Tottenham's Joy of Winning the Cup 10 (1961)

The 1961 FA Cup Final at Wembley against Leicester City was the most important game in the club's history.  Victory would bring down the curtain on the club's most successful season ever with the completion of the League and FA Cup 'Double'.  It brought Spurs another 'first' - the first team to win that accolade in the 20th century.


1961 FA Cup Final
Leicester City 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2

Bill Nicholson & Danny Blanchflower

No team had won the 'Double' in the 20th Century and it was regarded as an impossible task among commentators of that time.  The achievement had not been completed since the early days of the competitions - by Preston North End in 1889 and Aston Villa eight years later.  In those early days teams played a greatly reduced number of matches to achieve their goal - Preston had to play a total of twenty seven games while Villa had an additional eight League games.

However, undeterred by such views, Tottenham captain, Danny Blanchflower, made a confident prediction to his Chairman prior to the commencement of the 1960 - 61 season, that the team would win the 'double' in the season ahead.  Danny was always known for his 'gift of the gab' with a good story to tell but in this case he later confirmed that he truely believed it was possible.  The team then proceeded to win their first eleven matches, went undefeated for sixteen games until mid-November and by the start of the FA Cup in January, with 25 games played, Spurs were top of the 1st Division with a 10 point lead ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Road to Wembley
3rd Round v Charlton Athletic (h) Won 3 - 2  Allen (2), Dyson
Charlton from the old 2nd Division were expected to be easy prey for all conquering Tottenham but they came so close to causing a Cup up-set and for a long period it seemed that a replay would be on the cards.  The visitors took the game to Spurs in the early stages but a pass from Danny Blanchflower set up Les Allen to put Spurs ahead after six minutes.  Charlton continued their endeavour and were heartened as Tottenham missed a number of chances to increase their lead.  However, with less than half an hour gone, another Blanchflower pass enabled Allen to score his second.  Almost immediately, Charlton pulled a goal back, only for Terry Dyson to restore the two goal advantage.  A minute into the second half Charlton scored a second and suddenly Spurs were up against it as the visitors increased the pressure with Bill Brown coming to the rescue on a number of occasions.  Tottenham held out, relieved to have survived from a much more difficult game than they had ever anticipated.

4th Round v Crewe Alexandra (h) Won 5 - 1  Mackay, Jones, Smith, Allen, Dyson
A year previously the two clubs had met in the same round of the competition with Tottenham triumphing 13 - 2 in a replay at White Hart Lane after a 2 - 2 draw at Crewe's Gresty Road ground.  If Crewe, from the 4th Division, had been hoping for a good start to avoid another humiliation, they were to be disappointed as Dyson headed Spurs ahead from a corner after four minutes.  The Crewe goalkeeper, Williamson, was the hero of the day as he restricted Tottenham to five goals.  After twenty two minutes, Bobby Smith added a second but three minutes later, in a rare attack, Crewe scored their only goal.  Three minutes later Dave Mackay scored a third from a corner and in the second half, Cliff Jones and Allen completed the scoring, Allen having to settle for a solitary goal rather than the five he managed a year previously.


5th Round v Aston Villa (a) Won 2 - 0  Jones, Opp. o.g.
A more difficult examination of Tottenham's Cup winning credentials was expected from this tie against 1st Division opposition.  A week earlier the two clubs had met in the League at the same venue with Smith and Dyson scoring in a 2 - 1 victory.  Jones was the master on this occasion.  Having failed to stop Spurs a week earlier with strength and endeavour, Villa tried to use finesse and pure football but with the same result.  Tottenham took the lead after seventeen minutes through an own goal when the Villa full back diverted a Jones shot into the net.  Spurs were on top, with Brown making his first meaningful save just before half-time.  Then, almost immediately Tottenham responded and scored their second from Jones, following another flowing, passing movement.  Match over, Spurs strolled through the second half with Villa unable to unsettle them.


