On This Day in 1984 - UEFA Cup Win

UEFA Cup Success - Tony Parks, the Super Hero
23rd May, 1984 v Anderlecht [UEFA Cup Final (2nd Leg)]  Draw 1 - 1 

1984 UEFA Cup Winners

Coming to the game all square at 1 - 1 after the away leg Spurs found themselves a goal down and it took an equaliser from stand-in captain Graham Robers to take the game to extra time and penalties.  Roberts led by example scoring the first penalty and Tony Parks saved the first Anderlecht penalty.  Mark Falco, Gary Stevens and Steve Archibald all scored as did the Anderlecht players.  At 4-3 in Spurs' favour, Danny Thomas saw his shot saved.  The next man for Anderlecht was Arnor Gudjohnsen, father of Eidur, who had replaced Frank Arnesen. Parks dived to his right to save and then set off in celebration around White Hart Lane.

In what was Keith Burkinshaw's last game as manager, Tottenham were without Captain, Steve Perryman, suspended, Glenn Hoddle, injured, while Ossie Ardiles was only able to play a bit part due to injury.

Team: Parks; Thomas, Roberts, Miller (Ardiles), Hughton; Hazard, Mabbutt (Dick), Stevens, Galvin; Falco, Archibald

It's Spurs: 1st January, 1986 - Roberts Takes Out Nicholas

Graham Roberts has a 'legendary' reputation as the 'hardman' of the Tottenham team of the 1980s.  It was enhanced twenty six years ago today as Spurs and Arsenal met at Highbury.

1st January, 1986

Arsenal 0 Tottenham 0

Graham Roberts - Tottenham's hardman of the 1980s

The main talking point during and after this scoreless draw at Highbury on New Year's Day 1986 was Graham Roberts' challenge on Charlie Nicholas which deposited the Arsenal player in the crowd.

The match was the first goal-less draw between the two clubs at Highbury in 77 years of competitive action.  That, however, was to given little thought or discussion when there were was something of greater interest to chew over.

'The Times' reported the incident as follows:

'Despite spurts of genius from Ardiles, Hoddle and Nicholas, it was regrettably true that the game would be best remembered for one horrendous tackle by Roberts on Nicholas which carried both players off the field, through an advertising hoarding and into the laps of th eringside spectators.

Roberts' 'tackle' had all the finesse of  acharging rhino but thoiugh hopeless ill-times - as so many of his challenges this season have been - I do not believe it was malicious.  For a moment it threatened to spark a riot as Arsenal players reacted furiously to the referee's decision merely to warn Roberts.  Peter Shreeve, the Tottenham manager, commented: "Roberts was totally committed.  Charlie never complained.  And he's an honest lad.  Situations in front of the main stand always do tend to flare up."

Fortunately tempers cooled before any real damage could be done, the hoarding apart.  The least affected seemed Roberts who ten minutes later went in a trifle roughly on Davis as if to prove his mental well-being and was booked by the referee with a keenness that suggested he had had self-recriminations about his earlier decision to absolve Roberts.' 

On such events are reputations built and for that act alone, Graham Roberts will be forever remembered by Tottenham supporters, never mind his goals and all-action performances which helped to bring silverware to White Hart Lane during his time with the club.

1st January, 1985 

 Spurs Take Highbury: Read more

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.

Tottenham - A Winning Mentality

Do Spurs have that desire to win at any cost which the top clubs possess?  Those clubs have players who don't know what it is to be beaten and when they are, they don't like it.  That makes them stand out from all the other clubs around them but do the players at Tottenham have that same desire and winning mentality?

Is Scott Parker a Leader for Spurs?

Tottenham have always been regarded as a soft touch - a team who won't perform on a cold wet night in the north west.  Players will go missing and won't take responsibility when the going gets tough.  Do the current players have the desire to turn such opinions around?

Last year the team managed to gain 22 points from losing positions but they gained only 11 points out of a possible thirty from the bottom five teams in the Premier League which affected their final position dramatically.

