They Played for Spurs and Everton

Tottenham and Everton first met competitively in 1904 when Spurs as a non-League team defeated them in the FA Cup, the last time Everton lost at home to a non-League team.  Only eleven players, however, have played for both teams and there have only been six direct transfers between the clubs but the list does include some prestigious and famous names.

Alex Young, a centre forward, was the first player to be transferred between the two clubs.  Not Everton's 1960s Alex Young, but a version from 1911.  He had played for Everton for ten seasons and had scored over 100 League goals for the side as well as scoring the winning goal in the 1906 FA Cup Final.  He had also won two caps for Scotland but his time with Spurs was short.  He signed in June, 1911 and was gone by the following November.  He scored three goals in his first two games but didn't score again and when dropped demanded a transfer and was allowed to go to Manchester City.  He emigrated to Australia in 1914 but a year later was charged with the wilful murder of his brother and was found guilty of manslaughter.  Evidence had been produced from his football days in England showing that he had been subject to fits of temporary insanity.  On completion of his year three year sentence he was not released immediately on grounds of 'mental weakness'.  He did later return to Scotland.

Last January, Steven Peinaar joined Spurs from Everton but injury problems have, so far, prevented him from making an impression at White Hart Lane.  The South African international had three and a half seasons with the Goodison Park side having signed from Borussia Dortmond in 2007, at first on loan.  He made over 100 League appearances, scoring 9 goals.  He had played for Ajax Cape Town before joining Ajax at the age of eighteen.  Pienaar has returned to Goodison on loan to the end of the season but will not be available to play against Spurs.

As Pienaar was returning north at the end of January, so Louis Saha was moving south to join Tottenham.  He scored twice on his home League debut against Newcastle, having made his first appearance as a substitute at Anfield a few days earlier.  Saha has scored twice, against Spurs, in the last two games at Goodison so, if playing, he will be looking to score against his old team on Saturday.


Bobby Mimms was the second player to join Spurs from Everton, 77 years after Alex Young.  He had played understudy to Neville Southall at Goodison and in February, 1988 Terry Venables decided he could help to resolve Spurs goalkeeping problems.  However, this didn't prove to be the case and he was replaced by Erik Thorstvedt the following year.  His time at Spurs is not remembered favourably by supporters and he was transferred to Blackburn Rovers in December, 1990 where he had a much more successful time.

Pat Van den Hauwe joined Spurs in August, 1989.  He helped Spurs win the FA Cup of 1991 and the title of his autobiography, 'Psycho Pat' sums up perfectly the hard-man full back.  He was signed by Venables for a position which had caused Spurs problems for many seasons.  He had enjoyed success with Everton as they won the League title twice, and the European Cup Winners' Cup as well as reaching the FA Cup final on three occasions.  He brought experience, strength and power to the Spurs defence.  After four seasons and over 100 League appearances he joined Millwall.

Vinny Samways takes the honours as the only player to be transferred from Spurs to Everton.  He developed through the Spurs youth system and after eight seasons with the club he moved north in August, 1994.  He played 193 League games and scored 11 goals in his time at White Hart Lane and was in the FA Cup winning team of 1991.  The introduction of Ossie Ardiles' attacking five formation which included Jurgen Klinsmann, Teddy Sheringham, Nicky Barmby, Darren Anderton and Ille Dumitrescu restricted Samways' opportunities to play.  He failed to settle at Goodison and only made 23 League appearances.  He had periods on loan and then moved to Spain in 1996 where he developed a reputation as a 'hardman', an aspect of his game not previously seen in England.

Famous Names
Other players who played for both Spurs and Everton include Gary Lineker who had three seasons in Spain under Terry Venables at Barcelona after a year with Everton, before returning to England to play at White Hart Lane.

Richard Gough had just over a season with Spurs in from 1986 to 1988 when he captained the side to their only FA Cup Final defeat.  He was a stylish, commanding centre back but unfortunately for Tottenham, his family failed to settle in London and he returned to Scotland to play for Rangers.  Eleven years after leaving White Hart Lane he had two years with Everton.

Paul Gascoigne had his success and heartache with Spurs and then after playing for Lazio, Rangers and Middlesbrough he spent two seasons with Everton from 2000.