6th Round v Sunderland (a) Draw 1 - 1  Jones
This was undoubtedly Tottenham's most difficult match in the Cup campaign.  Second Division, Sunderland who had already defeated Arsenal, Liverpool and Norwich City in earlier rounds were determined to show that they could match their more illustrious opponents and in the end Spurs were relieved to return to London with the opportunity to settle matters in a replay.  Jones headed Tottenham ahead with a soft goal from a corner and then the game deteriorated with some quite dull football.  Before the interval, Smith's shot hit the post after he had rounded the goalkeeper but in the second half the match changed totally.  Sunderland, roared on by the home crowd, levelled after four minutes when a speculative shot was deflected past Brown.  Sunderland were energized and Tottenham were reduced to pulling everyone back to defend with only the occasional foray forward.  Tottenham had paid the price for being too casual in the first half and had to battle for the final forty minutes to keep their dream of the 'Double' alive.

6th Round (Replay) v Sunderland (h) Won 5 - 0  Mackay, Smith, Allen, Dyson (2)
The Tottenham players had learned their lesson from the first game four days earlier and they weren't going to get caught out again.  With the gates locked half an hour before kick-off and thousands still outside unable to get in, Sunderland started bravely but with almost half an hour played, Spurs scored through Allen.  Five minutes later Smith scored after Jones' shot had been parried by the goalkeeper and on half-time, John White and Jones set up Dyson for the third.  In the second half Spurs added further goals with a header from Dyson and a fifth from Mackay.


Semi-Final v Burnley (at Villa Park) Won 3 - 0  Jones, Smith (2)
Villa Park was not Spurs' favourite ground for FA Cup semi-finals, having lost the last three they had played there in 1948, 1953 and 1956.  At the fourth attempt, it was the ‘Double’ team elect that was to lay the ghost of Villa Park. 

Drawn to play defending League champions Burnley a tight game was expected as Burnley had recovered from a four goal deficit to earn a draw in the League game at White Hart Lane earlier in the season.  The semi-final tie saw Spurs take the lead after half an hour when a defensive mistake allowed Smith through on goal.  Burnley rallied and in the minutes before and after the interval Spurs survived a number of dangerous attacks.  Then with forty eight minutes gone Spurs went further ahead when Smith scored his second.  This deflated Burnley and Jones added the third near the end after good work from White and Dyson.  Spurs were on their way to Wembley for the very first time where they would find Leicester City attempting to prevent them completing an historic ‘Double.’  It would be Spurs third FA Cup Final but their first since 1921.

Final v Leicester City (at Wembley) Won 2 - 0  Smith, Dyson
Many teams had failed at the final step in their pursuit of the 'Double' and Tottenham were determined not to fall in to that category.  They had won the League a few weeks earlier but their form had taken a dip and they had missed out on setting a new record for the number of points won as they lost two of their final three games, including defeats at Burnley and at home to West Bromwich Albion.  Leicester City had finished sixth in the league and had the distinction of being the first team to defeat Spurs at White Hart Lane that season, achieving a 3 - 2 success in February.

The 1961 FA Cup Final didn't live up to the high expectations of the pre-match hype.  Bobby Smith played despite an injury problem but it was an early injury to Len Chalmers, the Leicester full back which had the greatest bearing on the match as Leicester found themselves effectively reduced to ten men, although the injured full back hobbled on the wing.  Spurs had started brightly and could have scored in the opening minutes but then they let Leicester have more of the ball leading up the injury after twenty minutes when Allen and Chalmers collided.

Tottenham now had the advantage but couldn't find a way to goal.  Jones had a first half 'goal' incorrectly disallowed for offside but it wasn't until twenty minutes from time that they eventually went ahead.  Allen and Dyson set up Smith who turned and shot past Gordon Banks.  Seven minutes later, White dispossessed Chalmers and passed to Smith who crossed to the far post where Dyson headed home to secure Tottenham's 'Double' triumph.

Team: Brown; Baker, Henry, Blanchflower, Norman, Mackay; Jones, White, Smith, Allen, Dyson.

The 'Double' had been achieved and although the Final hadn't been a classic, the team did what was required of them.  The players had produced many exhilarating, quality performances during the season but with the high level of expectation and pressure on the team, on this occasion it was a matter of the job had been completed as they became the first team in the 20th Century to win the elusive 'Double' as 1st Division Champions and FA Cup winners.

