anfield.

Jan. 2010  PL  Lost 0 - 2
Dirk Kuyt gave Liverpool an early lead but the determining moment in the game came just after half-time when the referee, Howard Webb, who else, disallowed a Jermain Defoe goal for offside, a controversial decision.  A last minute penalty secured victory for the home side.

Oct. 2007  PL  Draw 2 - 2  Keane (2)
Liverpool scored early but Robbie Keane equalised right on half-time.  He then put Spurs ahead two minutes into the second half and looked to have secured the win until a last minute goal snatched it away.

April, 2005  PL  Draw 2 - 2  Edman, Keane
Erik Edman was the scorer of one of the best goals by a Spurs player at Anfield.  His early strike from almost forty yards giving the goalkeeper no chance.  Spurs held the lead until just before half-time but regained the advantage after ten minutes of the second half through Robbie Keane.  Liverpool were level eight minutes later.

Nov. 1998  LC  Won 3 - 1  Iversen, Scales, Nielsen
This victory enabled Spurs to continue on their Road to Wembley and success in the Final of the Worthington Cup against Leicester City.

Mar. 1995  FAC  Won 2 - 1  Sheringham, Klinsmann
Everyone was beginning to think that this was going to be Tottenham's year for the FA Cup.  they had shown great determination to win at Anfield with Jurgen Klinsmann's late goal.  Liverpool had taken the lead late in the first half but Teddy Sheringham brought them level just before the interval.  A draw was looking the most likely result when with two minutes remaining Sheringham put Klinsmann through to score the winner.  Sadly, Everton ended Spurs' Wembley dreams in the semi-final.

Aug. 1993  PL  Won 2 - 1  Sheringham (2) (1 pen)

Oct. 1986  1st Div.  Won 1 - 0  Allen, C.

Ledley King made his debut for Spurs at Anfield in May, 1999, coming on as a substitute in a 2 - 3 defeat.  A Jamie Carragher own goal and a Steffan Iversen gave Spurs the lead at the interval but Liverpool came back in the second half with Jamie Redknapp scoring their first from the penalty spot.
King had come on at half-time in place of Stephen Clemence.

Mar. 1973  1st Div.  Draw 1 - 1  GilzeanOne of the most memorable performances by a Spurs player at Anfield was in a 1 -1 draw in 1973 when Pat Jennings saved two penalties to deny Liverpool.

Keegan had seen the first saved, Jennings diving to his right to palm away.  Smith put the next one to Jennings's left, with similar results.  There is a photograph of Jennings springing up from his second penalty save, punching the air with one hand.  The referee looks on, grinning wildly in sheer disbelief.  On the turf, down on his knees, is Smith, hammering the ground with both fists in impotent rage.

Alan Gilzean had scored the opener, but Keegan eventually put the ball past Jennings with, of course, a mishit, deflected shot.

Spurs who defeated Liverpool by four goals at White Hart Lane in September will hope to reduce the gap on second placed Manchester United to three points with a win at Anfield and secure a second consecutive win at the ground, something they haven't achieved since those two seasons immediately before the sinking of the Titanic.

It's Spurs: 1st January, 1985 - Spurs Take Highbury

On this day 27 years ago, Spurs took the short journey to Highbury and started the new year with a resounding victory over their near neighbours.

Happy New Year from Tottenham Spurs in History Blog

1st January, 1985

Arsenal 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2

Scorers:  Woodcock           Crooks, Falco

Team: Clemence; Stevens, Mabbutt, Roberts, Miller, Perryman, Chiedozie, Hoddle (Allen, C.) Galvin, Crooks, Falco.

Mark Falco

Spurs went into the game leading the 1st Division with 43 points from 22 matches while Arsenal were four points behind.  Also in the chasing pack were Everton, Liverpool and Manchester United.

Peter Shreeve had replaced Keith Burkinshaw as manager and Spurs had been top of the League for much of the first half of the season.

Arsenal dominated the first half at Highbury and took the lead through Tony Woodcock three minutes before half-time.  In the secdond half Spurs much greater determination and started to show the form that had seen them win four of their last five away games.  Captain, Steve Perryman led by example but on the hour it was Glenn Hoddle who demonstrated his magnificent skills as he played a long ball from deep in defence towards the Arsenal area.  It deceived defender and goalkeeper, allowing Garth Crooks to steal in and score his fifth goal in five games.