Nick Barmby left Spurs in 1995 after developing through the Spurs youth system.  He scored 21 League goals from 89 appearances for Spurs, before moving north to Middlesbrough to be closer to his home.  A year later he joined Everton and four years on moved to Liverpool, a rare occurrence.  He has now been confirmed as manager with his home club, Hull City.

David Ginola joined from Newcastle United and enjoyed three seasons with Spurs, winning the Worthington Cup, and then joined Aston Villa in 2000.  A year later he signed for Everton.

They Played for Tottenham and Villa

Danny Blanchfower, David Ginola and Alan Hutton have all played for Tottenham and Villa.  For the third successive match, Spurs play a team with former Tottenham players in their squad which always adds an extra something to the contest for both players and spectators.

Danny Blanchflower

One of the most important signings that Tottenham Hotspur have ever made came when the transfer of Danny Blanchflower from Aston Villa was completed in December, 1954.  When he retired through injury ten years later at the age of thirty eight, Spurs had experienced the most successful period in their history with a League and Cup 'Double', a second FA Cup success and become the first British team to achieve a European triumph.

Blanchflower grew up in Belfast and played for his local club, Glentoran.  He was transferred to Barnsley in 1949 and joined Villa two years later.  He was a great 'thinker' about football and wanted to play with style which often put him at odds with managers and coaches.  He complained that in training, players spent too much time on running and were denied the oportunity to practise with a football.

Tottenham manager, Arthur Rowe, signed Blanchflower, a Northern Ireland international, for £30,000 to replace Bill Nicholson who was nearing retirement.  He made his debut at Manchester City in a scoreless draw, taking Nicholson's place, and was ever present for the remainder of the season.  For the next number of seasons Tottenham's performances fluctuated and at times Blanchflower's graceful style of play didn't fit in with the endeavour that was required for a struggle near the foot of the table.

Blanchflower was appointed Captain and liked to take on-field decisions when he thought it necessary but that brought him into conflict with the manager on occasions.  Season 1955-56 was disappointing for Spurs in the League but they progressed to the FA Cup semi-finals.  In the 6th Round against West Ham at White Hart Lane on a very heavy pitch Spurs came from 2-3 down to earn a draw after as captain, Blanchflower, moved centre-half, Maurice Norman, forward to assist the attack.  The change worked as Spurs earned a draw and went on to win the replay 2-1.

They lost the semi-final to Manchester City but a goal down in the final minutes as Spurs battled for an equaliser, Blanchflower again moved Norman, forward into the attack as he had done successfully in the previous round.  It didn't work this time although Spurs nearly managed to equalise but the repercussions of the defeat went further than expected.  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.

Blanchflower won the Player of the Year award in 1957-58 season and captained Northern Ireland to a successful World Cup campaign in Sweden.

When Bill Nicholson was appointed manager, Blanchflower developed a better understanding with him which worked for the benefit of them and the team.  In the pre-season of 1960, Blanchflower boldly predicted that Spurs would win the 'Double'.  They did with a brand of exciting, flowing football that packed stadiums around the country.  The next year they reached the European Cup semi-finals, unlucky to lose to Benefica.  A second FA Cup triumph was achieved and they finished third in the League.  If they had won one of their two games against Champions, Ipswich Town, Spurs would have achieved a second 'double'.  The next year as injury started to take its toll on Blanchflower, he missed nearly half of the season but returned to inspire the team to the European Cup Winners' Cup success.  The following season he retired.

Blanchflower went into journalism and later briefly returned to football management.  On his resignation as Tottenham manger, Bill Nicholson recommended that Blanchflower, working with Johnny Giles, be appointed as his replacement.  The Board of Directors decided against such an appointment.

Blanchflower was one of Tottenham's most influential players and is a 'Legend' so important to the success that Spurs achieved at home and in Europe in the early 1960s.  He made 382 League and Cup appearances in his ten years with Tottenham.

Twenty five years after the Blanchflower transfer, the next transaction between the two clubs saw Gordon Smith arrive at White Hart Lane in February,1979.  A full back, he spent four years with Spurs as they tried to re-establish themselves in the 1st Division.  Injury problems delayed his debut and restricted his appearances so that he only made 45 League and Cup appearances before moving on to Wolverhampton Wanderers.  Not all transfers are a success.