Tottenhan Hotspur 1960 - 61 The 'Double' Winners

(1960 - 61) League and Cup Appearances
Tottenham used only 17 players through the season and only 12 played in the FA Cup games - Terry Medwin replacing the injured Jones for the 3rd Round match.  In the League Blanchflower, Allen, Ron Henry and White were ever presents, Brown, Baker and Norman missed only one match while Dyson was missing from two.  Mackay made 37 appearances, Bobby Smith 36 and Jones 29.  Of the reserves Medwin played 14 games, Tony Marchi and Frank Saul made 6 appearances each, with John Hollowbread (goalkeeper), Ken Barton (full back) and John Smith (half back) making a single appearance each.

League and Cup Goals

Eleven players contributed to the season's goal tally of 115 in the League and 21 in the FA Cup.  Bobby Smith was leading goal scorer with 33 goals (28 Lge + 5 Cup), Les Allen was close behind with 27 (23 + 4) while Jones contributed 19 (15 + 4).  Terry Dyson who scored 17 (12 + 5) was joint top scorer with Smith in the Cup.  White contributed 13 in the League and Blanchflower and Mackay both managed 6, two of Mackay's coming in the Cup.  In the League, Medwin contributed 5, Norman scored 4, Frank Saul added 3 and Peter Baker scored once.  Two additional goals came courtesy of the opposition, one each in the League and the Cup.

The names of the 'Double' team will be forever etched in the memories of every Tottenham supporter.  Too easily are players now labelled 'legends' but this was a team of 'Legends' and the one that every subsequent Tottenham team have been trying emulate and live up to.

They Played for Tottenham and Fulham

From past masters Alan Mullery, Cliff Jones, Terry Dyson to today's more recent and less favourably remembered players - Danny Murphy, Stephen Kelly, Bobby Zamora and Simon Davies, they all played for both clubs.  Over the years there have been many other players who have performed admirably for both Spurs and Fulham.

As was the case with Queen's Park Rangers last week, there have been many players who have played for both Tottenham and Fulham, serving both clubs with distinction.

The player who is probably best loved by both sets of fans is Alan Mullery who started his career at Craven Cottage but was transferred to Spurs in March, 1964 for £72,500 as Bill Nicholson endeavoured to rebuild his 'Double' winning squad and replace some legendary players.  Mullery had the unenviable task of trying to fill the boots of Danny Blanchflower and he found it a difficult task in the early days.   the fans were slow to accept Mullery but in time through his hard work he gradually won them over and was part of the 1967 FA Cup winning time.  When Dave Mackay moved on in 1968, Mullery became captain and led them to success in the 1971 League Cup and the 1972 UEFA Cup win.

In season 1971-72 Mullery was out for a lengthy period through injury but when fit he couldn't displace John Pratt.  Mullery asked to go out on loan and returned to Fulham.  However, unexpectedly he returned to White Hart Lane when Pratt was injured ahead of the UEFA Cup semi-finals.  He captained the team in the 1st leg at White Hart Lane against AC Milan which Spurs won 2 - 1 and then led by example in the away game scoring an early goal as Spurs drew 1 - 1.  In the Final against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham brought a one goal advantage to the home game and it was Mullery who headed the goal to increase their lead.  In the process, he knocked himself out but battled on as Spurs held on for the draw which saw them lift the trophy.  Mullery enjoyed the celebrations around the pitch long after thel other players had departed to the changing rooms.  As it turned out, it was to be Mullery's last contribution in a Tottenham shirt as he was transferred to Fulham in the summer for £65,000.

He played for England on 35 occasions but unfortunately became the first England player to be sent off in a full England international in 1968 European Championships.

He played at Craven Cottage for four years and along with Bobby Moore they reached the FA Cup Final of 1975 with Mullery winning the Football Writers' Player of the Year award that season.

An inspirational player he went on to become manager at Brighton, Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace and QPR.

Cliff Jones ended his career with Fulham having served Tottenham for over ten years.  He was a vital member of the successful Tottenham of the 1960s making over 400 appearances and scoring 176 goals.  In recognition of his service he was allowed to leave for a minimal fee of £5,000 even though he had scored six goals in eight appearances that season.  He had cost £35,000 when signed from Swansea town in February, 1958 but broke his leg during pre-season training.  He joined Fulham in October, 1968 and played for two seasons at Craven Cottage.  A fast, tricky winger who loved to take on his defender and who would courageously dive in where others feared to goal.  for a small player he could jump to amazing heights to head numerous goals against taller defenders.  A true Tottenham legend.