Tottenham continued to be more purposeful in their play and with seventeen minutes remaining, Tony Galvin passed to Mark Falco and his shot hit the back of the net.

Spurs started the new year with a win at Highbury and remained at the top of the 1st Division.  They didn't lose another away match for the rest of the season but poor home form saw Everton overtake them to win the title as Spurs slipped to third.

1st January, 1986

Roberts Takes out Nicholas at Highbury: Read More 

1st January, 1996 

Spurs 4 Manchester United 1: Read More 

They Played for Spurs and Stoke

Stoke City currently have four former Tottenham players in their squad with three of them moving directly from Spurs to the Brittania Stadium.  Previously, it was less common for direct transfers to occur, more often the players appeared at both clubs at some period in their careers.

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As with QPR and Fulham, the Stoke squad contains a number of former Spurs players.  In the preview for the game against Stoke, I mentioned the importance of those players to Stoke's current team.

Matthew Etherington joined Spurs in a joint deal with Simon Davies from Peterborough United on New Year's Day, 2000.  He was valued at £500,000 but failed to establish himself during his three years at the club.  He made 51 League appearances for Spurs (28 as a substitute) - scoring once in the League against Everton and twice in the Cup.  He joined West Ham United in August, 2003 as part of the deal which brought Fredi Kanoute to Spurs.  In January, 2009 he joined Stoke and has helped the club become established in the Premier League, reach last season FA Cup Final and compete in the Europa League.  One of the reasons for Stoke's disappointing performance at Wembley against Manchester City was that Etherington had rushed back from injury and was not fully fit.

Jonathan Woodgate has had his career blighted by injury at Leeds United, Newcastle United, Real Madrid, Middlesbrough and Spurs.  He joined Spurs from Middlesbrough in January, 2008 for £7.5 million and became an instant hero when he scored the winning goal against Chelsea at Wembley in the Carling Cup Final.  That was the highlight of his time with Spurs as he was often out injured and only made 49 League appearances.  He played only 15 minutes of football in his final eighteen months at the club.  Much time was spent undergoing operations and treatment in an effort to resolve his injury problems.  Since joining Stoke he has appeared in nine Premier League matches but has sat out the midweek Cup and European games.

Peter Crouch

Peter Crouch started his career with the Surs youth team but moved on to QPR and then appeared for a number of clubs including Portsmouth (twice), Aston Villa, Southampton and Liverpool before following Harry Redknapp from Fratton Park to rejoin Tottenham in July, 2009.  He made 73 League appearances for Spurs but only scored twelve goals although it was his goal against Manchester City in May, 2010 that guaranteed Spurs their first season of Champions League football.  Ironically, it was his own goal a year later in the same fixture that took City in to the Champions League.  It was in Europe that he was most effective when foreign defenders failed to cope with his height and as with England he scored more frequently, scoring 22 international goals from 42 appearances.  His early sending off against Real Madrid brought Spurs Champions League campaign to a disappointing end at the quarter final stage.  He joined Stoke at the end of August for a fee of £10 million.

Wilson Palacios has struggled with injury since joining Stoke last August.  Spurs received about £6 million for the player who had joined them from Wigan in January, 2009 for £12 million.  He made 65 League appearances and scored once against Hull City.  In his final season he appeared less frequently in the team as Sandro became more accustomed to English football and competition for places in central midfield became more intense.

Garth Crooks is the last player to move in the opposite direction, coming to Tottenham in the summer of 1981 to join up with Steve Archibald in a striking partnership which would take the team to two FA Cup successes.  He became the forgotten man of the 1981 Cup win as Ricky Villa's goals in the semi-final and final overshadowed his contribution to the success.  He signed for £650,000 and moved on to West Brom on a free transfer in August, 1985, having had a period on loan with Manchester United.  He scored 48 goals in 125 League appearances for Spurs and 27 Cup and European goals in 57 appearances.

