It
is now over twenty years since Tottenham last enjoyed the celebrations
of winning an FA Cup semi-final. There have been many trials and
tribulations in that time but Spurs have fallen short at that vital
stage even when firm favourites as in 2010 against Portsmouth. In
their lengthy history Spurs have reached this stage of the competition
on eighteen occasions, winning on nine occasions and for most of those
successes the result was well deserved with Spurs winning comfortably.
However, of the nine unsuccessful attempts to reach the Final, there has
often been a sense of injustice as Spurs have been at the wrong end of
some dubious decisions.
Spurs and the FA Cup
Semi-Finals 1901 – 2010
Spurs FA Cup Semi-Final Record
As a Southern League side Spurs had progressed to the
1901 FA Cup semi-final having disposed of the Cup holders, Bury, and the
only other surviving non-League side, Reading, in previous rounds.
First Division, West Bromwich Albion at Villa Park were Spurs
next opponents while Sheffield United and Aston Villa contested the
other semi-final. Although the game was like a home game for Albion,
Spurs took thousands of spectators to the Birmingham venue.
The
Spurs’ hero was Sandy Brown who scored all four goals in a
comprehensive win. Brown had scored in every round of the Cup and now had a
total of twelve goals in the competition. Spurs were very much the
under-dogs and all of the Spurs’ players deserved credit for this
performance. Although the game was scoreless at half-time Spurs had
more of the play and from the time that Brown headed the first goal just
after the restart from a centre by John Kirwan, there was no doubting
the result. He scored twice more in the next twenty minutes – his second
from a corner, the third was a shot from thirty yards and the fourth,
five minutes from the end, after a passing movement took Spurs the
length of the pitch.
Following a replay Spurs discovered they would be meeting Sheffield United in the Final to be played at Crystal Palace.
Twenty years later, just back in the 1st Division, Spurs faced Preston North End
at Hillsborough in their second semi-final. The two clubs had
previously met in the Cup on two occasions, including the 1st Round tie
in 1901 when Spurs went on to win the Cup for the first time. Now, the
two clubs were opponents in the top flight and although Preston were in
the bottom half of the League to Spurs sixth position, the northern club
had been successful in both League games earlier in the season. Spurs
had had moments of good fortune in their early progress in the Cup but
on this occasion it seemed to desert them. It took two goals from Bert
Bliss in the second half to ensure Spurs’ victory – scoring the first
with a typical drive and then converting a pass from captain, Arthur
Grimsdell. A mix-up in the Spurs’ defence allowed Preston to pull a
goal back but Spurs were never under any threat. The game could and
should have been wrapped long before Spurs scored their first goal. In
the first half they had two goals disallowed – the first after Jimmy
Banks scored but the referee gave Spurs a free-kick for a foul on Jimmy
Seed and then a second following a scramble in the Preston area was
disallowed for some unknown reason. Early in the second half Spurs
should have had two penalties – firstly for a foul on Banks and then
when a Preston defender handled but neither impressed the referee.
Spurs’
opponents in the Final at Stamford Bridge would be Second Division
Wolverhampton Wanderers who had defeated another Second Division side,
Cardiff City in a replay.
The following year, in 1922, Spurs suffered their first semi-final defeat, Preston
gaining revenge for the previous year’s defeat in controversial
circumstances. Spurs were favourites to win and played in that manner
throughout the first half and went a goal up through Jimmy Seed.
Preston looked a beaten team at half-time but in the second half were
re-vitalised and equalised. Spurs came back into the game and looked to
have scored when a shot from Bert Bliss beat the goalkeeper and was on
its way into the net. At this point the referee stopped the game to
attend to an injured Preston player. He decreed that he had blown the
whistle before the ball entered the net and disallowed the goal. To add
insult to injury, the player hadn't been seriously injured. This decision
demoralised the Spurs players and Preston went on to score the winning
goal. In the Final Preston lost to a disputed penalty, awarded for a
foul committed outside the area, but that is of little consolation to
Spurs.