David Ginola who was such a favourite at Tottenham during his three years at the club was transferred to Villa in 2000.  While at White Hart Lane he was a member of the Worthington Cup winning team of 1999 and brought excitement and skill to the team at what was a rather dull period in Tottenham's history.  He was signed by Gerry Francis from Newcastle United, played for Christian Gross and sold by George Graham.  On Graham's arrival it had been widely predicted that Ginola would be one of the first players to leave but he showed great application during this time and worked well for the team scoring a number of outstanding goals.  On returning to White Hart Lane the following season, to play in a rather dull scoreless draw for Villa, home spectators provided their own entertainment by cheering every time Ginola touched the ball.

Spurs Connections in Villa's Current Squad
Aston Villa's current squad contains three players with Tottenham connections in their past record.  Jermaine Jenas who is unavailable for this match as he is on a year long loan agreement with Villa joined Spurs from Newcastle in 2005.  He played in the Carling Cup win of 2008 and in the following season's losing Final team but has been a peripheral player at the club for the past two seasons.  A player of skill and endeavour, he too often failed to influence a game as much as his ability suggested he should and recurring injury problems restricted his appearances for Spurs as it has done at Villa.

Alan Hutton also joined Villa in August.  His transfer was completed as Kyle Walker who had finished last season on loan at Villa returned to White Hart Lane to claim the first team place and as former Tottenham player, Luke Young left Villa Park to sign for Queen's Park Rangers.  Hutton joined Spurs from Rangers in 2008 and a few weeks later was part of the Carling Cup success.  He fell out of favour following Harry Redknapp's appointment and went on loan to Sunderland.  It had been anticipated that he would leave sooner but he returned to the team in the first half of last season but out out again to Vedran Corluka.  A deal for £3 million was agreed with Villa in the summer and he expressed his disaffection for Spurs and the manager in articles in the press following his departure. 

Darren Bent was not happy at Tottenham following Harry Redknapp's quote after the striker missed an obvious goal scoring opportunity against Portsmouth.  He had joined Spurs from Charlton  Athletic in 2007 when Martin Jol was manager.  He never found his true goal scoring form with the club as he competed with Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Jermaine Defoe for a place in the team.  He was an unused substitute for the 2008 Carling Cup Final but played in the following year's losing team.  He finished leading goalscorer for Spurs in 2009 with 17 goals in all competitions.  He joined Sunderland in the summer of 2009 for £10 million after he had attracted attention with his infamous quotes on Twitter about which clubs he did and didn't want to sign for.

Since moving away from Tottenham Bent has shown much greater endeavour when playing against Spurs than he ever appeared to do when wearing the white shirt of Tottenham.  In his first game for Sunderland at White Hart Lane he lost his personal battle with Heurelho Gomes who saved his penalty awarded for what to many appeared to be a dive. as Spurs won 2 - 0.  However, in the return match he was fired up and scored two goals in the opening half hour, including a penalty.  In his continuing penalty shoot-out contest with Gomes, he lost out as Gomes saved two of the three penalties awarded as Spurs lost 1 - 3.  He joined Villa in January, 2011 for £18 million and has continued to add to his England appearances.

And there were Others
Other players who have worn both the claret and blue of Villa and the white of Spurs include:
Steve Hodge, Andy Gray, Colin Calderwood and Oyvind Leonhardsen. 

Older Players
Older players included Jimmy Cantrell who spent the early part of his career with Villa.  He joined Spurs in 1912 and was still an influential centre forward as Spurs won the 2nd Division in 1920 and the FA Cup the following season.  He was a few weeks short of his 39th birthday when he played in the 1921 FA Cup Final win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.  He retired in 1925 and played his last game for Spurs in April, 1923 - the oldest player to play for the club.

Cyril Spiers joined Tottenham from Villa in 1927 after a serious injury had led the Midlands club to believe that he would never be fit enough to play again.  However, he underwent surgery and after a successful trial joined Spurs.  He was their regular goalkeeper for over four seasons and was released in 1933 having made 169 League and Cup appearances.

Billy Cook and Ronnie Dix also served both clubs.