Terry Dyson joined Fulham in June, 1965 having spent eleven years at the club.  After years of waiting patiently he came into the team at the start of season 1960 - 61 and was a regular as Spurs won the League and FA Cup.  He missed out on the following season's FA Cup triumph but regained his place for the next year's European Cup Winners' Cup success when he was one of the heroes, scoring twice in the Final against Atletico Madrid.  He spent three years at Craven Cottage before joining Colchester United.

Ray Evans was a full back with Spurs who made his debut in 1969.  He had come through the youth system but found it difficult to get into the team ahead of Joe Kinnear.  He made numerous appearances in the early 1970s but Kinnear always returned for the crucial matches.  He was a member of the losing UEFA Cup losing team of 1973 - 74 but when Terry Neill replaced Nicholson as manager, Kinnear returned.  Evans went to Millwall and after two years moved on to Fulham where he spent two year before going to Stoke City but he had also played in America during the summer months.

John Lacy was part of the Fulham FA Cup team beside Bobby Moore and was signed for Tottenham by Keith Burkinshaw in the summer of 1978.  Needless to say his signing was overshadowed by the arrival of Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa.  He found it difficult in his first season in what was a tough year for Spurs, newly promoted to the 1st Division.  The signing of Paul Price and the development of Paul Miller and Graham Roberts put his place under threat and when he lost his place at the start of the start of the 1981 FA Cup run, he never regained it.  He left for Crystal Palace in the summer of 1984.

Fulham's Current Squad
Simon Davies joined Tottenham from Peterborough with Matthew Etherington and made over 120 appearances before joining Everton in 2005 for £4 million.  He became a regular player and was a member of the team which lost the 2002 League Cup Final to Blackburn Rovers.  He joined Fulham in 2007 and has made over 130 appearances for them.

Bobby Zamora joined Tottenham from Brighton but in eighteen months at the club his chances were limited and he only scored one goal, the winner in a Cup game against West Ham United.  He joined West Ham when Spurs signed Jermain Defoe in 2004.  After four years he joined Fulham.


Stephen Kelly came through Spurs youth scheme and impressed on oan at lower league clubs.  However, on returning to Tottenham, Kelly made only 37 appearances and the lack of first team football saw him transferred to Birmingham City in 2006.  After three years the Republic of Ireland international returned to London with Fulham.

The Fulham captain, Danny Murphy, made 170 appearances for Liverpool and joined Spurs in 2006 after two seasons with Charlton Athletic.  limited opportunities saw Martin Jol transfer him to Fulham eighteen months later.  He has now made over 130 appearances at Craven Cottage and is a very influential player in midfield for the club.

Martin Jol
The former Tottenham manager returned to Premier League football in the summer having been sacked by Tottenham in October, 2007.  He spent a season with Hamburg and then two years in Holland as manger of Ajax where in his first season he missed out on winning the League title by a single point.

Martin Jol arrived at Tottenham in the summer of 2004 as assistant to Jacques Santini.  After the unexpected departure of the manager the following October, he became manager and had a great affinity with the club wanting to emulate the success and style achieved by Bill Nicholson.  He managed to take the team to fifth place in the Premier League for two successive years, only missing out on fourth and Champions League football on the first occasion on the last day when his team were struck down by sickness and lost to West Ham. 

However, in the summer of 2007, the Tottenham board were seen in Spain talking to Juande Ramos.  While denying they had approached him to become manager, Jol's position had been undermined and after a poor start to the season, he lost his position and was replaced by Ramos.  It was a very unfortunate situation that Spurs had put themselves in and the removal of their manager was a rather unsavory episode in the club's history.  Jol split the fans, some siding with the Directors who felt he had taken the team as far as he could while others thought he should be given more time.  Obviously, Jol will be looking to his Fulham players to make a footballing statement on his behave and show that he still has much to offer as a manager.

Other players to spend time with both clubs included: Steve Archibald, Tony Parks, Phil Gray, Paul Mahorn and Paul Konchesky.