It was another twenty six years before Spurs were to grace a semi-final again and it was as a 2nd Division side that they met 1st Division Blackpool
at Villa Park in 1947-48. They had defeated 1st Division Bolton and then 2nd
Division clubs, West Bromwich, Leicester and Southampton to reach this
stage. For over an hour Spurs were the equal of Blackpool who were the
strong favourites with Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen in their
side. It was Spurs, however, who went ahead when Len Duquemin got the
final touch in a goalmouth scramble for his eighth Cup goal of the
season. Time ticked away and Spurs were within four minutes of their
first Wembley final when a pass from Matthews found Mortensen. He set
off on a thirty yard run, past four defenders and shot from a very acute
angle near the goal line. The shot caught Ted Ditchburn unawares and
Spurs were totally deflated. Into extra time and Mortensen scored twice
more to ensure Spurs’ Cup dreams ended at Villa Park. That result so
demoralised Spurs that they won only two of their final twelve League
games and missed out on a possible promotion by finishing in eighth
place.
Five seasons later, Spurs had an opportunity to gain revenge on Blackpool
when they again met in the semi-final at Villa Park. This time both
clubs were in the 1st Division and this was seen as a last opportunity
for the ‘Push and Run’ side to achieve Cup success. It had been a long
road to the semi-final for Spurs who had played eight games to reach
this stage. They had needed replays to beat Tranmere and Preston, then
one game saw off Halifax but the 6th Round tie with Birmingham City went
to three games. This time Blackpool with Matthews and Mortensen still a
force to be reckoned with, took an early lead but early in the second
half Spurs levelled through Len Duquemin. Spurs were now in control and
the game was heading for extra time when with seconds remaining Alf
Ramsey attempted a back pass to Ted Ditchburn. As he did so, he slipped
and the ball fell short allowing the Blackpool forward to step in and score past Ditchburn. Only time remained to kick off again and
Spurs would have to wait a little longer for a final at Wembley.
Blackpool went on to win the Final against Bolton in the famous ‘Matthews’ final.
Villa Park was becoming a bogey ground for Spurs where FA Cup semi-final games were concerned. In 1955-56 they again had the misfortune to lose there at the penultimate stage – this time to Manchester City.
It was a refereeing mistake that helped to prevent Spurs achieving
that first Wembley final. Spurs were a goal down but in the final
minutes were battling for an equaliser. The captain, Danny Blanchflower
had moved centre half, Maurice Norman, forward into the attack as he
had done successfully in the previous round against West Ham. In the
dieing moments winger George Robb was through on goal and about to score
when the Manchester City goalkeeper, Bert Trautmann, caught hold of his
legs. A goal or a penalty, Spurs should have scored but somehow,
unbelievably, the officials saw nothing and Spurs had once again fallen
short. ‘What if’ Spurs had scored – they could have taken the game into
extra time and gone on to win but the repercussions of the defeat went
further than expected. The Spurs manager, Jimmy Anderson, was unimpressed with
Blanchflower’s decision to make changes to the team during the game and
in the ensuing row Blanchflower resigned as captain and did not take on
the role for another two seasons.
After such a period
of disappointment, Spurs were about to embark on a sequence of seven
successive semi-final victories stretching over thirty years. At the
fourth attempt, it was
the ‘Double’ team of 1960-61 that was to lay the ghost of Villa Park. Drawn to play defending League champions Burnley a tight game was expected as Burnley
had recovered from a four goal deficit to earn a draw in the League
game at White Hart Lane earlier in the season. The semi-final tie saw
Spurs take the lead after half an hour and went further ahead when Bobby
Smith scored his second in the second half. This deflated Burnley and
Cliff Jones added the third before the end. Spurs were on their way
to Wembley for the first time where they would find Leicester City
trying to prevent them completing an historic ‘Double.’
A year later Spurs overcame Manchester United
at Hillsborough at the semi-final stage of the competition as they
endeavoured to retain the trophy. Goals from Jimmy Greaves, Terry
Medwin and Cliff Jones ensured that Spurs won comfortably and returned
to Wembley to meet the team they defeated in the previous year’s
semi-final. Greaves and Jones gave Spurs a two goal half-time lead.
United scored with seven minutes remaining but Medwin ensured Spurs’
victory, scoring three minutes later.
