Saint-Etienne 0 Spurs 2 (Friendly)
The final game of Spurs four match tour in France. Having lost the first two game Spurs restored some pride by winning the other two games.
Their goals against Saint-Etienne were scored by Charlie Rundle and Les Bennett.
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Spurs 8 Quebec F.A. 0 (Friendly in Montreal)
Spurs long close season tour to North America finally came to an end with this victory.
They remained undefeated throughout the tour, winning all ten matches played, eight against local opposition and two exhibition games against Manchester United.
The goals were scored by Sid McClellan (3) who had replaced Len Duquemin who had been injured in an early tackle, Les Bennett (3), Ralph Wetton and Les Medley. Two days later, the party set off on the seven day return voyage on the ‘Empress of Canada.’
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Manchester United 1 Spurs 7 (Friendly in New York)
Nearing the end of their North American tour Spurs played United twice in twenty four hours. The previous day, in Toronto, Spurs had won 5-0 and as League Champions United were looking for revenge in this game.
They took an early lead but Spurs equalised within a minute through Les Bennett and scored another three in the next eighteen minutes for a 4-1 lead at half-time. A further three goals in ten minutes midway through the second half made Spurs very comfortable winners.
The goals were scored by Len Duquemin (4), Les Bennett (2) and Sid McClellan.
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Saskatchewan F.A. 1 Spurs 18 (eighteen!) (Friendly)
The second game of the North American tour threw up this record score. Conflicting details of the scorers and half-time score exist but Spurs official handbook for 1952-53 states that as Spurs were 14-0 ahead at half-time, the teams exchanged goalkeepers and Ted Ditchburn’s display ensured that Spurs only scored four in the second half.
In other records, Sid McClellan is credited with scoring nine goals, Les Bennett (3), Len Duquemin (2), Dennis Uphill (2) and Chris Adams (2), although these don’t match the statistics and account given in the Handbook.
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Spurs 1 Birmingham City 0 F.A.Cup 6th Round 2nd Replay at Molineaux
Today everything must be instant - coffee, fast food, connection to the internet, mobile phones, penalty shoot-outs - but in 1953 there was time for replays and second replays and third replays or as many as were required to settle the tie. No quick fix as we have today - extra time and a penalty shoot-out.
While the League Cup in all its forms has already lost replays and Arsene Wenger may want rid of them in the FA Cup so that he can concentrate on other things of greater importance, 'the Arsenal end of season party' - the replay brought an added something to the competition as clubs battled it out over a number of games for the right to progress to the next round.
This tie against Birmingham City who were in the 2nd Division went to three games before Spurs went through to the semi-finals. The original match was at St Andrews where Spurs earned a 1-1 draw with a goal from Les Bennett. In the replay at White Hart Lane Bennett again scored and with Len Duquemin ensured a 2-2 draw after extra time. The third game was played in the Midlands at the neutral venue of Molineaux, Wolves ground, and Spurs won with a goal from Sonny Walters.
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Spurs' 1949 team - Back row: Nicholson, Ramsay, Clarke,Ditchburn, Burgess (captain), Medley. Front row: Withers, Walters, Rees, Duquemin, Baily - and the only change for the Cup game aginst Halifax was Les Bennett replacing Rees.Halifax Town 0 Spurs 3 FA Cup 5th Round
Spurs had required replays to defeat tranmere and Preston in the previous rounds so a difficult 5th Round F.A.Cup tie was anticipated as Halifax, in the old 3rd Division (North), had overcome two 1st Division sides, Cardiff and Stoke, in the previous rounds. The match was in doubt due to overnight snow but the pitch was cleared sufficiently for it to proceed although the pitch had to be marked out in blue dye.
The first half was very close and remained goalless but after half time Spurs started to take control. Within ten minutes Spurs scored through Les Bennett and although the home team rallied, Spurs were encouraged and went further ahead when Len Duquemin scored. Duquemin had a goal disallowed and then two minutes later Bennett scored his second to give Spurs a convincing victory in difficult conditions.
Team: Ditchburn, Ramsey, Willis, Nicholson, Clarke, Burgess, Walters, Bennett, Duquemen, Baily, Medley.
Spurs' opponents in the 6th Round were Birmingham City with the game to be played at St. Andrews two weeks later, 28th February.
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