Tottenham - Final Home Match of the Season

For many seasons for younger Tottenham supporters, the final home match and the last game of the season have had little importance for Spurs.  Safely ensconced in mid-table, it was just another match to be played to bring the season to a close with nothing at stake.  For the past few seasons, however, with Spurs' improving status there has been something to play for and this weekend's home game with Fulham has the greatest importance of any final match played at White Hart Lane for some considerable time. 

The result of Sunday's match against Fulham, not to overstate its importance, could determine Spurs' future direction for years to come.  A third place finish with automatic Champions League qualification will allow immediate planning for the coming season to commence - current players will be less inclined to fall into the snare of other clubs while Tottenham would be a more attractive proposition for prospective players.  The plans for the development of the new ground would have a greater chance of progressing and attracting the financial backers and sponsors which are required for Daniel Levy to finally give it the green light.  Any other finish, even fourth, would bring with it certain restraints which would cause delay - Chelsea winning the Champions League and thus missing out on the competition, dropping into the Europa League for another season would be less appealing to current and future players and create a less profitable financial situation.  The knock-on effect for attracting sponsorship would be similar so Sunday's result is crucial for the club.

It has not always been so, as the last home game of the season approached.  Frequently, it has been the opposition who have had more to play for and for some White Hart Lane was a good place to visit.  In 1996-97, Coventry City were the visitors and their 2 - 1 victory ensured their Premier League survival by  a single point, condemning Sunderland and Middlesbrough with already relegated Nottingham Forest.  A young Northern Ireland player, Paul McVeigh, scored Spurs' goal in what was his third and final appearance for the club.  He remained with Tottenham until March, 2000 when he was given a free transfer and signed for Norwich City.  He made twenty appearances for Northern Ireland, making his debut while with Spurs and then made over 200 appearances for Norwich.

May, 2011

Tottenham 2 Birmingham City 1  Pavlyuchenko (2)  [Final place finish: 5th]
Last season's final game of the season was important for Birmingham who were looking to avoid relegation while Spurs could ensure Europa League qualification.  In the end results elsewhere determined the outcome of both situations.  Liverpool's defeat meant Spurs were in Europe while a Wolves' recovery guaranteed their safety and had relegated Birmingham even before Roman Pavlyuchenko scored the second of his two goals in the final minute.

May, 2010
Tottenham 1 Bolton Wanderers 0  Huddlestone   [Final place finish: 4th]
With two away games to follow, it was essential that Spurs won to maintain their pursuit of fourth place.  Tom Huddlestone's thunderbolt of a drive in the first half ensured that Tottenham remained in pole position ahead of their vital head-to-head clash with Manchester City to secure Champions league qualification.  Peter Crouch's goal in Manchester four days later brought that dream to reality.

May, 2009
Tottenham 2 Manchester City 1  Defoe, Keane (p)  [Final place finish: 8th]
Having battled for survival after a nightmare start to the season, Harry Redknapp in his first season at White Hart Lane had lifted the club to safety with an outside chance of making the Europa League.  This win over City maintained that prospect but a final day defeat at Anfield brought it to an end.  Jermain Defoe gave Spurs an early lead but City drew level midway through the second half.  Robbie Keane secured victory with a penalty four minutes from time.

May, 2008
Tottenham 0 Liverpool 2  [Final place finish: 11th]
Having won the Carling Cup at the end of February, Juande Ramos' team sleep walked through the rest of the season to finish eleventh.  Liverpool brought the final rites to the season with two second half goals in what was a disappointing performance from Spurs.

May, 2007
Tottenham 2 Manchester City 1  Keane, Berbatov  [Final place finish: 5th]   
Spurs ensured their qualification for the UEFA Cup with a fifth place finish for the second successive season under Martin Jol.  They scored two first half goals from Keane and Dimitar Berbatov but allowed City to pull one back before the interval but then held on throughout the second period to claim the points.

April, 2006
Tottenham 1 Bolton Wanderers 0  Lennon  [Final place finish: 5th]
Aaron Lennon's goal after an hour maintained Spurs' hold on fourth place as they faced stiff competition from Arsenal for the final place for Champions League qualification.  Spurs had been fourth since November but it would go down to the final games the next weekend when Spurs travelled across London to face West Ham United.  As we all know, 'Lasagne-gate' became headlines as a sickly Tottenham played out the game with an ailing team who were clearly unwell.  Spurs lost, Arsenal won and Tottenham fans had to wait another until 2010 for their first experience of the Champions League.