The 1967 semi-final saw Spurs return to Hillsborough to play Nottingham Forest.
Both teams were in the top three of the League and Spurs were on an
unbeaten run that stretched back to mid-January. In a very close game
Forest started the better and Cyril Knowles cleared off the line early
on but then after half an hour Jimmy Greaves scored with a great volley
from twenty five yards that went in off the post. Just before half-time
Forest almost equalised when a Knowles defensive header hit the post
but Spurs held on. In the second half Forest continued to search for
the equaliser but when Frank Saul caught a Forest defender in possession
he took the ball to the edge of the penalty area to score with a great
shot to put Spurs two up after sixty seven minutes. Forest weren’t down
and out and scored with ten minutes left but although they searched for
the equaliser, Spurs had further opportunities to increase their lead.
In the following day’s papers the match was described as
‘pulsating’
and a game in which Spurs
‘earned the right to meet Chelsea in the first
all London Final at Wembley on the strength of a highly skilled
performance in a classic semi-final that had moments of magic and
tragedy.’
Although Spurs enjoyed Cup success at home and in Europe over the next decade and a half, the FA Cup eluded them. It was in 1981
that they next reached an FA Cup semi-final, under the guidance of
Keith Burkinshaw. Spurs’ progress to this stage had been steady and
they were drawn to play Wolverhampton Wanderers at Hillsborough.
Everyone’s memory of this game is the penalty that was awarded to
Wolves in the dieing moments for a tackle by Glenn Hoddle. This gave
Wolves the chance to equalise and take the game into extra time. The
game remained level at 2-2 and a replay was required. The fury of the
Spurs’ players and spectators at the penalty decision is understandable
as it was wrong on two accounts – the tackle was outside the penalty
area and Hoddle won the ball cleanly without touching the ‘diving’ Terry
Hibbitt. Spurs had taken the lead through Steve Archibald after four
minutes but Wolves equalised a minute later. Just before half-time,
Hoddle put Spurs ahead from a free kick, that could justifiably have
been a penalty. Spurs defended resolutely until the referee played his
part but then we would have missed the excitement of the replay at
Highbury.
For some unaccountable reason the FA decided
that the replay would take place at Highbury which was a tremendous
advantage to Spurs. It was 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 pass from Hoddle, 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.
The following season as Spurs fought to retain the trophy, the semi-final game took them to Villa Park where they met 2nd Division, Leicester City.
It was a difficult game for everyone and 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.
Spurs eventually wore Leicester down in the second half when after 56
minutes Ardiles centred for 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. This was a very comfortable
semi-final victory for Spurs who returned to Wembley for a second
successive year to meet Queens Park Rangers.
Spurs next semi-final game was one of the easiest they’ve ever played at this stage of the Cup. Watford
went into the game at Villa Park with goalkeeping problems and had to
call up an emergency keeper as their regular keepers were injured. A
4-1 victory did not flatter Spurs as David Pleat’s side continued their
good form and won through goals from Steve Hodge(2), Clive Allen and
Paul Allen. Coventry City were their unexpected opponents in the Final.
In all the years of the FA Cup, Spurs and Arsenal had only previously met in the competition on two occasions. Now,
in 1991,
they were to meet in the semi-final. Such was the demand for tickets that the game was
arranged for Wembley, the first occasion that a semi-final had taken
place there. Spurs were under continuing financial pressure but their
biggest problem prior to this game was the fitness of their talisman,
Paul Gascoigne. He had undergone a hernia operation immediately after
the 6th Round win over Notts County, in the hope that he would be fit
for the semi-final. Four days before the game he successfully played
for an hour in a League game at Norwich and was fit to play at Wembley.
Spurs’ other difficulty was that Arsenal
had only lost once in
the League and were looking to win the ‘Double’. The atmosphere at
Wembley was electric and Gascoigne was at his most exuberant best. Spurs were not expected to win this game but Venables had them firing on
all cylinders from the start. After five minutes Gascoigne scored from
a 35 yard free kick that was hit with such power and accuracy that it
left Seaman clutching at thin air. As Venables said afterwards, “Paul
was probably the only player who could do anything like that.” Five
minutes later Gary Lineker increased Spurs’ lead. Arsenal didn’t know
what had hit them but they managed to score before half-time. Gazza
played for only sixty minutes but left to an ovation – ‘Spurs Hero of
Wembley.’ Shortly after Gascoigne’s departure, his replacement, Nayim
set up Lineker to score the third to take Spurs to the Final.