The team has won their last two Premier League games but went out of the Carling Cup on penalties at Stoke.  The weakened team contained eight international players but they were unable to score in two hours of football and when it came to penalties their defeat was the sixth consecutive penalty shoot-out loss. When it came to the pressure of the shoot-out, it was an international striker, Roman Pavlyuchenko, who missed a crucial early strike so transferring the pressure to other less experienced players.  Similarly, the defeats in the Carling Cup Final and UEFA Cup match against PSV Eindhoven saw seasoned Premier League players with international experience miss vital kicks at a crucial time in the shoot-out, David Bentley and Jermaine Jenas.

Top teams regularly play under-strength sides in the early rounds of the domestic Cup competitions and have progressed to the latter stages, even going on to lift the Cup.  Tottenham's squad players aided by some talented youngsters weren't able to produce a similar result this week.

The victory at Wolves suggested greater application from the team against opposition who have proved difficult opponents since returning to the Premier League.  The win over Liverpool was pleasing in the energy that the players showed from the start taking the game to their visitors and not giving them a chance to control the game.  The four goal success was their largest win over Liverpool since 1963, so we shouldn't be too critical. However, the one question that has lingered in my mind since last Sunday is - should it have been more?

If things had been the other way round - Spurs at Anfield, reduced to nine men and three down with twenty five minutes remaining, would Liverpool have settled for four?  I suggest that they would have gone for the jugular and it would have been an even greater embarrassment than Liverpool felt last weekend.  Manchester United didn't settle for 5 - 1 or 6 - 2 against Arsenal they went for it and left the visitors totally shell-shocked.  Spurs, however, having gone three up and with Liverpool offering nothing, settled for playing 'keep ball' with pass after pass in midfield, not looking to create anything and Liverpool were content to let them do that as they weren't under any threat.  A team  with a winning mentality would have benn looking to create more chances, score more goals and make their opponents really suffer, as frequently happens to Spurs.  As it was Tottenham's fourth goal didn't come until the last kick of added time with Emmanuel Adebayor putting away Benoit Assou-Ekotto's cross.

Successful teams have players who lead by example and never know when they're beaten.  Steven Gerrard is the perfect example of that special type of player when he is wearing the 'red' of Liverpool.  He has pulled them through many 'lost' causes to success and they have an outstanding penalty-shoot record in vital European and Cup games.  Last season's defeat to Northampton Town at Anfield when Tottenham's Oscar Janssen was in goal for the visitors was an amazing 'blip' on an incredible record.  Manchester United had Roy Keane and Brian Robson who led by example, Livwerpool also had former Spur, Graeme Souness, but it is some time since Spurs had such a player in the team.

Graham Robers - a Leader

The most notable example is Dave Mackay from the 1960s with Graham Roberts and Paul Miller created from the same mould.  In Tottenham's UEFA Cup Final success in 1984, Roberts scored the equalising goal against Anderlecht and then led by example as captain on the night, by scoring the first penalty in the successful shoot-out.  Alan Mullery and Steve Perryman had similar qualities and were prepared to roll up their sleeves and get on with it when the going was difficult.  Who of recent Tottenham experience has had such a presence in the team?  William Gallas is certainly a 'winner' who doesn't take kindly to losing and on a number of occasions last year he showed that spirit when battling on with minor knocks and injuries bandaged or strapped up, rather than be substituted.

Harry Redknapp has often lamented the lack of a player with such character and qualities and the experience of Scott Parker was something that the manager felt would be of benefit to the current team.  A player prepared to fight for the right to play and not afraid to battle when things get tough.  He showed such leadership qualities while battling with West Ham last season.

The match against Wigan won't provide any conclusive answers but a defeat would further strengthen the argument that the Spurs players still lack a winning mentality while success would provide an indication that they might just be moving away from that 'soft' Londoners tag.

Spurs in History - 21st August

21st August, 1982

Liverpool 1 Spurs 0 F.A.Charity Shield at Wembley.

Newly signed from Bristol Rovers, Gary Mabbutt made his debut in Spurs midfield. Spurs were without influential players like Steve Perryman and Graham Roberts with Paul Price also unavailable through injury.

The game was a robust affair and many competitive tackles came in from both sides – this may have been something left over from the previous season’s Milk Cup Final when Liverpool set about unsettling Spurs early on in the game which left Tony Galvin to play most of the game bearing the pains of some hefty tackles which greatly reduced his effectiveness.

