Tottenham's 1995 FA Youth Cup Team

In season 1994-95 Tottenham's Youth team were losing Finalists in the FA Youth Cup.  What happened to the players in that team?

Tottenham's current Academy players have made a great impression in the Next Gen series competition in which teams from across Europe are playing.  Spurs top their group having drawn at Basle (2 - 2) and defeated Inter Milan (h) 7 - 1, and PSV (a) 2 - 1 (h) 4 - 1.  This raised discussion about the players who had played for Spurs in their last FA Youth Cup Final and so following a little research, we have the details of the footballing careers of a team that obviously showed promise in 1995.

Goalkeeper, Simon Brown left the club in 1999 to join Colchester United.  He spent five season there, making 140 appearances before moving to Scotland to play for Hibernian.  Under fifty appearances in three seasons, saw him join Brentford for two years.  This was followed by a season with Northampton Town and a move to non-league football with Cambridge United.

  

Stephen Carr made his debut for Spurs in 1993 but it was 1996-97 season before he established himself in the team. Having worked his way through the youth system at White Hart Lane he became 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 seeming lack of interest.  He was transferred to Newcastle United in 2004 after thirteen seasons at Tottenham for a fee of £2 million.

 

Kevin Maher was a young midfield player with Tottenham who left on a free transfer in January, 1998 to join Southend United where he spent ten seasons as a regular in the team making over 380 appearances, including the Cup games against Spurs in 2006-07.  He joined Oldham for a season in 2008 and the following year joined Gillingham where he played for two seasons.  He is now with Dagenham and Redbridge.

Ross Darcy, a defender who went to Barnet in December, 1999 where he spent four years, including time out on loan with Dover. In 2004 he returned to Ireland to play for Dundalk and then Bohemians.  In the FA youth Cup game against United it was his slip late in the first leg that gave United their goal which cost the team dearly in the second leg.  United levelled the tie in the last minute at Old Trafford and went on to win on penalties. 

Injury problems caused him major difficulties at both Spurs and Barnet.   He was an U-21 international for Ireland.  On leaving Barnet where he had been restricted to only a few appearances because of injury Darcy stated, ' I have been plagued by injuries at both Spurs and Barnet.  I played in the reserves at White Hart Lane and in a couple of first team friendlies and the injury jinx has continued at Barnet.  It's time to go home after nine years over here.  I'm going back to try to find a club back in Ireland.'

Simon Wormull is currently the manager of the under 18 side at Lewes. In his playing days he played for Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the 1995 FA Youth Cup and in the Intertoto Cup. He scored the first goal in the Final against Manchester United at White Hart Lane.  Although he made a few appearances in the lower divisions of the Football League for Brentford and Rushden & Diamonds, the majority of his career has been spent in non-league football, with clubs including Dover Athletic, Stevenage Borough, Hornchurch, Crawley Town, Lewes, Eastbourne Borough and Farnborough.

Simon Spencer made two appearances for Brentford after leaving Spurs in 1997.  He played for the England U-16 team. 

The Dagenham and Redbridge squad also includes their captain, Mark Arber, a defender, who left Spurs in 1998 to join Barnet for £75,000.  He has had twelve seasons in League football making over 500 appearances for five different clubs, including Peterborough, Oldham and Stevenage Borough. 

Stephen Clemence, son of Ray, he progressed to the first team where he made 91 appearances, scoring twice.  In 2003 he joined Birmmingham City where he spent four years before joining Leicester City in 2007.  Injury led to his retirement in 2010 and he has joined Sunderland as a member of their coaching staff with the reserve team.

Peter Gain was a midfield player with Spurs at the end of 1999s who joined Lincoln City for a fee of £15,000 in March, 1999 after working his way through the youth system.  He made 200 appearances in almost six years before moving to Peterborough where he played for three seasons and moved on to Dagenham and Redbridge in 2008. 
  

Neale Fenn made his Tottenham debut in an FA Cup 3rd Round game at Old Trafford, playing along side Rory Allen.  In total he played in 10 games for Spurs, scoring once in a League Cup tie at Carlisle.  he spent much of his time out on loan and joined Peterborough United in 2001, making fifty appearances in two years.  He then returned to Ireland where he has played for five different clubs - Waterford United, Cork City, Bohemians, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers.  He played for the Ireland U-21 and 'B' international team.

Rory Allen made his Spurs debut as a a substitute against Wimbledon in 1996.  He scored four goals for the club before his transfer to Portsmouth for £1 million in 1999.  He retired, aged 25, in 2002, having undergone numerous operations for injuries.  He went off to Australia to watch the Ashes series.  He is now a civil servant in the Foreign Office, according to Wikipedia.

Garry Brady replaced Clemence for the second leg.  He also progressed to the Spurs first team and made 11 League and Cup appearances in season 1997 - 98.  Regarded as a good prospect he transferred to Newcastle United in 1998 for £650,000 but he only made a similar number of appearances there where an ankle injury restricted his progress.  He joined Portsmouth in 2001 but returned to Scotland the next year where he has made a career for himself with Dundee United, St. Mirren and currently Brechin City.

Tottenham have won the FA Youth Cup on three occasions - in 1970, 1974 and 1990.  They have been losing finalists twice - in 1981 and 1995.  From those teams only a very small number of players have progressed to the Tottenham first team and even fewer have become established first team players.  The most successful has been Steve Perryman from the 1970 team who went on to make a record breaking 655 League appearance for the club to become a true Tottenham 'legend'. 

