Spurs Away Record Against Chelsea

Tottenham's record at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea is horrendous.  They have not won their in any competition since 1990, a total of twenty four matches, twenty one in the League.

Spurs have not won at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League era, they have lost thirteen of the nineteen Premier League matches played but prior to this period Spurs' away record against Chelsea was very good.

Premier League Record at Chelsea

P  19  W  0  D  6  L  13  For  12  Ag  37  

Away Record at Stamford Bridge pre-Premier League (Old 1st & 2nd Div)

P  44  W  19  D  7  L  18  For  67  Ag  56

Overall League Record: 

P  63  W  19  D  13  L  31  For  79  Ag  93

The stats clearly show the dramatic  change in fortunes that has occurred since the arrival of the Premier League.  From a ground where Spurs had a good record, it has become one not to be discussed and will be wheeled out once again on Saturday by commentators and Chelsea fans alike as a reason why the three points are Chelsea's for the taking.  It is hard to argue against such comments but perhaps this is the time to turn it around as both clubs battle, with Arsenal, for the final two places in next season's Champions League.

Gary Lineker's Winning Goal in 1990

Last Season's Match:
Apr. 2011  PL  Lost 1 - 2  Sandro
This match is typical of what has happened to Spurs when facing 'top 4' opposition in recent years.  Spurs had taken a deserved first half lead through a great shot from Sandro, his first goal for Spurs.  It looked as if they were going to have the advantage at the interval until with a minute to go Lampard took a speculative shot from distance.  It should have posed little threat for the goalkeeper, but Heurelho Gomes let it slip through his grasp and roll towards the line.  He managed to retrieve the situation and stopped it crossing the line but the referee's assistant signalled, incorrectly, that it was a goal and Chelsea were level.  This was just the lift that the home team needed, Spurs never regained the ascendancy of the first half but were looking set for a point with a minute to go, only for Chelsea to score from an offside position

Recent Matches at Stamford Bridge

Sept. 2009  PL  Lost 0 - 3
Hopes were high that Spurs could get a result as they had started the season well, suffering only one defeat in their first five matches.  Spurs created early chances without taking any of them but after half an hour Chelsea went ahead.  Early in the second half, Ledley King went off injured and after Spurs were denied a penalty for a foul on Robbie Keane, Chelsea scored two goals in five minutes to secure victory.

Aug. 2008  PL  Draw 1 - 1  Bent
An unexpected result, one of Spurs points in their '2 points from 8 matches' start to the season under Juande Ramos before Harry Redknapp was appointed two months later.  Spurs had lost their opening two games and were behind after half an hour.  They drew level through Darren Bent just before half-time and held on for a point.

Jan. 2008  PL  Lost 0 - 2 
According to Assistant Manager, Gus Poyet, "It was a tight match with not many chances.  Chelsea controlled the game and they are a team that will find a way to score and get the points even when they are not playing well."  A goal in each half secured the points for Chelsea.

Apr. 2007  PL  Lost 0 - 1
Martin Jol's side had played in Seville on the Thursday evening in the UEFA Cup quarter-final match and returned to play the early kick-off game on Saturday.  They lost to a hopeful shot from distance, early in the second half.

Mar. 2006  PL  Lost 1 - 2  Jenas
Another sad tale of so close but so far for Spurs who were trying to hold on to fourth place in the League.  Chelsea were ahead with fifteen minutes but Jermaine Jenas equalised on half-time from a free-kick.  In the final minute of added time, William Gallas, scored with a spectacular shot from distance to deny Spurs.

Sept. 2004  PL  Draw 0 - 0
In the words of Jose Mourinho, Jacques Santini 'parked the bus' in front of the Spurs goal and took a point as Spurs remained undefeated in the opening six matches of the season.  The result demonstrated the defensive strategies of the newly appointed manager.

Sept. 2003  PL  Lost 2 - 4  Kanoute (2)
Spurs took the lead and were comfortable until Chelsea scored twice in two minutes before the interval.  They added a third but Kanoute scored a second with three minutes remaining, only for the home team to score in the final minute.

Feb. 2003  PL  Draw 1 - 1  Sheringham
Teddy Sheringham gave Spurs an early lead but Chelsea drew level direct from a free-kick just before half-time.

Mar. 2002  PL  Lost 0 - 4
Spurs had beaten Chelsea 5 - 1 at White Hart Lane two months earlier in the Worthington Cup semi-final but they extracted ample revenge winning 4 - 0 in both the FA Cup and League in consecutive matches.  This was Spurs third successive four goal defeat in  a week having also lost to Manchester United.