May, 2005
Tottenham 0 Blackburn Rovers 0  [Final place finish: 9th]
Spurs had an outside chance of European qualification but it had really been lost the previous weekend with a single goal defeat at Middlesbrough.  A stubborn Rovers team came to deny Tottenham and they succeeded.

It was Atrocious
May, 2003
Tottenham 0 Blackburn Rovers 4  [Final place finish: 10th]
This wasn't how it wa ssupposed to be when Glenn Hoddle took over as manager.  Spurs had lost 1 - 5 the previous week at Middlesbrough and brought the season to a close in front of clearly dissatisfied and disgruntled supporters at White Hart Lane.  It was Teddy Sheringham's final game for the club but there was nothing to commend about the performance which saw Gus Poyet sent off and Blackburn score twice in each half.  There were calls for Hoddle to go and it wasn't long into the new season before he departed.

It was a Celebration!

May, 1977
Tottenham 2 Leicester City 0  Pratt, Holmes  [Final place finish: 22nd - Relegation]
Spurs' relegation had been determined the previous weekend in a five goal defeat at Manchester City.  The team threw off their fears and gave the fans something to cheer in the final match with goals from John Pratt and Jimmy Holmes.  The team included Pat Jennings for whom it would be his last League appearance for the club, Steve Perryman, Glenn Hoddle and Peter Taylor.  The fans showed their loyalty to the club as they prepared for a step into the unknown - a year in the 2nd Division.


It was Tense!!
April, 1978
Tottenham 1 Hull City 0  Perryman  [Final place finish: 3rd - Promotion]
One year on and Tottenham experienced a very tense evening at White Hart Lane.  Spurs promotion had seemed secure earlier in the season but two successive defeats left them in danger of missing out.  A late goal scored by captain, Steve Perryman, secured the points and they lived to fight another day - a final day visit to Southampton who were also in the battle for promotion.  A tense scoreless draw gave both clubs promotion, Tottenham at the expense of Brighton on goal difference.


Sunday's match against Fulham is sure to be tense but hopefully, Spurs will come through and if results elsewhere go in their favour, the supporters will have plenty to celebrate - another crack at the Champions League.

Spurs in History - 7th May

7th May, 1977

Manchester City 5 Spurs 0. (1st Division)

The darkest day that I can remember in Spurs history. Spurs have suffered heavier defeats but this one meant that they had lost their place in the1st Division for the first time in 27 years. For so much of that time Spurs had seemed above such difficulties, winning trophies and being comfortably placed in the League.

This season brought about the reality of their position and threatened with the drop throughout the season, the team had rallied in the final few games but it wasn’t enough and this defeat brought about the ultimate penalty of relegation.

Players who had previously experienced success and young developing players had failed to retain the club’s position in the top flight but most remained to fight another day and the Board of Directors retained their faith in manager, Keith Burkinshaw.

It was Burkinshaw's first season as manager having been appointed in the summer following the resignation of Terry Neill who went on to manage Arsenal, his former club.

Burkinshaw had been Neill's assistant while the former Arsenal defender and captain, had been the unexpected and controversial appointment following the resignation of Bill Nicholson in 1974. While people were speculating on a dual managerial team of former Spurs' captain, Danny Blanchflower assisted by Johnny Giles, the Leeds United player. This was the recommendation of Nicholson himself but the Directors decided on Neill who was then manager at Hull City.

Spurs in History - 30th April

30th April, 1910

Spurs 2 Chelsea 1 (1st Division)

Having won promotion to Division 1 in their first year in the Football League Spurs had found life very difficult in the top flight. This was a crucial last day of the season victory against fellow relegation threatened strugglers. The situation was clear, which ever team lost would be relegated.

Spurs won before a crowd of 35,000 with goals from Billy Minter and the all important second goal from centre forward Percy Humphreys who had previously played for Chelsea.

Spurs victory ensured their 1st Division survival and so close was it at the bottom that the two points enabled them to move up to 15th place, while condemning Chelsea to relegation.

Spurs in History - 18th April

18th April, 1998
Barnsley 1 Spurs 1 (Premiership)

From the excitement of League, Cup and European achievement to the anxiety of trying to avoid relegation. All season Spurs had been battling to avoid the drop and changing the manager from Gerry Francis to Christian Gross hadn’t seen any improvement.

It was now coming down to the wire – who could hold their nerve and scrap for points, not something that any Spurs team is famous for.