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 - 23rd May

23rd May, 1984

Spurs 1 RSC Anderlect 1 UEFA CUP FINAL (2nd Leg) (aet) [Won 4-3 on penalties]

The 1st Leg in Belgium had ended 1-1, thanks to a Paul Miller goal and this match developed into a titanic struggle as Anderlect went ahead on the hour. Spurs were without Ray Clemence and Glenn Hoddle injured while Steve Perryman suspended after being booked in the first game.

Their stand-in Captain, Graham Roberts, now became their inspiration and drove them forward in search of the equaliser. It came six minutes from time when from a corner, Ossie Ardiles hit the bar and the ball rebounded to Roberts who blasted it home.

Extra time was tense and then the penalty shoot-out brought forward and unexpected new hero, Tony Parks.

Roberts led by example and scored the first penalty, then Parks deputising for Clemence, saved the first penalty and after Danny Thomas had missed what would have been the winning score he saved the final shot before setting off on a jubilant stampede across the WHL pitch followed by his exultant team mates. The other penalties were scored by Mark Falco, Gary Stevens and Steve Archibald.

Spurs had won the trophy for their departing manager, Keith Burkinshaw and the celebrations went on long into the night.

Team:Parks; Thomas, Roberts(Capt), Miller(Ardiles), Hughton;Hazard, Stevens, Mabbutt(Dick), Galvin; Archibald, Falco

Spurs’ Players ‘Bottled it’ in their ‘Big’ Games

Time for Spurs to Show their Worth against Arsenal

So near and yet so far could be the epitaph for Spurs’ season. It, like last season, will be remembered, if it is, for the ‘nearly’ achievements. Carling Cup semi-final defeat after extra time in the second leg, FA Cup quarter-final defeat after a replay and a single goal aggregate defeat in the UEFA Cup Quarter-final tie. Compared with Spurs’ record over the last number of seasons that is some progress but when it came to those ‘big’ games the players lost their nerve.

In both of the domestic Cups they held a two goal lead but against Arsenal the departure of Dimitar Berbatov early in the game through injury saw Spurs’ former confidence drain away and the Arsenal youngsters were able to impose themselves on the game and ultimately on the tie. ‘Disappointed,’ said the players, ‘we don’t want that to happen again, we’ve learned from that.’

And so for the FA Cup 6th Round game against Chelsea, the players were up for that game and took Chelsea by surprise. A lethargic Chelsea were trailing 1-3 at half-time and even in the second half as Jose Mourinho threw on striker after striker in an attempt to rescue the situation, Spurs had the chances to put the result beyond doubt. The substitution of Berbatov again proved costly as Spurs lost their threat in attack and Chelsea eventually scored the goal which gave them the hope of a comeback. Sure enough, having scored one the equaliser soon followed. Chelsea had rescued the situation and going to White Hart Lane wasn’t a problem to them. So it proved in the replay, Chelsea contained and two moments of magic secured the game. The Spurs’ players once again had failed to produce their best when it really mattered.

The UEFA Cup quarter-final draw produced another difficult game for Spurs. Sevilla, the Cup holders and the team challenging Barcelona for the Spanish Liga title would be the most difficult opponents that Tottenham would have to face in their European journey this season.

However, it would be different this time.

Jermaine Jenas commenting before the first leg game in Sevilla,

‘You get nothing for reaching quarter-finals or semi-finals. You go home, you are out and you have to watch others play in the final and lift the cup. It’s not a nice feeling and it’s not something we want to continue. If you look at the teams we lost to [in the cups], it has been Arsenal and Chelsea, two of the top three or four sides in England. It was devastating to lose those games. But now, it’s up to us to make that step and beat those sides so we are able to break through into finals and so on. We definitely have the talent.’

That was good to hear from a Tottenham perspective, the players realised that they had to raise their game for these important matches.

In Sevilla, Spurs were unfortunate that a refereeing decision preventing them from building on the excellent start given to them by Robbie Keane’s early goal. The penalty award set Spurs back and rejuvenated the home team and for the rest of the first half Spurs appeared to be in shock. The half-time interval allowed them to regain their composure and re-organise so that they finished the game well although unable to score a second goal.

A single goal deficit going into the second leg at home was acceptable. Tottenham knew exactly what was needed. However, within seven minutes that was shattered and Spurs’ European dream was over. The two quick goals midway through the second half didn’t alter the course of the game as Sevilla with Tottenham old boy, Fredi Kanoute, qualified comfortably.