Ian Moores joined Spurs from Stoke in 1976 as they battled against relegation.  They failed to avoid the drop but Moores helped the club gain promotion the following year.  He scored a hat-trick in the 9 - 0 demolition of Bristol Rovers but the following season, after two years with Tottenham he joined Leyton Orient.  Following his retirement he went into coaching but sadly died after illness at the age of 43.

Other players who have played for both clubs but not consecutively, are:
Jimmy Robertson scored in the 1967 FA Cup Final win over Chelsea but joined Arsenal eighteen months later and then had five years at Stoke after a time with Ipswich Town.

Ray Evans came through the youth system at Spurs but in the early 1970s struggled to establish himself in the team ahead of Joe Kinnear.  He made 133 League appearances at full back but in January, 1975 signed for Millwall.  He joined Stoke in 1979 after two years at Fulham.

Tony Parks, the current goalkeeping coach with Spurs and hero of the 1984 UEFA Cup Final win made two appearances for Stoke in 1992.  He came through Spurs youth system but in eight years with the club he made only 37 appearances.  His big moment came in 1984 when Ray Clemence was injured and he had the opportunity for an extended run in the team which took them to the UEFA Cup Final penalty shoot-out success.

Gary Brooke who was substitute for the 1981 and 1982 FA Cup Finals had a loan period at Stoke later in his career after leaving White Hart Lane.  Brooke came through the youth system and was a hard tackling midfielder with a powerful shot.  A serious car accident threatened his career and restricted his appearances for Spurs.

Paul Stewart and Paul Allen who played in the 1991 FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest both played for Stoke after leaving Tottenham.

Gerard McMahon, a young midfield player who made a few first team appearances following his transfer from Glenavon in Northern Ireland for £100,000 joined Stoke for £450,000 in 1996 after two years at White Hart Lane.

Hans Segers who came to Spurs late in his career as goalkeeping cover and then coach, had time with Stoke in earlier days.

Two older players who played for both clubs - Joe Brough, a half back, who made two appearances for Spurs in their first season in the Football League in 1908.  He joined from Stoke City having had a season with them and moved on to Port Vale in 1909.

Charlie Wilson was a centre forward who played for Spurs from 1919 to 1922.  He then had six years with Stoke after signing for them in 1925.  He scored 27 League goals in 55 appearances for Spurs before joining Huddersfield Town.  In his time with Stoke he scored 110 goals in over 150 League appearances.

They Played for Tottenham and West Brom

There have been surprisingly few transfers between Tottenham and West Bromwich Albion with only a small number of players who have turned out for both clubs at some time during their careers.

This is the fifty ninth season that Tottenham and West Brom have been opponents in League competitions with the vast majority of those taking place at the highest level.  However, very few players have represented both clubs and the only direct transfers between the two clubs involved Ruel Fox who moved from Spurs to West Brom in 2000 and Garth Crooks who went to Albion in 1985.

Garth Crooks

Garth Crooks

Crooks was an important member of the successful Tottenham team of the early 1980s.  He joined Spurs in July, 1980 for £650,000 and immediately formed an exciting goal scoring partnership with another summer signing, Steve Archibald.  The Tottenham team which had gained promotion in 1978 was struggling to score goals but the Crooks/Archibald partnership solved that problem as the team went on to win successive FA Cup Finals in 1981 and 1982.  Crooks scored in the replays of 1981 semi-final and Final but his contribution to the success tends to be overlooked due to the spectacular nature of the goals scored by Ricky Villa in both matches.  Crooks lost form and his regular place in the team and although he did appear more often in 1984 - 85, he was transferred to West Brom for £100,000 in August, 1985.  After a short period with Albion he joined Charlton Athletic. 

There's Only One - Ruel Fox.
Ruel Fox was signed by Tottenham from Newcastle United (yet another one), in October, 1995 for a fee of £4.25 million, making him, at that time, Tottenham's second most expensive signing behind Chris Armstrong who had been signed for a fee of £4.5 million the previous summer.  In five years with the club he made 106 League appearances, scoring 13 goals.  In 2000, he went on loan to Albion and joined them in a permanent deal during the summer for £200,000.