All
the players played their part in this memorable victory as Arsenal were
humbled by an inspired Gazza who ensured Spurs had a fantastic victory.
‘St. Hotspur Day’- a day never to be forgotten by Spurs’ fans around
the world nor will the words of Barry Davies, commenting on
the semi-final as Gascoigne lined up the free-kick,
"He's not going to have a go from there.... he is you
know.... that is Schoolboy's Own stuff!"
That was Spurs’ seventh
successive FA Cup semi-final victory but since that very memorable and
enjoyable day, Spurs have only had that sinking feeling where those
games have been concerned. Although they have endured difficult times
in the subsequent years Spurs have still managed to reach the semi-final
on five occasions. Two years later another visit to Wembley was
required when Spurs and Arsenal were again drawn together. Terry Venables’ team were left feeling hard done by in 1993
when a refereeing decision influenced the result. Spurs were denied a
penalty when Darren Anderton was brought down in the penalty area in the
first half. If Spurs had been awarded a penalty and Arsenal reduced to
ten men with over an hour to play the complexion of the game might have been different. it wasn’t, however, and then with ten minutes remaining the
Arsenal goal was scored from a dubious free-kick although tighter
marking by the Spurs’ defence could have eliminated the danger. The
‘might have beens’ could go on for ever but if Spurs had gone on to
Wembley and won the Cup, the subsequent dramatic and traumatic end of
season events with the fall-out between Alan Sugar and Terry Venables
may never have occurred and Spurs mightn’t have gone into a decade of
decline.
Defeat in the
semi-final usually has some repercussions – in 1947 Spurs missed out on
promotion, in 1957 Blanchflower resigned as captain, in 1993 Venables and
Sugar fell out while following the 1995 defeat by Everton,
Spurs lost Jurgen Klinsmann who along with Teddy Sheringham had been
such a vital part of Spurs’ resurgence that season. The season had
started with Spurs banned from the competition as punishment for the
financial irregularities uncovered in the Sugar/Venables affair. It was
only as the 3rd Round approached that the decision was overturned and
Spurs were re-instated. Progress to the semi-finals had brought
memorable performances at Southampton and Liverpool and now Spurs were
faced with Everton at Elland Road as the final step back to Wembley.
The media were predicting a Spurs/Manchester United final but
unfortunately Everton hadn’t read the script. Spurs were troubled by
injuries on the day and Stuart Nethercott had to play as emergency left
back. Spurs simply did not perform, little resembling the side that had
played so well in earlier rounds and produced such exciting football
during the season. Everton started the better and took a two goal lead.
Klinsmann scored a penalty for Spurs but two late goals sealed Spurs’
fate and added to their embarrassment.
The
result was a shattering blow to the fans and the club but the further
ramification was that Klinsmann later announced that he would be leaving
at the end of the season. He had brought vitality to the club but with
the team not being able to offer him European football the following
season he decided to return to Germany. This was an even greater blow
to the Club and one that they have been striving to recover from since
that fateful day – only in recent seasons has there been a recovery in Spurs status and expectations.
In 1999 Spurs under George Graham had already won the Worthington Cup and were looking for a Cup ‘double’ as they took on Newcastle United
at Old Trafford. Progress to this stage had been seen a comfortable
victory over Watford, replays were needed to see off Wimbledon and
Leeds, the latter succumbing to two spectacular goals from Anderton and
Ginola at White Hart Lane. Ginola produced another ‘special’ to win at
Barnsley and Spurs were looking confident as they came to play
Newcastle. They weren’t, however, at their best against the Tyneside
club but the game turned on the hour when the referee missed a blatant
handball by the Newcastle defender, Dabizas, as he struggled to head
clear from a free-kick. The game remained scoreless and went into extra
time when from a similar situation Campbell was penalised and Newcastle
were awarded a penalty. Shearer scored and with Spurs deflated, added a
second to end Spurs’ dreams of a second visit to Wembley.