We Can Win There!
Enough of this doom and gloom, Spurs last won at Stamford Bridge in 1990.

10th February, 1990  1st Div.  Won 2 - 1  Howells, Lineker
David Howells and Gary Lineker scored the goals with Lineker heading the winning goal from a Nayim cross with two minutes remaining.  Spurs finished the season in third place.

Nov. 1970  1st Div.  Won 2 - 0  Mullery, Pearce
One of the most enjoyable wins at Stamford Bridge, not for the quality of the football or the game but for the nature of the win.  On a wet day, on a very muddy pitch Spurs scored twice in the final minutes through Alan Mullery and Jimmy Pearce to take the three points.

A Memorable Encounter but Spurs Didn't Win (from ESPN site)
Chelsea 4-3 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League, 1993-94)
This was a match that had everything bar quality - a seven-goal thriller decided in the dying seconds between a Chelsea side that had not won for four games and a Spurs side that had lost their previous six.  "There were so many soft goals that it was possible to walk away from Stamford Bridge with the impression both sides had lost," The Guardian reported.

Spurs opened the scoring on 18 minutes through Steve Sedgley, and an unmarked Jason Dozzell instantly doubled their advantage, but goals from Mal Donaghy and Mark Stein - again, unmarked - had made it 2-2 by the 33rd minute, and seven minutes later Chelsea were in front when John Spencer was given the space he needed to strike.

Andy Gray netted an equaliser from the penalty spot on 73 minutes but nine minutes later, presented with his second penalty, Gray's effort was saved by Dmitri Kharine.  To add salt to Gray's wound, Spurs defender Dean Austin fouled Gavin Peacock in injury time, and Stein stepped up to give Chelsea the three points.  "The lasting memories will be of two sides committed totally to attack in the image of their respective managers Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles," the Express said, "although it would contravene the Trades Descriptions Act to say either team fielded a defence."

It Could Only Happen to Spurs
Dec. 1990  1st Div. Lost 2 - 3  Gascoigne, Lineker
This is the first game in that losing sequence, ten months earlier Spurs had won at Stamford Bridge but for this game the signs were not promising from the outset.  On the way to the match the team stopped for lunch at a hotel in Central London.  Their coach was parked illegally, clamped and towed away with the team kit inside.  Subsequently, they arrived late, handed in their team sheet late and were later fined by the Football Association.  On the pitch it wasn't much better as Gascoigne and Lineker's goals weren't enough to take the points.

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.

Tottenham's 1990 FA Youth Cup Winning Team

Tottenham Hotspur have won the FA Youth Cup on three occasions, the last time being in 1990 when Spurs had one of their most successful youth teams, winning three trophies that season.  However, being a member of a winning team in the country's most prestigious youth tournament is no guarantee to having a successful career in football.

May, 1990  FA Youth Cup Final (1st Leg) v Middlesbrough (a) Won 2 - 1 Potts, Houghton

                                                   (2nd Leg) v Middlesbrough (h) Drew 1 - 1 Morah

Tottenham Won 3 - 2 on agg.

Team: (1st Leg) Walker; Smith, N., Hendon, Tuttle, Hackett; Hardwicke, Howell (Nethercott), Smith, K., Houghton (Fulling); Morah, Potts.

(for the 2nd Leg Fulling started in place of Howell who replaced him during the game.  Nethercott replaced Morah) 

Tottenham's youth team of season 1989 - 90 retained the South East Counties League Division for a fifth successive season, won the FA Youth Cup for the first time since 1974 and only the third time in Tottenham's history and defeated Arsenal in the Final of the Southern Junior Floodlit Cup, coming from a goal down after losing the first leg at Highbury to win 2 - 1 on aggregate.

This was the club's most successful youth team, in terms of winning competitions, since 1970 when the youth team included Steve Perryman and Graeme Souness.  The team was managed by Keith Waldon who regarded the team's win over Manchester City at Maine Road in the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup as their best performance of the season.  Spurs won 2 -  and in Waldon's words, "The scoreline really flattered City. I thought we were far superior on the day.  To beat City on their own ground and to do it so convincingly, was magnificent."

The manager was also very complimentary to the players while adding a word of caution that it was up to the individual players to continue to improve in order to fulfil their potential.  He regarded Ian Walker and David Tuttle as the most outstanding players throughout the whole season for the fact that they rarely made mistakes and were very solid, holding the team together when things got difficult.