Freddie Cox
The first player to play for both clubs was Freddie Cox who was at Tottenham before and after the Second World War.  He signed in 1938, making his debut against Swansea Town in November of that year, scoring in a 1 - 1 draw.  Although the war took out a large portion of his career, he was still a regular member of the team until 1949.  He was a winger but with the emergence of Sonny Walters, Cox was allowed to join Arsenal for £12,000.  In 1953 he went to WBA as player/coach and later assistant manager.  On his retirement he went into management and masterminded Bournemouth's FA Cup success over Tottenham in 1957.

Steve Walford left Spurs for Arsenal in 1977 and towards the end of his career he had a period on loan with WBA.

Gerry Armstrong had a short time with Albion after returning from Spain.  He had left Tottenham and joined Watford in 1980.


Graham Roberts made his name at Tottenham and was a vital member of the 1980s Cup success.  He played in the FA Cup Finals and captained the team in the UEFA Cup triumph over Anderlecht in 1984.  Roberts led by example, scoring the equalising goal and taking the first penalty in the shoot-out.

He joined Rangers in 1986, Chelsea in 1988 and moved on to West Bromwich Albion in November, 1990.

Managers
Two former Tottenham players have been the manager of West Brom - Vic Buckingham in the 1950s.  They won the FA Cup and were second in the 1st Division in his first full season in charge. 

Ossie Ardiles had a season (1992 - 93) at The Hawthorns leading them to promotion, before joining Tottenham following the departure of Terry Venables.

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 - 22nd August

22nd August, 1981

Aston Villa 2 Spurs 2 F.A.Charity Shield at Wembley.

Spurs gave a debut in goal to Ray Clemence in place of FA Cup winner Milija Aleksic. Clemence had been signed from Liverpool for £300,000 to help strengthen the defence. However, he had a poor debut with handling errors and his mistake brought about Villa’s first goal to give them the lead after thirty minutes.

Clemence eventually went on to establish himself and prove his value to the club. Spurs' goals were scored by Mark Falco who was playing in place of the injured Garth Crooks. The goals came either side of half time but Spurs only held the lead for a few minutes before Villa levelled the scores. This was a game that Spurs could have won but both teams shared the trophy.

Spurs in History - 16th August

16th August, 1980

Spurs 2 Nottingham Forest 0 (1st Division)

The opening day of the season with the usual high expectations. For the previous two seasons Spurs were short of a goal scorer but during the summer Keith Burkinshaw signed two players in an attempt to resolve this problem.

Steve Archibald was signed from Aberdeen and Garth Crooks came from Stoke City and a very successful partnership it was to prove, setting Spurs on the way to further success. Both made their debuts in this game and Crooks scored the second goal, Hoddle having given Spurs the lead with a penalty.

Archibald scored in the next game, Crooks scored twice and another in his third game. The team then hit a difficult spell not scoring for the next four games but they had shown their worth.

Spurs in History - 8th August

8th August, 1981

Glentoran 3 Spurs 3 (Pre-season Friendly)

Tottenham Hotspur, the F.A.Cup winners brought the trophy to Belfast and received a great welcome. Ossie Ardiles, Glenn Hoddle, Ricky Villa, Steve Perryman, Steve Archibald and Gaham Roberts were all present in what was an entertaining game.

New signing Paul Price played in place of Paul Miller and Mark Falco replaced Garth Crooks.

The local side gave a good account of themselves being one up at half time and Spurs had to work hard for the draw. Hoddle equalised with a penalty, Mark Falco (called Faldo in a local newspaper report) put them ahead only for Glentoran to equalise. Ardiles put Spurs ahead but with three minutes left the home side equalised.

Spurs in History - 4th August

4th August, 1984

Enfield Town 0 Spurs 7 (Pre-season Friendly)

This game is of note among an increasing number of pre-season friendlies because Spurs fielded two members of the Argentinean World Cup winning team.

Ossie Ardiles was joined by Mario Kempes who was on a two game trial. He had been playing in Spain but failed to score in either game and was not offered a contract.

The goals in this game were scored by Garth Crooks(4), Gary Stevens, Garry Brooke and Mike Hazard.

Spurs in History - 10th June

10th June, 1981

Trabzonspor 0 Spurs 4 (Friendly)

After winning the F.A.Cup Spurs played three games in Bahrain and Kuwait at the end of May, winning all of them.