In 2001, Spurs had another opportunity to reach the FA Cup Final but once again Arsenal stood
in their way. In the entire history of the FA Cup, the two clubs have
only met twice in earlier rounds of the competition but on
the four occasions that both clubs have reached the semi-finals, they have been
drawn together three times. The background to the tie was Spurs’
change of manager. A week after Spurs’ thrilling victory over West Ham
United at Upton Park in the 6th Round George Graham was sacked. David
Pleat took temporary charge while the club waited for Glenn Hoddle whose
first game in charge was the semi-final at Old Trafford. It started
brightly for Spurs with Gary Doherty who had been the hero of earlier
rounds with two important goals, giving Spurs the lead. Arsenal, however, came more and more into the game and it was only an outstanding
display by Neil Sullivan in the Spurs’ goal that kept the score to 2-1
for Spurs’ north London neighbours. While Hoddle’s return to Tottenham
was welcome, the timing was not the most appropriate, before such an
important game and especially as the players had come together as a team
through the Cup run.
Spurs
last reached the semi-final stage in 2010 when they faced Portsmouth.
The south coast club were in dire straits facing both relegation and
financial problems. Spurs had defeated Harry Redknapp's old club in
both Premier League matches and the last game, only a few weeks previously,
had been an extremely comfortable victory at White Hart Lane. In the
semi-final Portsmouth worked extremely hard throughout and Spurs simply
couldn't respond or lift their game. The match went into extra time and
was looking destined for penalties when Portsmouth's goal came courtesy
of a
Michael Dawson slip on the much criticised newly laid Wembley turf.
He slipped at a vital moment as he was about to clear
the ball in the centre of the penalty area. The ball fell invitingly
for Portsmouth who accepted the gift and went on to secure a two goal
victory and Spurs felt annoyed with the performance of their team and
officials who ruled out both a goal and penalty claims in extra time.
Spurs showed remarkable powers of recovery from this very disappointing
performance to produce a run to gain Champions League football for the
first time.
Spurs haven't had a successful
semi-final since 1991which is a very long period for a club with a Cup
reputation but this season their quest for Champions League football is being accompanied by a Cup run in the best traditions of seeking
the glory of winning the Cup.
The
story of the FA Cup, season after season brings dreams that ultimately
go unfulfilled but on those few occasions when everything falls into place
they are the greatest moments and create lasting memories that carry supporters
through in hope for the seasons that lie ahead.
For the Record:
Tottenham's FA Cup Semi-Final Win and Loss Account:
1901 West Bromwich Albion (Villa Park) Won 4-0 Brown (4)
1921 Preston North End (Hillsborough) Won 2-1 Bliss (2)
1922 Preston North End (Hillsborough) Lost 1-2 Seed
1948 Blackpool (Villa Park) Lost 1-3 (aet) Duquemin
1953 Blackpool (Villa Park) Lost 1-2 Duquemin
1956 Manchester City (Villa Park) Lost 0-1
1961 Burnley (Villa Park) Won 3-0 Smith R (2), Jones
1962 Manchester United (Hillsborough) Won 3-1 Greaves, Medwin, Jones
1967 Nottingham Forest (Hillsborough) Won 2-1 Greaves, Saul
1981 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Hillsborough) Draw 2-2 (aet) Archibald, Hoddle
Replay Wolverhampton Wanderers (Highbury) Won 3-0 Crooks (2), Villa
1982 Leicester City (Villa Park) Won 2-0 Crooks, Opp. o.g.
1987 Watford (Villa Park) won 4-1 Hodge (2), Allen P, Allen C
1991 Arsenal (Wembley) Won 3-1 Gascoigne, Lineker (2)
1993 Arsenal (Wembley) Lost 0-1
1995 Everton (Elland Road) Lost 1-4 Klinsmann (p)
1999 Newcastle United (Old Trafford) Lost 0-2 (aet)
2001 Arsenal (Old Trafford) Lost 1-2 Doherty
2010 Portsmouth (Wembley) Lost 0-2 (aet)