What Happened to the 1990 FA Youth Cup Winners?

Ian Walker, Tottenham

Ian Walker was the most successful of the group, having been regarded by Waldon as 'one of the most outstanding youth team goalkeepers that he had ever seen'.  He went on the make 260 League appearances for Tottenham and won 4 England caps.  he made his first team debut in season 1992 - 93 but it was 1995 - 96 season before he made the goalkeeping position his one.  For the following five seasons he was first choice and played in the 1999 Worthington Cup win over Leicester City.  It was a difficult period for Spurs and Ian Walker irritated many fans due to what they regarded as his carefree attitude when things weren't going well for the team.  The arrival of Neil Sullivan from Wimbledon in 2002 saw Walker lose his place in the team and he moved to Leicester City for £2.5 million the following summer.  He spent three years with Leicester before going to Bolton as understudy.

Neil Smith was the most versatile player in the youth team, having played the previous season as a striker and being the team's leading goalscorer.  He moved into defence but could also play in midfield.  He left Spurs in 1991, signing for Gillingham after a period on loan.   After six years he moved to Fulham and played against Spurs in the FA Cup, scoring Fulham's goal, past former youth team colleague, Walker, at White Hart Lane in a 3 - 1 defeat in 1998.  In 1999 he joined Reading and after three seasons he moved into non-League football.  Smith helped each of his three League clubs achieve promotion.

Warren Hackett played at full back in the successful youth team but was released at the end of that season.  He went to Leyton Orient and in four seasons made 76 League appearances.  after a year at Doncaster, he spent four season with Mansfield Town, making 117 appearances.  He had two years at Barnet before retiring due to injury.  He made 21 international appearances for Saint Lucia.

Ian Hendon was captain of the youth team and the England youth side.  Waldon viewed him as quite an accomplished player who had a lot of work to do to prove he wasn't just a good youth team footballer, but was capable of going all the way to play in senior football.  He progressed to the Tottenham senior team, making 4 substitute League appearances for Spurs and also playing for the England Under-21 team.  He was a member of the FA Cup winning squad and the squad for the Charity Shield at the start of the next season.He went out on loan and was transferred to Leyton Orient in 1993 for £50,000.  After four seasons he went to Notts County and two years later moved on to Northampton Town.  He joined Sheffield Wednesday in 2000 and had a short time with Peterborough before joining non-League Barnet.  he helped them win promotion to th eFootball League and spent six seasons there, including time as manager.

David Tuttle had started as a centre forward in youth football but was moved in to central defence the previous season and in the words of his manager, 'showed a lot of promise.'  That promise was fulfilled as he made it into the League team at Spurs, making 14 appearances before being transferred to Sheffield United in 2003.  He also signed for Crystal Palace, Barnsley and Millwall.  He became assistant to Colin Lee at Millwall and in 2005 was appointed manager.  He left the following summer having failed to avoid relegation.  He is at MK Dons as chief scout and manages on non-league football.

Vic Hardwicke played in midfield but was released by Spurs at the end of his successful youth team season.

Greg Howell played in midfield in the first leg of the Final and was substitute for the second game.  He left Spurs on a free transfer in the summer of 1993 without progressing beyond the reserves.  He was at Enfield Town for three years from 2005.

 Kevin Smith was a physically strong midfield player for the youth team.  He made a few reserve team appearances the following season but was then released by Spurs.

Scott Houghton was a speedy winger who could use both feet.  He scored a goal in the 1st Leg of the Final at Middlesbrough.  He made his Spurs debut in September, 1991 as a substitute against Manchester United.  In his next game, he came on as  a substitute against Luton Town and scored twice as Spurs won 4 - 1 at White Hart Lane.  it was a memorable match as Luton had gone ahead just before the interval.  The second half was interrupted for fifteen minutes when the light failed but on their return Spurs came alight and scored four, Gary Lineker scored twice as well.  (see the goals here)  Houghton made 10 League appearances, all as a substitute before joining Luton in 1993.  He played for a number of lower League clubs, having his best spells at Peterborough, Walsall, Southend United and Leyton Orient.

Ollie Morah was a first year apprentice in the Cup winning team who scored 28 goals that year, including the goal in the 2nd leg of the Final.  He remained with Spurs until August, 1992 when he signed for Swindon Town.  He failed to make any League appearances there and after two years dropped into non-League football with Sutton United.  He later played for Cambridge United and Torquay United.  He is became a coach at Tottenham in 2005 with the Academy Under-13 players.  