Older players were Alfie Stokes who had seven years at Tottenham and then went to Fulham for a season.  Harry Lowe spent a season at Fulham after over thirteen seasons at White Hart Lane.  Charlie Walters who was centre half in Tottenham's 1921 FA Cup winning team was transferred to Fulham in 1926 after seven years with the club.  Taffy O'Callaghan who played for Spurs in the 1920s and 1930s had two season with Fulham before the War.

Tottenham's Joy of Winning the Cup 8 (1963)

Tottenham had just failed to reach the Final of the previous season's European Cup competition but had qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup by retaining the FA Cup with a victory over Burnley at Wembley.  No British team had ever triumphed in a European competition so Tottenham's gave Spurs another first to add to their collection.

1963 European Cup Winners' Cup Final
Tottenham Hotspur 5 Atletico Madrid 1

Spurs Triumphant in Europe 

Dyson & Greaves

Tottenham had been disappointed not to have achieved the ultimate prize of lifting the previous season's European Cup and were rightly aggrieved at the nature of the semi-final dismissal by Benfica.  However, the FA Cup victory over Burnley assured them of another European campaign and another opportunity of Cup glory.  the journey to the Final in Rotterdam took in four countries - Scotland and the former countries of Czechoslavakia and Yugoslavia.

Road to the Final 
1st Round (1st Leg) v Glasgow Rangers (h) Won 5 - 2 Norman, Allen, White (2), Opp. o.g.
For the first game which had been built up as the 'Battle of Britain' only Bobby Smith was absent from the Tottenham which had successfully retained the FA Cup a few months earlier.  Les Allen was the automatic replacement and he showed his value to the team by scoring Spurs' third goal.  There was great rivalry ahead of this game with Spurs having three Scots in their team - Bill Brown, Dave Mackay and John White who had been so pivotal in Spurs' success of the previous two seasons.  

John White was the star of the night in a hard fought match which was all about pride.   He headed Spurs first goal after four minutes from a Jimmy Greaves corner but Rangers equalised five minutes later.  Another Greaves corner enabled White to head his second before Les Allen made it three. The Rangers defence were under pressure and conceded an own goal for 4-1 but almost immediately Rangers managed to score a second. Ten minutes from time another Greaves corner saw Maurice Norman score the fifth and final goal.  This result gave Spurs a comfortable lead to take to the second leg at Ibrox Park.

1st Round (2nd Leg) v Glasgow Rangers (a) Won 3 - 2 Smith (2), Greaves  (Agg. Won 8 - 4) 
Bobby Smith returned for this game and contributed two goals as Tottenham progressed to the next round and silenced the partisan Rangers fans in the 80,000 crowd packed in to Ibrox.  Jimmy Greaves started the misery for them after eight minutes when he scored Tottenham's first to give them an unassailable four goal aggregate advantage.  Bobby Smith, returning to the team for the first time since August, started the move which gave Spurs a lead they held until half-time.  However, two minutes after the interval Rangers levelled but three minutes later Spurs regained the lead through Smith who scored from White's cross.  With fifteen minutes remaining, Rangers again equalised but four minutes from time Smith completed the scoring and justified Bill Nicholson's decision to drop Allen.

2nd Round (1st Leg) v Slovan Bratislava (a) Lost 0 - 2
Tottenham were fortunate to get off so lightly in a game where they were out-classed and out-played.  Only two goals behind, they still had a chance to progress but it could have been so much worse.  Tony Marchi replaced the injured Danny Blanchflower who had been missing since the win in Glasgow.  Frank Saul replaced Terry Medwin on the right with instructions to work back in defence if it wasn't going well for Spurs.  On a heavy, muddy pitch Spurs found themselves a goal down after half an hour and two behind ten minutes into the second half.  Fortunately, the home side were satisfied with that scoreline and failed to take the extra goals that were there for the taking as Bill Brown made a number of important saves to keep Spurs in the tie.

2nd Round (2nd Leg) v Slovan Bratislava (h) Won 6 - 0  
                               Mackay, White, Smith, Greaves (2), Jones       (Agg. Won 6 - 2)

Tottenham opened determined to put the visitors under intense pressure from the outset but it wasn't until a nine minute spell after half an hour that saw them regain the initiative in this tie at White Hart Lane.  They had taken the visitors by storm with Mackay from the front but the goalkeeper had kept Smith and Jones at bay.  Mackay pulled one goal back from near the by-line after thirty one minutes, then Greaves levelled the score and Smith put them ahead, ten minutes before half-time.  White Hart Lane which had been in a frenzy was now rocking.  In the second half, Mel Hopkins who was playing in place of peter Baker, hit the cross bar.  Twenty minutes in Greaves scored his second and with fifteen minutes remaining Cliff Jones and White both scored within a minute.  Spurs were in  the semi-finals.

