Ron Henry - a Tottenham Legend

It was sad to read in yesterday's newspapers that while Ronnie Henry is playing against Tottenham in the FA Cup 5th Round game at the Lamex Stadium, his grandfather, the legendary 'Double' winning full back, Ron Henry, is unable to attend as he is in a care home suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Ron Henry

Ron Henry was an ever-present member of the 1960-61 team which won the 1st Division title and the FA Cup.  Playing at left back he was an important part of the Tottenham successes of the early 1960s.  He developed a good understanding with his full back partner, Peter Baker and while others were making the headlines Henry was an unsung hero.

He had joined Spurs in 1953 as an amateur, turning professional two years later and making his debut against Huddersfield Town in April, 1955, playing at centre half.  In each of the next two seasons, he made just one appearance at his traditional left back position.  In the first half of season 1957-58 he again had only one solitary match but in February, 1958 he got his chance replacing the Welsh international, Mel Hopkins, who was injured playing for his country.  Henry held his place for the final fourteen games of the season.  At the start of the next season, Henry played in the opening two games but with Spurs losing heavily, Hopkins reclaimed the position and Henry played in only six more matches that year.

In November, 1959 Hopkins broke his nose on international duty and Henry came in as his replacement.  He played throughout that season and over the next three seasons missed only one game, through injury in April, 1962.  A reliable player, he was rarely injured and having bided his time became part of Tottenham's greatest ever team as they won the League title, two FA Cup Finals and the European Cup Winners' Cup trophy in 1963.

In season 1963-64 he made 29 League appearances and the folowing year he captained the side in place of the injured Dave Mackay, playing in all but one of the League matches.  That was his last season as a regular - he made just one further appearance, Cyril Knowles having established himself at left back.

In total, Ron Henry made 287 League and Cup appearances for Tottenham.  He scored only one goal but it was worth waiting for as it came in his final full season in February 1965, the only goal against Manchester United at White Hart Lane.

Troubled by injury he stepped down to the reserve team where he played for another four seasons, using his experience to help the development of the younger players and than on retiring from playing he assisted by coaching the junior teams at Spurs for many years.

Ron Henry was a loyal Spurs player.  He was a sound defender and had great positional sense.  He won just one England cap, in Alf Ramsey first match as manager.

Ron's grandson, Ronnie, was on Tottenham's books as a junior and progressed through the reserves to the verge of the first team but apart from a few appearances in friendlies didn't make it into the first team.  Having left Tottenham, he at first had difficulty finding a club but established himself with Stevenage in the Conference and has helped them to promotion to the Football League and into League One.

Spurs in History - 28th July

28th July, 2002

Q.P.R 3 Spurs 2 (Pre-season)

Spurs winning run of pre-season friendlies came to an end.

Spurs playing their second game in two days had a central defender with a familiar name, Henry. It wasn’t the return of the famed ‘Double’ winning full back, Ron, but his grandson, Ronnie.

A promising young player he scored Spurs' second goal, the first coming from Etherington, but unfortunately he wasn’t to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and become a star at White Hart Lane.

He was released by the club and captained Stevenage Borough last season, having had a brief spell with Dublin City.

Spurs in History - 1st June

1st June, 1959

Dynamo Kiev 1 Spurs 2 (Friendly)

Spurs undertook a three match tour of the USSR during the close season. It was their first visit to the country and in ‘The Double’ by Ken Ferris, this Russian tour is identified as the time when Spurs ‘began to lay the foundations of a great side’.

Both Nicholson and Blanchflower began to realise that there was the makings of a great team. Many of the players were already at the club and with a few more signings and a little tinkering, the great team of the early sixties would appear.

Two goals from Johnny Brooks gave Spurs their second victory of the tour and weariness from the excessive travel contributed to their defeat in the final game, three days later.

The tour was a great success, bringing the players closer together and Dave Mackay is quoted as saying, ‘…I shall always believe we laid the foundations of the team-spirit and genuine friendship which has since played a notable part in the success of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.’ Other players, Cliff Jones and Ron Henry support that view with similar comments, ‘That’s where we saw the first signs,’ (Jones) and ‘It all came together in Russia.’ (Henry)

18th March - Spurs in History

18th March, 1961

FA Cup Semi-Final Day

Spurs 3 Burnley 0 (Villa Park) Smith (2), Jones

Champions, Burnley against the Champions 'elect' and Spurs came out on top. The games between these sides were always close and contested to the full - as is evident by the 4-4 draw at White Hart Lane earlier in the season when Spurs had been four up after 35 minutes.

Villa Park was not Spurs favourite ground for FA Cup semi-finals, having lost the last three played there in 1948, 1853 and 1956 although in League games against Villa they were undefeated since the war.

Burnley started best but after half an hour Spurs had a slice of good fortune that had been missing on the previous semi-final occasions. A Burnley defender misjudged the ball which fell to Bobby Smith who scored. A fortunate and undeserved lead but Spurs should have had a penalty before half-time when the Burnley full back punched out a Terry Dyson header.

Burnley seemed to have equalised two minutes after the break but the goal was disallowed and then Burnley should have had a penalty when Ron Henry clearly handled the ball on the line. Again the referee waved play on and Spurs immediately scored their second.

Smith's second goal took the sting out of Burnley's game and Cliff Jones made sure with the third.

Spurs were on their way to Wembley for the FIRST time.