Andrew Potts was another first year apprentice when wining the FA Youth Cup.  He was leading scorer that season with 30 goals, including a goal in the Final.  He was released in the summer of 1993.

Lee Fulling was released by Tottenham a few weeks after the Final.

Stuart Nethercott was a first year trainee when he made his substitute appearances in the FA Youth Cup Final.  He made it to the Tottenham first team and made hid debut in 1993 in a 1 - 1 draw at Chelsea.  He made a number of appearances over the next eighteen months but at the start of the 1994 - 95 season, Ossie Ardiles selected him to partner Sol Campbell at the heart of the Tottenham defence, ahead of Gary Mabbutt.  It was in the attacking, care-free days of Jurgen Klinsmann and Teddy Sheringham and the defence was left over exposed, leading to Ardiles removal as manager.  Nethercott had a further three seasons at the club playing when others were injured.  one such occasion was the FA Cup semi-final against Everton and unfortunately for Nethercott he had a poor game at full back as Spurs lost 1 - 4 and their Cup winning dream was shattered.  He went to Millwall in 1997 and made over 200 appearances in seven seasons, helping them to promotion to the Premier league and an FA Cup Final although he missed it as he had been loaned out to Wycombe for whom he signed in the summer of 2004.

Only Ian Walker made himself a regular team member with Tottenham and only a small number of the players managed to have a career in lower League football.  As with the 1995 FA Youth Cup team, being part of a successful youth team gives no assurance of making a career in League football.  Tottenham continue to spend vast sums of money on their Academy in the search for quality young players but even with all the expert coaching provided there is no certainty that any of those young players will progress to the first team, never mind make themselves a regular and vital member of the team.

Tottenham CAN Win at Old Trafford

Lineker Scorer at OT

Right, let's get the horrific statistics which commentators just love to bombard us with out of the way.  Spurs haven't beaten Manchester United in the Premier League and are on a winless run of twenty League games, twenty four if you include Cup games.  The last time Tottenham won at Old Trafford was in December, 1989 so for the last twenty one seasons they have failed to win at Old Trafford.  On only only four occasions have Spurs returned with a point - the last goal to count for anything for Spurs at Old Trafford was a Jermaine Jenas strike in October, 2005.  Looking at the overall record of League visits to Manchester to play United, Spurs have won on only ten occasions with fourteen draws from 74 games.

There's no way to put it but Spurs' record against United is atrocious and getting worse, not helped by some dubious refereeing decisions, disallowed goals and questionable penalties given against them.

However, Tottenham Hotspur can win at Old Trafford - they've done it before.

16th December, 1989
Gary Lineker gave Spurs supporters an early Christmas present with the only goal of the game.
Team: Mimms; Thomas, M., Howells, Mabbutt, Van den Hauwe; Allen, P., Samways, Gascoigne, Sedgley; Stewart, Lineker.

This followed an impressive 3 - 0 success over United in the Littlewoods Cup the previous October, when Lineker, Vinny Samways and Nayim scored.  How times have changed - that season Spurs finished third while United lanquished in mid-table mediocrity of thirteenth.


4th September, 1976
Spurs were relegated at the end of this Keith Burkinshaw's first season as manager and there was little for supporters to cheer in the early part of the season.  They had one point from their opening three games - a dull scoreless draw at home to Middlesbrough prior to visiting Old Trafford.  Their first win of the season came courtesy of goals from Ralph Coates, John Pratt and Ian Moores.  The star was Barry Daines who had an outstanding game in place of Pat Jennings and that started media speculation about how long could Spurs keep their young reserve goalkeeper happy when he was second choice to Jennings.

23rd March, 1974
Ralph Coates scored the only goal which enabled Spurs to complete the 'double' over United who were relegated at the end of the season.

28th October, 1972
A memorable day for Spurs and Martin Peters.  He scored the four goals at Old Trafford which gave Spurs a 4 - 1 success.  Playing on the right side of midfield in place of Alan Gilzean, Peters commented after the game that he was simply in the right place at the right time - four times.  United finished 18th in the League and Bobby Charlton who had scored their goal that day was their leading scorer in season 1972 - 73 with six goals, retired after a distinguished career.


Between 1963 and 1971 United won nine home games in a row against Spurs.

9th March, 1963
Frank Saul and Cliff Jones scored Spurs' two goals without reply.