Semi-Final (1st Leg) v OFK Belgrade (a) Won 2 - 1 White, Dyson

Spurs returned to London with a goal advantage from the first game thanks to a goal from Terry Dyson, twenty minutes from time.  By then Spurs had been playing with ten men for fifteen minutes after the shock of having had Jimmy Greaves dismissed for the first time in his career.  He was dismissed for kicking out at a Belgrade defender and became the first Tottenham player to be sent off in a competitive match for nearly forty years.  However, Spurs with ten men were even more accomplished and deservedly took a lead into the second leg match.  

John Smith played in midfield in place of Cliff Jones and Terry Dyson returned on the left wing.  John White had put Tottenham ahead after twenty six minutes of the first half only for OFK to level from a penalty nine minutes before the break.  Tottenham had one foot in the Final with the home leg to come.

Semi-Final (2nd Leg) v OFK Belgrade (h) Won 3 - 1 Mackay, Smith, Jones  (Agg. Won 5 - 2)

Danny Blanchflower had returned to fitness and captained a side without the suspended Greaves.  Marchi retained his place with Mackay moving forward and scoring the first goal.  Jones returned on the right wing with John Smith dropping out.  While the scoreline suggests comfortable progress to the Final, it was far from it with the Spurs defence putting in an heroic performance.  Mackay was everywhere - stopping OFK one moment, then creating and scoring the next.  Spurs took the lead after half an hour, only for the visitors to level six minutes later.  In the midst of all the Totenham anxiety Blanchflower remained calm and from his controlled pass Mackay set up Dyson to score two minutes before half-time.  Spurs survived an early second half onslaught from OFK before Smith headed the third which secured the passage to the Final in Rotterdam.

Final v Atletico Madrid (Rotterdam) Won 5 - 1 Greaves (2), White, Dyson (2)

Tottenham went into the Final without Dave Mackay due to injury.  Tony Marchi stepped in but it was a player who rarely received recognition who stepped up and made himself a hero, Terry Dyson.  It is said that Bill Nicholson was too profuse in his praise of the Atletico players before the game but Blanchflower stepped forward and reminded everyone of the talent and achievements of Spurs in last three years.  Tottenham survived the nervous opening minutes and were two goals ahead by the interval through Greaves and White.  They conceded an early penalty in the second half but then Dyson came to the rescue, inspiring all around him.  Spurs weathered the expected storm and when Dyson scored the third after an hour, Spurs were on course once again.  Greaves quickly added a fourth following Dyson's cross and the left winger completed a wonderful for himself and Spurs by scoring the fifth.  Dyson had scored twice and created two other goals as Spurs became the first British team to win a European trophy - a great night to remember for the 4,000 who had travelled over for the game.

Terry Dyson

Terry Dyson was the unexpected hero on a great night for Spurs.  At the end of the game Bobby Smith jokingly suggested he should retire immediately as he'd never play as well again.  Dyson, a left winger, had joined Spurs in December, 1954 and made his League debut the following March against Sheffield United at White Hart Lane.  However, for the over six seasons he made only 37 appearances being understudy to George Robb, Terry Medwin and Cliff Jones.  

It was only at the start of the 1960 - 61 season that he managed to become a regular in the team, making 40 League and 7 Cup appearances, scoring 17 goals including the second goal of the Final against Leicester City, having created the first for Bobby Smith, as Spurs clinched the 'Double'.  He then lost his place in the team to Terry Medwin for the 1962 Final but regained it towards the end of the 1962 - 63 season.  In the semi-final and Final (three games) of the European Cup Winners' Cup competition Dyson scored three goals and created four.  It was a tremendous night for Tottenham and Terry Dyson and as he admits himself, it was the best game he ever played for Spurs.