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 - 21st October

Oyvind Leonardsen

21st October, 2000

Spurs 3 Derby County 1 (Premiership)

Scorers: Leonhardsen (2), Carr

Going into this game with only one point from the previous four games, Spurs were looking for improvement against a Derby team which was struggling at the bottom of the Premiership without a win to their name.

Spurs started brightly and scored within four minutes through Oyvind Leonhardsen. However, after putting Derby under further pressure, they failed to score and Derby equalised six minutes before half-time.

Stephen Carr regained the lead for Spurs scoring on the stroke of half-time with a low shot from 30 yards.

A second goal from Leonhardsen after three minutes of the second half gave Spurs a comfortable victory.  Leonhardsen’s day ended disappointingly with an injury that was to keep him out for the next two months.

Pressure was mounting on George Graham with the fans showing their dissatisfaction at the style of play.

Team:

Sullivan, Carr, Thatcher, Vega, Perry, Anderton (Dominguez), Sherwood, Clemence, Leonhardsen (Davies), Ferdinand, Rebrov (Korsten).

21st October, 1981

Dundalk 1 Spurs 1 (European Cup Winners' Cup 2nd Round 1st Leg)

Scorer: Crooks

Having overcome Ajax in the 1st Round with an aggregate score of 6-1 from victories in both games, Spurs must have been expecting a comfortable journey into the next round when drawn against the part-time players of Dundalk in the Republic of Ireland.

However, Spurs were in for a shock and were relieved to get away with a draw thanks to Garth Crooks goal. This was a full strength team with only Ricky Villa missing from the side that beat Manchester City in the FA Cup Final Replay at Wembley.

21st October, 1893

Spurs 0 Old St. Mark's 0 (London Senior Cup 1st Round)

October, 1893 – ‘Ernie Payne’s Boots’
Even in their non-League days Spurs ran into difficulties with officialdom.  Founded in 1882, Spurs’ early football was a mix of friendly games and Cup competitions under their amateur status.  Eleven years after their formation on this day in 1893, Spurs drew 0 - 0 in a 1st Round London Senior Cup tie against Old St Marks.  For that game, a new name, ‘Burton’, appeared on the team sheet, to play on the left wing for Spurs.  This was in fact, Ernie Payne who was on Fulham’s books but being unable to get into their team, he accepted an invitation to play for Spurs. However, when he arrived at Tottenham he had no kit.  Spurs provided him with shirt, shorts and socks but were unable to find boots to fit him.  They gave him a loan of ten shillings (50p) to buy a pair of boots on the understanding that they would belong to Spurs.  However, when Fulham heard about this they accused Spurs of ‘poaching’ their player and ‘professionalism’.  Spurs were immediately called before the London Football Association to answer these charges.

The charge of poaching was dismissed but the charge of inducing a player and professionalism was upheld.  The penalty imposed on Spurs was harsh – their ground at Northumberland Park was closed for two weeks, Spurs were suspended for a similar period and Ernie Payne was suspended for a week even though he had repaid the money to Spurs.  An appeal was lodged but it was unsuccessful, the London F.A. being strongly opposed to anything suggesting of professionalism, a view that was holding back the development of football in London.

This matter became known as the ‘Ernie Payne Boots Affair’ and while Payne continued to play for Spurs, he is remembered for the longer term consequence of the matter in that Spurs, frustrated by the views held by the London FA, decided to turn professional.  The club had received tremendous public support over the matter with the general view being that the London FA had been high-handed and had treated Spurs very severely.  At a meeting in December, 1895, the decision was taken that Spurs would turn professional.

17th March - Spurs in History

Goodbye, George Graham.

Spurs 3 Coventry City 0

Out - George Graham

Rarely can a Spurs victory have been so overshadowed by events off the field.  The previous day, Spurs announced the departure of their manager George Graham.  The manager did not have the support of the fans because of his long association with Arsenal and his style of play also annoyed supporters who had to endure four successive 0-0 score lines in the League in January and February. The 'official' reason given was that Graham had made critical comments to journalists about money being available to sign players.

In - Glenn Hoddle?

However, the team had showed improved form and style in FA Cup, having reached the semi-final after victories over Leyton Orient, Charlton, Stockport and West Ham.  The win over West Ham had been on the previous Sunday and with a semi-final against Arsenal, his departure came as a complete shock.  Many rejoiced at his departure, especially with speculation that Glenn Hoddle would return as manager.  However, with such an important came to come, the timing may not have been the best.

With David Pleat in charge, once again, the players appeared to have no difficulty with the departure and performed well against a Coventry team who were finally to relinquish their Premiership position at the end of the season.  The goals were scored by Steffan Iversen, Les Ferdinand and Sergei Rebrov.

The star of the show was Stephen Carr who rampaged up and down the right wing at will to create opportunities for the fowrwards. This was Carr at his best, before his operation and before his attitude changed so dramatically.

The 35,606 supporters present almost witnessed a 'special' moment.  It would have been a collectors' item - a Steffan Freund goal.  He broke on the right towards the Paxton Road end, cut in on goal and shot across the goalkeeper - it looked a goal all the way but shaved the far post.  So close but so far and he never managed to score a competitive goal for Spurs.

A St. Patrick's Day trip to remember.