In spite of Jenas’ words, once again the Spurs’ players failed to rise to the occasion and produce a performance worthy of the occasion. The Sevilla players were much quicker to the ball and prepared to battle together for the result. They started quicker and Spurs were caught cold and never recovered from it.

This has been the case for Tottenham over many seasons. Their record against the top four sides is abysmal – the only light in this darkness was the unexpected home win over Chelsea in the Premiership earlier this year. Every year Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool brush them aside as of little consequence. Other teams achieve unexpected wins over the top clubs. Bolton have been a regular thorn in the flesh for all the top sides for a number of seasons, Portsmouth have done it as well and West Ham United, this season fighting against relegation have achieved their second successive away win against Arsenal having already beaten them and Manchester United at Upton Park earlier in the season. So of their meagre total of twenty nine points, West Ham have earned nine of them with wins against two of the top four sides while Spurs have taken three points. The Spurs players have failed to raise their game for season after season – regardless of who is playing – there is an obvious lack of believe at the club and an acceptance of being second best.

Martin Jol talks of the players showing a ‘winning mentality’ but it is lacking when faced with the top sides. A lack of leadership and drive on the field is evident with Spurs needing the fighting qualities displayed over many years by former captains, Steve Perryman, Graham Roberts, Alan Mullery and Dave Mackay.

How would the Spurs players respond to the management style displayed by Sir Alex Ferguson or Roy Keane? Is life too easy at White Hart Lane? If Spurs are to get into the elite of the Premiership a few feathers may have to be ruffled at the club. The summer transfer market shopping list should include that aggressive, combative type of player who ill inspire those around him to greater effort and won’t accept excuses for missed opportunities. Such qualities don’t exist within the players currently at the club so someone is required who will set the example, set the standards and discipline that are necessary to make this forward step.

As Jamie Carragher said when questioned about Liverpool’s Cup defeats to Arsenal earlier in the season, ‘We need better players.’ That certainly is the case where Spurs are concerned with players who can take the pressure of the ‘big’ games and produce their best performances when they’re most needed and when faced with the highest level of opposition.

Spurs’ next game is against Arsenal at White Hart Lane. The supporters will be ready for the game but will the players? They know what a North London derby means to the supporters but will they produce a performance on the day or will it again be a case of almost but not quite good enough?

Spurs in History - 7th April

7th April, 1982

Spurs 1 Barcelona 1 European Cup Winners’ Cup Semi-Final (1st Leg)

Spurs second semi-final in four days was a brutal affair. With the reputation of a footballing team, Barcelona left White Hart Lane with the chant of ‘animals’ echoing from the terraces. They used every trick possible to stop Spurs playing and unfortunately they achieved what they set out to do, leave London with a draw. Ineffective refereeing encouraged Barcelona in their tactics and it was not until early in the second half that he eventually sent off a Spaniard. Then to make matters worse Ray Clemence let a shot from 40 yards slip through his hands into the net. With five minutes left Graham Roberts scored from a Glenn Hoddle free kick.

A night of European football at WHL that is remembered for the wrong reasons.

F A Cup Preview - Fulham v Spurs

Sunday, 18th February, 2007

Fulham v Spurs

L W L W D W -- L L L W D D

FA Cup 5th Round at Craven Cottage

KO 4.00pm

In the current circumstances, Spurs need a result from this game to lift the pressure on Martin Jol and to restore some confidence in the players. That will not be easy taking Fulham’s home record into account and comparing it with Spurs’ current form and their season long malaise away from White Hart Lane.

How quickly Spurs’ form has turned around – it was not so long ago that these previews were showing W W W W and the confidence and optimism were high. The record through December was camouflaged by many Cup results and it kept us happy but Spurs’ current form record is rather depressing: L L L W D D with the only win against Southend in the Cup and one of the two draws being the Premiership game at Craven Cottage which needed Chimbonda’a late equaliser to grab the point.

Fulham showed in that game that this will not be easy and they are determined to progress in the Cup and their manager Chris Coleman has done a good job to turn their season round when everyone had them as relegation candidates at the start of the season.