They Played for Tottenham and Newcastle

Three players who have been among the most exciting to grace the white shirt of Tottenham were signed from Newcastle United.  Other players made the move from White Hart Lane to Newcastle while Ossie Ardiles has been manager of both clubs and Keith Burkinshaw was a coach at St James Park before arriving at Spurs.

Chris Waddle, Paul Gascoigne and David Ginola

If asked to name three of the most graceful and exciting players to play for Tottenham and these three would be among the first players mentioned.  All three moved to White Hart Lane and had an immense impact on the club.

Chris Waddle signed for Spurs in July, 1985 for a fee of £590,000.  He made 138 League appearances and scored 33 goals.  He made an immediate impression by scoring twice on his debut on the opening day of the season in a 4 - 0 home win over Watford.  He established himself in the England team during his time with Spurs and in 1986 - 87 he was part of the exciting team that David Pleat managed to 3rd in the League and to the FA Cup Final.  Spurs also reached the semi-finals of the League Cup.  In that team Clive Allen scored 49 goals in all competitions and Waddle was a vital part of the 5-man midfield which supplied their prolific striker.

By the summer of 1989, Terry Venables had taken over as Spurs manager and was building an exciting team with Paul Gascoigne and newly signed Gary Lineker to play with Waddle.  It was looking very exciting for Spurs fans but unbeknown to them Spurs' financial position was precarious and when Olympique Marseilles made an offer of £4.5 million for waddle it was too good an offer for both player and club to turn down.  To the great disappointment of supporters, Waddle went to France where he won the French title in each of his three years there and also reached a European Cup Final.  Spurs fans still lament at the missed opportunity of having the three England internationals, Waddle, Gascoigne and Lineker, playing in the white of Tottenham.

When he returned to England, Tottenham were in financial distress and Waddle joined Sheffield Wednesday.

Chris Waddle at Tottenham: 138 Lge App. 33 goals.  36 Cup App. 9 goals. 

Paul Gascoigne was an immense talent who brought exhuberance and an amazing talent to the football field.  He joined Spurs from Newcastle for a then record fee of £2 million, turning his back on Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United.  Under Terry Venables he blossomed into the best footballer in England and a regular England international.  He helped Spurs finish third in the League in 1989 - 90 and at that summer's World Cup in Italy, the whole world became aware of his precocious talent as England reached the semi-finals.

The following season he lit up English football as crowds flocked to see the World Cup heroes, Lineker and Gascoigne.  Not put off by the publicity he raised his game and in the second half of the season, almost single-handedly took Spurs to the FA Cup Final at Wembley.  That season he scored 19 League and Cup goals.  He scored seven in the League including an amazing hat-trick against Derby County with Peter Shilton in goal and six in both Cup competitions.

Spurs financial standing was in a critical position and there was much doom and gloom surrounding the club as the banks threatened to call in their debts and put Tottenham Hotspur out of existence.  Against this uncertain background the FA Cup started in January but Gascoigne with outstanding performances and goals to match managed to get Spurs past Portsmouth, Oxford United and Notts County, scoring five goals, to reach a semi-final at Wembley against north-London neighbours, Arsenal.

During the Cup run, Gascoigne had been playing with an operation that required surgery.  This was arranged for immediately after the 6th Round tie, in the hope that he would be fit for the semi-final.  Gascoigne recovered in time and took his place in the team at Wembley.  He was pumped up for that match against opponents who were looking to win the League and Cup 'double'.  Within five minutes he had given Spurs the lead with a free-kick from forty yards.  For an hour he was everywhere and involved in everything that was good for Spurs as they went on to win 3 - 1 and the Final against Nottingham Forest.

In the build up to the Final, Gascoigne became part of the financial solution to rescue Spurs.  A transfer was agreed for him to go to Lazio in Italy for £8.5million but in the Final an over excited Gascoigne made a rash tackle and damaged the cruciate ligaments in his knee.  He was carried off the Wembley pitch on a stretcher and went straight to hospital.  A goal down Spurs re-organised, re-grouped and won 2 -1 in extra time.