This was a real six pointer against another relegation candidate. Spurs had lost at Barnsley in the Cup and went a goal down after 19 minutes of the first half. They had chances to equalise but it wasn’t until the 47th minute that Colin Calderwood redirected an Allan Nielsen shot into the goal.

With 25 minutes remaining Ramon Vega was sent off for a professional foul but this seemed to further inspire Spurs who held out for their point which set them up for the final three games of the season.

Spurs in History - 14th January

14th January, 1978

Notts County 3 Spurs 3 (2nd Division)

Spurs' season in the Second Division was going well and this game came in the middle of an unbeaten run of nineteen League games. However, eleven games were drawn and this was making the promotion that should have been a certainty a little more difficult.

Spurs were also were involved in a number of high-scoring matches and against County, John Pratt scored twice and Colin Lee got the other goal.

This gave Spurs another point which would ensure their immediate return to the First Division.

Team: Daines, Naylor, Holmes, Hoddle, McAllister, Perryman, Pratt, McNab, Duncan, Lee, Armstrong.

Read more about John Pratt at www.Topspurs.com
John Pratt


14th January, 1956

Arsenal 0 Spurs 1 (1st Division)

A goal from left winger, George Robb, was sufficient to overcome North London neighbours, Arsenal, at Highbury. This win enabled Spurs to complete the 'double' over Arsenal, having won 3-1 at White Hart Lane in mid-September. That game had been Spurs first win of the season as they struggled against relegation.

Ironically, the four points gained from their local rivals enabled Spurs to retain their 1st Division place. Spurs finished the season in 18th place with 37 points, two points ahead of Huddersfield in 21st position and 4 points above Sheffield United in 22nd place.

Spurs in History - 16th October

Jimmy Greaves

16th October, 1965

Spurs 5 Manchester United 1 (1st Division)

This game is remembered for the score line and also for the outstanding goal scored by Jimmy Greaves.  He picked the ball up inside the United half, ran at their defence,  going past a number of defenders before rounding the keeper to tap the ball into an empty net - a classic Greaves goal!

Spurs had won five of their six home games and drawn the other but they had lost the last three away games.  Pat Jennings replaced Bill Brown in goal for his first game of the season.

All five forwards scored that day – the other goals coming from Jimmy Robertson, Alan Gilzean, Eddie Clayton and Neil Johnson making only his third appearance.

Amazingly and unfortunately for Spurs, the return game in December also ended 5-1 to the home team.

Team: Jennings, Norman, Knowles, Mullery, Brown,L., Mackay, Johnson, Clayton, Gilzean, Greaves, Robertson.

16th October, 1976

A much less favourable result at Derby County in the season when Spurs unsuccessfully battled against relegation to play in the 2nd Division for the first time since 1949-50 season.

Derby County 8 Spurs 2 (1st Division)

In Keith Burkinshaw's first season as manager Spurs struggled from the very start.  With only two wins in the opening eight games, Spurs were facing a long, hard season.  Early season injuries to Pat Jennings and John Duncan, the previous season's top scorer, had disrupted the team and new signings Ian Moores and Peter Taylor were taking time to adjust to the team.  Spurs had lost the previous game at West Bromwich by four goals to two when Taylor scored on his debut.

Going into the game Derby's record for the season was subdued - they had not recorded a win and had five points having drawn five of their seven games, a point behind Spurs on six points from two wins and two draws.

However, Derby found their form in spectacular fashion in this game against Spurs.  Having gone two goals behind in the first half, Spurs rallied with a penalty from Keith Osgood and a goal from Captain Steve Perryman to be only 3-2 down at half-time and seemingly still in with a chance in the game.  However when Derby scored their fourth on the hour, the flood gates opened and Spurs conceded another four in the final half hour.

The Derby manager was former Spurs' star Dave Mackay.  Writing in his book, 'The Real Mackay,' he recalls how he felt sorry for Pat Jennings the only survivor from his time at Spurs.  As the goals kept going in, 'I really wanted them to stop.  Nobody likes to see a friend in discomfort.  Fortunately for me, Bill Nicholson was no longer at the helm because if he had been I would have felt very, very uncomfortable.'

This is not Spurs' record defeat but it was an indication of the difficulties Spurs were facing in that 1976-77 season.

Team: Jennings, Naylor, Osgood, Hoddle, Young, Pratt, Conn, Perryman, Moores, Jones, Taylor.