In mid-June they went to Turkey for two games which they also won convincingly. For this game Steve Archibald was the only member of the Cup winning team not to play. Mark Falco replaced him and scored one of the goals, the others being scored by Ricky Villa, Ossie Ardiles and Garth Crooks.

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 - 15th April

Villa and Crooks(2) - Spurs' Goal scorers at Highbury against Wolves in FA Cup S/F Replay

15th April, 1981

Spurs 3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 F.A.Cup Semi-Final Replay at Highbury.

The perfect place for Spurs to win an exciting replay. Determined not to be deprived of their place at Wembley as they had been the previous Saturday, Spurs were fired up for the game from the outset and took an early lead when Garth Crooks headed the opening goal.

Wolves came back strongly but couldn’t get an equaliser. Then just before half-time Crooks scored the second when taking a Glenn Hoddle pass, he finished with ease.

Spurs were celebrating and Ricky Villa sealed the victory with a great goal scored from thirty yards. A great victory and a stylish performance as ‘Spurs were on their way to Wembley’ again to meet Manchester City in the Centenary Final.

Spurs in History - 3rd April

3rd April, 1982
Spurs 2 Leicester City 0 F.A.Cup Semi-Final at Villa Park.

Ossie Ardiles played his last game of the season for Spurs as he returned to Argentina to prepare for the World Cup. However, there was the additional problem of the Falklands War and Ardiles was constantly booed by the Leicester fans. Leicester were in the 2nd Division and Spurs eventually wore them down in the second half. After 56 minutes Ardiles centred for Garth Crooks to score. Leicester lost a player to injury and their ten men battled gamely but in the 76th minute conceded a soft own goal. The defender with many options to clear lifted his back pass over the goalkeeper’s head.

Spurs in History - 16th March

16th March, 1912 & 1985
Victory at Anfield

Spurs won the 1st Division game in 1912 by 2-1 through goals from Ernie Newman and Thomas Mason, two players who don’t rank highly in Spurs history making only 39 appearances between them and this was the only goal scored by Mason.

However, events over the next 73 years brought greater significance to their feat that day because in that time no Spurs team won at Anfield. Amazingly, on the exact same date in 1985 Spurs unexpectedly returned to London having won 1-0, thanks to a goal from Garth Crooks. It was a well deserved victory and at last Spurs supporters didn’t have to listen to tales linking the ‘Titanic’ and their results at Anfield.

Bye Bye Jimmy – on this day in 1970 Spurs greatest goalscorer, Jimmy Greaves, was transferred to West Ham United.

Spurs in History - 21st October

Oyvind Leonardsen

21st October, 2000

Spurs 3 Derby County 1 (Premiership)

Scorers: Leonhardsen (2), Carr

Going into this game with only one point from the previous four games, Spurs were looking for improvement against a Derby team which was struggling at the bottom of the Premiership without a win to their name.

Spurs started brightly and scored within four minutes through Oyvind Leonhardsen. However, after putting Derby under further pressure, they failed to score and Derby equalised six minutes before half-time.

Stephen Carr regained the lead for Spurs scoring on the stroke of half-time with a low shot from 30 yards.

A second goal from Leonhardsen after three minutes of the second half gave Spurs a comfortable victory.  Leonhardsen’s day ended disappointingly with an injury that was to keep him out for the next two months.

Pressure was mounting on George Graham with the fans showing their dissatisfaction at the style of play.

Team:

Sullivan, Carr, Thatcher, Vega, Perry, Anderton (Dominguez), Sherwood, Clemence, Leonhardsen (Davies), Ferdinand, Rebrov (Korsten).

21st October, 1981

Dundalk 1 Spurs 1 (European Cup Winners' Cup 2nd Round 1st Leg)

Scorer: Crooks

Having overcome Ajax in the 1st Round with an aggregate score of 6-1 from victories in both games, Spurs must have been expecting a comfortable journey into the next round when drawn against the part-time players of Dundalk in the Republic of Ireland.

However, Spurs were in for a shock and were relieved to get away with a draw thanks to Garth Crooks goal. This was a full strength team with only Ricky Villa missing from the side that beat Manchester City in the FA Cup Final Replay at Wembley.