Dyson remained at Tottenham until joining Fulham in the summer of 1965 for £5,000.  He made 209 League and Cup appearances for Spurs, scoring 55 goals.  He also holds the distinction of being the only Tottenham player to score a hat-trick against Arsenal.  He achieved that in August, 1962 in a 4 - 3 win at White Hart Lane. 

50 Years Ago today - Saturday, 13th August,1960

Spurs 'Double' winning team - 1960

It was 50 years ago today that Spurs supporters had the first glimpse of the greatest team in the club's history which was about to embark on a season that would never be forgotten and would set the standards for every other Tottenham Hotspur team, standards which, to date, none have ever reached.

 

On the second Saturday of August the Public Trial Match was played at White Hart Lane.  In those days there were no pre-season tours or friendly matches played, the final preparation was the annual match between the 'Whites' (1st Team) and the 'Blues' (Reserves) and the public had their first opportunity to see the team ahead of the new season.  There were no new players on view and the first team only showed one change from the team which had finished the previous year - Les Allen replacing Tony Marchi. The matches were always very competitive as players tried to catch the manager's eye with an impressive performance that would ensure their place in the team for the first League game to be played the following Saturday at 3.00pm.

 

Reporting on the game in the match programme for the Everton game it was noted that the players had completed three weeks training at Cheshunt and 11,677 spectators were present to see a 4-4 draw with all the proceeds donated to charity. 

 

The match was evenly contested but midway through the second half the 'Whites' had taken a 4-1 lead and looked to be on their way to a comfortable win.  The 'Whites' went ahead from a Cliff Jones penalty half way through the first half and this was followed a few minutes later by a goal from Dave Mackay who having 'joined in a left-wing attack and from almost the bye-line lashed a fierce drive just inside the near post' - one of the highlights of the afternoon.

 

Early in the second half Terry Dyson scored the third after a shot from Les Allen hit the bar.  Immediately, the 'Blues' pulled a goal back when Terry Medwin scored from Frank Saul's cross with a flying header.  Immediately, Les Allen restored the three goal margin.

 

The 'Blues' staged a late comeback as Jimmy Collins and Frank Saul scored to reduce the arrears and then Collins added his second in the final minutes following a defensive mix-up.

 

Bill Nicholson obviously knew his best team as the 'Whites' team was composed of all the players who are most closely associated with the 'Double' team and who were to appear in the final 'Double' clinching match at Wembley the following May.

 

'Whites': Brown; Baker, Henry; Blanchflower, Norman, Mackay; Jones, White, Smith (R), Allen, Dyson.

 

'Blues': Hollowbread, Hills, Hopkins; Smith (J), Ryden, Marchi; Medwin, Harmer, Saul, Collins, Aitchison.

Spurs in History - 26th August

26th August, 1961

Spurs 4 Arsenal 3 (First Division)

Terry Dyson Hat-trick Hero

Spurs defence of the League Championship started with a win at Blackpool and a home draw against West Ham. For the second consecutive game they were without Dave Mackay and John White both injured.

The unexpected hero on this day was Terry Dyson who scored a hat-trick and remains the only Spurs player to score three against Arsenal. Spurs took an early two goal lead through Les Allen and Dyson but then Arsenal struck back and were 3-2 ahead with about fifteen minutes remaining. However, with seven minutes left Dyson scored twice inside two minutes for Spurs win and to put himself in the history records.

Spurs in History - 15th May

15th May, 1963

A European Night to Remember!

Atletico Madrid 1 Spurs 5

EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS’ CUP FINAL in Rotterdam.

Spurs produced their best ever display in a Final to overcome difficult opponents who were the holders of the trophy. Spurs went into the game without their inspiration, Dave Mackay who was injured. Nicholson was reportedly very worried about the Spaniards and built them up but Blachflower reminded the players of their own success and capabilities.

Jimmy Greaves gave Spurs an early lead and John White added a second. Then Atletico came back at Spurs putting them under intense pressure, eventually conceding a penalty but Terry Dyson, playing the game of his life, increased Spurs lead with a long cross that sailed over the keeper’s head. Greaves scored his second and Dyson did likewise to complete a glorious European night for Spurs - the first British club to win a European trophy.

All of Tottenham had moved to Holland for that game and they celebrated long into the night.

Team: Brown; Baker, Henry; Blanchflower(Captain), Norman, Marchi; Jones, White, Smith, Greaves, Dyson.