Gascoigne was out of football for a year but the deal with Lazio was re-negotiated and in July, 1991 he signed for £5.5 million.  He made 92 League appearances for Tottenham and scored 19 goals.  Gascoigne played for a number of different clubs but never again reached the level of performance he showed with Tottenham in those first three seasons.  His life has been blighted with many problems but he is held close to the hearts of every Spurs fan and it is to be hoped that he will find a purpose in his life and avoid the pitfalls that have so hindered him in the past.

Paul Gascoigne at Tottenham: 92 Lge App. 19 goals.  19 Cup App. 14 goals.

David Ginola was signed by Gerry Francis in the summer of 1997 for £2.5 million.  He was a great favourite on Tyneside and soon became a member of that elite group of players for whom spectators would willingly pay the entrance fee to see them perform at White Hart Lane.  He brought excitement and flair to the rather workman-like team that Francis had produced and his thrilling runs down the left wing, along with his cut-ins to strike at goal stay long in the memory of Tottenham fans as he gained hero status at the club.

Ginola arrived with Les Ferdinand, also signed from Newcastle, to provide the crosses for Ferdinand to score the goals but in his time at White Hart Lane he also added a versatility to his game by playing as a second striker or dropping back into midfield.  Within months of his arrival at Spurs, Francis was replaced by Christian Gross and the team struggled through the season to avoid relegation.  Ginola contributed to their survival with both flair and hard-work and while Jurgen Klinsmann received many of the plaudits it was Ginola who did much to preserve their status.  In the crucial success at Wimbledon, Klinsmann scored four goals but it was the play of Ginola which destroyed the dons defence and supplied the German with the goal scoring opportunities.  That day David Ginola was simply unplayable.

After the departure of Gross, the arrival of George Graham led many to believe that Ginola would be the first player sacrificed by the new manager in his efforts to produce an effective, hard-working team.  However, Ginola probably produced some of his best football at Spurs under Graham and his performances and goals took Spurs to Worthington Cup Final success and the FA Cup semi-finals in 1998 - 99. 

The FA Cup 5th Round tie against Leeds United is memorable for the quality of the goals that Spurs scored in the replay at White Hart Lane. A goal from Tim Sherwood had earned Spurs the replay but Darren Anderton and David Ginola scored two goals of outstanding quality to take Spurs into the quarter finals. Another amazing strike from Ginola which went narrowly past is equally remembered for the reaction of George Graham and the Spurs’ bench as they leapt to their feet in celebration, thinking that it was a goal.

The 6th Round draw took Spurs to Barnsley where they had lost in a 5th Round Replay twelve months earlier but on this occasion it produced a scintillating performance and a wonder goal from Ginola.  An inspirational run down the left from Ginola saw him leaving defenders floundering behind him so he cut in on goal to strike the ball past a bemused keeper.  This was sufficient to overcome the side that had suffered relegation at the end of the previous season.

His performances that season saw Ginola win both the PFA and the Football Writers Player of the Year awards.  In July, 2000 he reluctantly signed for Aston Villa for £3 million, neither the player nor supporters wanted him to go.

His time at Tottenham may have been short, three years, but the memories that David Ginola created are long lasting and he still has an affinity with the club and the supporters.

David Ginola at Tottenham: 100 Lge App. 13 Goals.  26 Cup/European App. 9 goals.

Others have also played for both clubs but none can compare to the Ginola, Gascoigne or Waddle:

Les Ferdinand the current striker coach at Tottenham joined in the summer of 1997 for £6 million and in five and a half seasons made 118 appearances, scoring 33 goals.  Injuries affected him badly during his first three seasons at the club when he only managed 12 goals.  He was part of the teams which reached the League cup Finals of 1999 and 2002.  He had his best period at the club in the third and fourth seasons when he scored 25 League and Cup goals but in the 2002 Final against Blackburn Rovers at Cardiff he was thwarted on three occasions by the Rovers goalkeeper, Brad Friedel, as the trophy headed north.  In January, 2003 he was transferred to West Ham United and scored his first goal for his new club against Spurs.

Stephen Carr was transferred to Newcastle in 2004 after thirteen seasons at Tottenham.  He came through the youth system at White Hart Lane and established himself as an important member of the team, attacking from the right and scoring vital goals.  he was a member of the 1999 Worthington Cup winning team and a full international for the Republic of Ireland.  In total he made 226 appearances, scoring 7 goals.  Injury hindered him and he was out for over eighteen months and on his return he had lost some of the impetus he had previously had and as the team struggled he looked for a new challenge in the north east.  He departed saying that he was moving to ' a bigger club' which infuriated Tottenham supporters who had previously idolised him before tiring of his seemimg lack of interest.