Even the 'Double' winning team failed to carry their success to Old Trafford but three seasons earlier  Spurs enjoyed a resounding victory.  

12th September, 1959
Dave Mackay, Tommy Harmer, Bobby Smith (2), Dunmore scored the goals in a 5 - 1 victory

21st August, 2011
Can this date be added to the select list?
 
Spurs have enjoyed success at Old Trafford and on occasions it has been in the most unlikely of circumstances.  At other times it has been a resounding success so there is no reason why a team which includes players with the pace and skill of Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon, the guile of Rafael Van der Vaart and the goal scoring inclination of Jermain Defoe can not bring back three points tomorrow evening.  It needs teamwork, concentration and endeavour to deny United and to put them under pressure.  

There have been times in recent years when success against United at home and away has been so close but slipped away at the last moment.  Spurs demons have been allayed in the recent past - defeating Chelsea, winning against Arsenal and at the Emirates and defeating Liverpool at Anfield.  This team has managed to break down those barriers so now it's time to knock over another one and secure a win at Old Trafford to get the season off to the best possible start.

Spurs in History - 25th August

25th August, 1990

Spurs 3 Manchester City 1

The World Cup in Italy during the summer brought Paul Gascoigne to the attention of the world in general and the nation in particular. His play had inspired the nation and he came home a hero. The phenomenon known as Gazza had been born and so there was incredible media attention for this game as Gary Lineker and Gascoigne appeared in the opening game of the season.

Both played a major part in this victory as Gazza opened the scoring and Lineker scored the other two.

Spurs in History - 10th August

10th August, 1991

Arsenal 0 Spurs 0 F.A.Charity Shield (Wembley)

The Champions against the FA Cup winners at the venue of the previous season’s amazing Cup semi-final. Gazza was missing but Spurs used the same tactics that had been successful in the semi-final.

Gary Lineker was the lone striker with five in midfield but the match failed to reach the level of the previous meeting. This was the first time that the clubs had met in the Charity Shield and with no penalties to decide an outright winner, both clubs shared the trophy.

Spurs in History - 18th May

18th May, 1991

Spurs' Last F.A.Cup Success

Spurs 2 Nottingham Forest 1 (aet) F.A.CUP FINAL at Wembley

A difficult season ended in glory but at the expense of injury to the star who had single-handedly brought the team to the Final. Paul Gascoigne had been the talisman throughout the early rounds of the competition and inspired the team in the semi-final.

However, he was so fired up for the Final that he appeared to be almost out of control and in fact lasted only 13 minutes when he was carried off injured. Spurs were a goal down from the free-kick that had been awarded for his reckless challenge and he could have been sent off for an earlier indiscretion.

The rest of the team responded positively to these set backs and gradually pulled themselves back into the game. Gary Lineker had a goal disallowed for off-side and then had a penalty saved after being pulled down.

Into the second half and Paul Stewart stepped forward and proved himself the hero by scoring the equaliser to take the game into extra time.

From a corner, Des Walker deflected the ball into his own goal and Spurs had won their eighth F.A.Cup, a new record.

The future of the club was still in doubt and Gascoigne’s career never really reached the heights that had promised before his serious injury.

Team: Thorstvedt; Edinburgh, Van den Hauwe; Sedgley, Howells, Mabbutt (Captain); Stewart, Gascoigne (Nayim), Samways (Walsh), Lineker, Allen.

Spurs in History - 14th April

Paul Gascoigne celebrates his wonder goal against Arsenal at Wembley (FA Cup S/F)

14th April, 1991

Spurs 3 Arsenal 1 F.A.Cup Semi-Final at Wembley.

‘St. Hotspur Day’- a day never to be forgotten by Spurs fans around the world.

Arsenal were humbled as Gazza returned from injury to score and inspire Spurs to a fantastic victory. He had only been passed fit having played for an hour in a League game at Norwich the previous Wednesday. Spurs were not expected to win this game, the first semi-final to be played at Wembley, but Venables had them firing on all cylinders from the start against their north London neoghbours who had lost only one League game all season and were looking to win the 'double'.

After five minutes Paul 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 although they did score before half-time. Gazza played for only an hour but left to an ovation – ’Spurs Hero of Wembley’.

Shortly after his departure, his replacement, Nayim, set up Lineker who scored the third to take Spurs to the Final.

An amazing performance and result - all the players played their part in this memorable victory inspired by the one and only Paul Gascoigne.