21st October, 1893

Spurs 0 Old St. Mark's 0 (London Senior Cup 1st Round)

October, 1893 – ‘Ernie Payne’s Boots’
Even in their non-League days Spurs ran into difficulties with officialdom.  Founded in 1882, Spurs’ early football was a mix of friendly games and Cup competitions under their amateur status.  Eleven years after their formation on this day in 1893, Spurs drew 0 - 0 in a 1st Round London Senior Cup tie against Old St Marks.  For that game, a new name, ‘Burton’, appeared on the team sheet, to play on the left wing for Spurs.  This was in fact, Ernie Payne who was on Fulham’s books but being unable to get into their team, he accepted an invitation to play for Spurs. However, when he arrived at Tottenham he had no kit.  Spurs provided him with shirt, shorts and socks but were unable to find boots to fit him.  They gave him a loan of ten shillings (50p) to buy a pair of boots on the understanding that they would belong to Spurs.  However, when Fulham heard about this they accused Spurs of ‘poaching’ their player and ‘professionalism’.  Spurs were immediately called before the London Football Association to answer these charges.

The charge of poaching was dismissed but the charge of inducing a player and professionalism was upheld.  The penalty imposed on Spurs was harsh – their ground at Northumberland Park was closed for two weeks, Spurs were suspended for a similar period and Ernie Payne was suspended for a week even though he had repaid the money to Spurs.  An appeal was lodged but it was unsuccessful, the London F.A. being strongly opposed to anything suggesting of professionalism, a view that was holding back the development of football in London.

This matter became known as the ‘Ernie Payne Boots Affair’ and while Payne continued to play for Spurs, he is remembered for the longer term consequence of the matter in that Spurs, frustrated by the views held by the London FA, decided to turn professional.  The club had received tremendous public support over the matter with the general view being that the London FA had been high-handed and had treated Spurs very severely.  At a meeting in December, 1895, the decision was taken that Spurs would turn professional.

16th March - Spurs in History

16th March, 1985
Liverpool 0 Spurs 1

Garth Crooks

Before Spurs recent local difficulty with Chelsea, there was Liverpool at Anfield. As commentators still love to remind us, before this win in 1985, Spurs had failed to win at Anfield since before the sinking of the Titanic.

In the week prior to this game Spurs had lost at home to Manchester United so were not in the best of form for such a game.  Their prospects did not look good and with Spurs record at Anfield the odds were stacked heavily in favour of Liverpool.

However, the team showed much resilience throughout and took the game to Liverpool.  Midway through the second half (70th minute) came the defining moment. Mark Falco charged down a Liverpool clearance, ignored calls for hand ball he played the ball to Micky Hazard whose shot was blocked by the Liverpool goalkeeper, Grobbellaar. The ball ran to Garth Crooks who scored to end one of the longest records in football.

Team: Clemence, Thomas, Hughton, Roberts, Miller, Perryman, Chiedozie (Hazard), Falco, Galvin, Hoddle, Crooks.


For the record:

16th March, 1912
Liverpool 1 Spurs 2

Ironically, Spurs previous victory at Anfield had also been on 16th March.  Spurs goals came from Ernie Numan and Thomas Mason.

Little did they know that it would be 73 years before Spurs would record another win at Anfield.

'C' Team for Tottenham-Spur

Martin Chivers celebrates with Bill Nicholson

The letter 'C' creates a problem.  Do I include a former captain who will be nameless and defected to our North London neighbours?
Answer: NO!

GK: Ray Clemence - part of the success of the early 1980s

RB: Tommy Clay - 1920s FA Cup winner

LB: Ernest Coquet - member of team in Spurs first season in Football League

CB: Harry Clarke - member of 'Push and Run' side of 1950s

CB: Peter Collins - played in 1971 League Cup winning team

M: Ralph Coates - scored winning goal in 1973 League Cup win

M: Michael Carrick - member of present team

M: John Chiedozie - member of mid-1980s team

F: Nico Claesen - Belgian International in 1980s

F: Martin Chivers - played a major part in success of 1970s

F: Garth Crooks - vital partnership with Archibald in success of 1970s

Sub: Alfie Conn - Bill Nicholson's last signing.