The Managers:

Ossie Ardiles managed Newcastle United from 1991 for a year but it was not a successful time for him as the club struggled against relegation from the 2nd Division.  In 1993, after a successful time at west Bromwich he was appointed manager of Tottenham by Alan Sugar.  the chairman was trying to appease irate fans who were displeased at the departure of Terry Venables.  It was difficult for Ardiles to take over in such circumstances and while supporters enjoyed his attacking team which included Jurgen Klinsmann, Teddy Sheringham, Nicky Barmby, Darren Anderton and Ille Dimitrescu, the team lacked consistency and he was sacked in October, 1994.  Although as a manager Ardiles was not a success, he is still remembered for his successful time as a player at Tottenham.

Keith Burkinshaw arrived at Tottenham from Newcastle to work as 1st Team coach under Terry Neill.  On Neill's departure in the summer of 1976, he was appointed manager and although the club suffered relegation at the end of his first season in charge, the directors decided to give him another chance and he built the successful team of the early 1980s which included Ardiles, Ricky Villa, Graham Roberts, Steve Perryman and Glenn Hoddle.  That team won the FA Cup in 1981 and 1982 and the UEFA Cup in 1984.

Other players who have played for both clubs are Garry Brady, Jim Iley, Mark Stimson, Ruel Fox and Kevin Scott.

Spurs in History - 2nd August

2nd August, 1997

Spurs 0 Fiorentina 2 (David Howells Testimonial)

David Howells was a loyal player to Spurs.

He made his debut as a striker, scoring in a 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday in February, 1986. He took time to establish himself and it was as a defensive midfielder/defender who could score important goals that he will be remembered.

He made 277 League appearances, scoring 22 goals, 58 Cup games brought 5 goals and was a member of the 1991 Cup winning team.

This game was the first opportunity for the Spurs fans to see the new summer signings playing at White Hart Lane – David Ginola and Les Ferdinand who were signed from Newcastle United.

David Howells left Spurs in May,1998 and signed for Southampton. He also played for Bristol City before retiring in 2000 due to a persistent knee problem. He now runs a string of successful soccer schools across Europe.

Spurs in History - 18th July

18th July, 1997

Fredrikstad FK 0 Spurs 0 (Pre-season)

Gerry Francis signed David Ginola from Newcastle United to add skill and excitement to the Spurs team.

He became a firm favourite at White Hart Lane and this game marked his first appearance in a Spurs shirt. He played for the last twenty five minutes when he replaced that other former Newcastle favourite Ruel Fox.

Not fully fit, it took time for Ginola to lose some weight and get match fit but his performances brought excitement to the games and spectacular goals and in his second season as well as being a member of the Worthington Cup winning team he was the ‘Double’ Footballer of the Year.

Spurs in History - 2nd May

2nd May, 1998

Wimbledon 2 Spurs 6 Premiership
 Scorers: Klinsmann (4), Ferdinand, Saib

Jurgen Klinsmann

Survival and what a way to do it!  After a long and difficult season Spurs were still fighting to retain their place in the Premiership.   Christian Gross’ appointment had not been successful and there was discontent among the players over his style of management.


The return of Jurgen Klinsmann had not brought about the hoped for revitalisation of the team and he had struggled to make a major impact in his second spell at White Hart Lane.  However, Klinsmann rectified that situation in just one game.  Spurs had taken an early lead through Les Ferdinand after a shot from David Ginola had hit the post.  They were, however, a goal behind as half time approached, until Klinsmann equalised. 

In the second half Klinsmann scored another three goals inside five minutes and then set up the sixth goal for Moussa Saib.  While Klinsmann scored the goals and claimed the headlines, David Ginola was unplayable that day, creating so many problems for the Wimbledon defence that future Tottenham player, Ben Thatcher was sent off.

Team: Walker; Carr, Calderwood, Campbell, Nielsen; Fox (Saib), Anderton, Berti, Ginola; Ferdinand (Armstrong), Klinsmann.