Fulham showed their fighting qualities in the 3rd Round Replay when they came back from a 1-3 half-time deficit against Leicester to win 4-3 with Wayne Routledge scoring the late winner. They comfortably defeated Stoke 3-0 in the next round. Brian McBride is scoring regularly for them and Montella has scored three goals in the Cup as well as the penalty against Spurs in the League game. Routledge is not available to play against Spurs.

Spurs’ FA Cup record against Fulham is perfect – they have met on three occasions and Spurs have progressed each time. The most recent game was in the 3rd Round in 1998 – Christian Gross’ team won 3-1 at White Hart Lane, Calderwood, Clemence and an own goal taking Spurs through. The only FA cup meeting at Craven Cottage will be remembered by many for Graham Roberts’ super hero performance. Again, in the 3rd Round, in 1984, Roberts had to go into goal when Ray Clemence was injured. He maintained a clean sheet, something Robinson might like to achieve this weekend, to earn Spurs a scoreless draw and a replay in which Roberts turned goal scorer along with Steve Archibald, as Spurs won 2-0. The other Cup success was in Spurs’ first season in the Football League, a 2nd Round home game in 1909 which Spurs won with a goal from Bobby Steel.

Martin Jol in talking up Spurs’ chances has said that the team haven’t lost a Cup game over ninety minutes this season – that is true but he will need more than statistics to see Spurs into the 6th Round against a very capable Fulham side. Spurs can win, it may require a replay, but only if the players are motivated for the game and prepared to give it everything, something that has been missing this season. Jol’s selection issues are eased with Defoe and Jenas being suspended. The selection in midfield is critical if Spurs are to succeed – there needs to be a balance to provide cover for the defence but also to provide creativity for the strikers who are starved of chances and support. Lennon needs to play and show his attacking ability to keep the Fulham defence on their toes, otherwise Spurs just ask teams to attack them and they are unable to contain and survive ninety minutes under such pressure.

Will supporters accept a gritty determined performance if it gets a result or will they be satisfied with a good but ultimately unsuccessful performance? At the moment I’ll take the result and hope that it lifts the confidence for future improved results and performances. A win is a win and the 6th Round is only two games from Wembley, a nice incentive for Spurs to renew acquaintances with the ground which became their second home in the early 1980s.

Referee: Mark Halsey

Spurs in History - 7th January

Graham Roberts - Spurs' hero against Fulham - not for the first time or the last!

7th January, 1984

Fulham 0 Spurs 0 (FA Cup 3rd Round)

A scoreless draw in a 3rd Round FA Cup tie against a 2nd Division side may seem rather dull but this was a hard fought contest where Spurs can thank their defender Graham Roberts for helping them to hold out for a replay. Goalkeeper Ray Clemence was seriously injured and in a situation that you rarely see nowadays, Roberts took over in goal and made some important saves.

Having secured the replay, Roberts then scored one of Spurs' two goals in that game as Spurs progressed to the next round with a 2-0 win, Steve Archibald scoring the other goal.

A home tie against Norwich City awaited in the next round.

The injury to Clemence kept him out for much of the remainder of the season, playing only four games and gave young reserve Tony Parks the opportunity to establish himself and to become an instant hero with his penalty saves in the UEFA Cup Final shoot-out against Anderlecht at the end of the season.

Team: Clemence (Crook*), , Stevens, Bowen, Roberts, O'Reilly, Perryman, Brooke, Brazil, Falco, Hoddle, Hazard.

[* Ian Crook was substitute for the injured Ray Clemence but Graham Roberts took over in goal.]



7th January, 1995

Spurs 3 Altrincham 0 (FA Cup 3rd Round)

Spurs progressed comfortably to the next round against non-League Altrincham through goals from Teddy Sheringham, Ronnie Rosenthal and Stuart Nethercott.

Spurs' next opponents were Southampton at White Hart Lane.


7th January - What a Day!

Spurs have an amazing home record for this day - 7th January.

They have NEVER lost at home on this particular date. The away record is nearly as good, showing just one defeat.

Home Record: P 15 Won 14 Draw 1 Lost 0 For 51 Ag 15

Away Record: P 6 Won 3 Draw 2 Lost 1 For 5 Ag 1

7th January, 1939

Following many years of rallying by the board of Tottenham Hotspur, the players wore numbered shirts for the first time, in a 7-1 FA Cup victory over Watford.