Spurs in History - 6th May

6th May, 1961

'The Double' Winners

Spurs 2 Leicester City 0 F.A.CUP FINAL at Wembley.

Spurs became the first club to win ‘The Double’ in the 20th Century. Having won the League, Spurs won the cup in unspectacular style, overcoming a team who had won at White Hart Lane earlier in the season.

The tension of the day prevented Spurs from performing as they had on many occasions during their memorable season and it was not until late in the game that Spurs took control.

Leicester overcame the early loss of their full back, Chalmers, to injury and battled gamely as he ‘hobbled’ on the wing. Bobby Smith scored a ‘magnificent solo goal’ after 69 minutes and Terry Dyson ensured victory seven minutes later with a headed goal from Smith’s cross.

Team: Brown; Baker, Henry; Blanchflower (Captain), Norman, Mackay; Jones, White, Smith, Allen, Dyson.

Spurs in History - 4th May

4th May, 1963
Spurs 4 Sheffield United 2 (1st Division)

Another Jimmy Greaves goal scoring record.

This season, 1962 - 63, Spurs were looking to Europe for success but Greaves continued his phenomenal goal scoring feats by setting a new record for the number of League goals scored in a season.

The previous record of 36 had been set in 1930-31 by Ted Harper when Spurs were in the Second Division and equalled in 1957-58 by Bobby Smith.

Greaves created a new record of 37 when scoring Spurs third against United.

The other goals came from Frank Saul, Cliff Jones and Terry Dyson. Although three games remained, he failed to add to his total for the season.

The following year he scored 35 League goals and since then only Clive Allen has come near to his record, scoring 33 in 1986-87.

Spurs in History - 24th April

24th April, 1963

OFK Belgrade 1 Spurs 2 European Cup Winners’ Cup Semi-Final (1st Leg)

Spurs went into this important game without their captain Blanchflower who still hadn't recovered from a long term injury and Cliff Jones injured in the previous weekend's game against Everton. Tottenham took the lead in this tie after 25 minutes when John White volleyed home a shot after Bobby Smith had nodded down a Tony Marchi free kick. OFK equalised nine minutes before half time from the penalty spot.

Into the second half Spurs continued to attack but they lost Jimmy Greaves who was unluckily sent off after 55 minutes. Not deterred, Spurs continued to push forward and took the lead when Terry Dyson scored with twenty minutes left.

Greaves was the first Spurs player to be sent off in over 39 years. On the night, Greaves was consoled by the Spurs trainer, Cecil Poynton, who had been the last player dismissed all those years earlier.

Team: Brown; Baker, Henry, Marchi, Norman, Mackay; Greaves, Smith,J., Smith,R., White, Dyson.

Spurs in History - 8th March

8th March, 1961

Spurs 5 Sunderland 0 FA Cup 6th Round Replay

The 6th Round F.A.Cup Replay, attracted 64,797 supporters willing Spurs to victory. Sunderland had had their day and now it was time for Spurs to show their superiority. Fans had queued for ten hours to get in and they saw Spurs sweep majestically into the semi-final.

Spurs were three ahead by half-time with goals from Les Allen, Bobby Smith and Terry Dyson. After 65 minutes Dyson scored his second and five minutes later Dave Mackay completed the scoring.

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.

'D' Team for Tottenham-Spur

The 'D' team of current and former Spurs players is a mix of famous White Hart Lane 'Legends' and those who made a few appearances for the club.

Ted Ditchburn

GK: Ted Ditchburn - member of 'Push and Run' team - 575 appearances for Spurs.

RB: Simon Davies - Welsh International midfielder who could play full-back - early 2000s

LB: Michael Dillon - played occasionally in the team of early 1970s

CD: Michael Dawson - impressive member of current team

CD: Gary Doherty - Republic of Ireland International

M: Terry Dyson - winger for 'Double' team

M: Edgar Davids - current player and Dutch International

M: Jimmy Dimmock - member of 1920s - scorer of FA Cup winning goal in 1921.

F: Jermain Defoe - current striker and England International

F: Len Duquemin - centre forward for 'Push and run' team

F: John Duncan - goal scorer for the team of late 1970s - Scottish International

Sub: Gordon Durie - Scottish International - early 1990s