CHAPTER 2
SPURS V RANGERS 1962
THE GREATEST GAME ON EARTH
● European
Cup Winners’ Cup 1st Round 1st Leg
● 31st
October (Halloween Night) 1962 ● Kick-Off 7.45pm
Also dubbed by fans and the media as: ‘The Battle of Britain.’ ‘Clash of the Titans’, ‘Match of the Century’ and ‘Game of Games’.
B A
C K G
R O U
N D
█ THE LUCK OF
THE DRAW █
• THE FIRST ROUND
On
• “THE GREATEST GAME ON EARTH”
On hearing the draw, Spurs manager Bill Nicholson a rather dour and down
to earth Yorkshireman not exactly renowned for hyperbole and soundbites was
reported in the Press to have dubbed the forthcoming tie as, “The greatest game
on earth.”
• RINGING
On Wednesday, Gair Henderson of the Evening Times caught up with Scot
Symon who was at the brunt of an avalanche of ticket requests. He informed the journalist,
“Since the draw has been made we have not had a moment’s peace. The telephone
has been ringing nonstop. People have been asking for tickets not only at the
match at Ibrox but for the game at
Such was the reaction and demand for tickets on both sides of border the
Evening Times reported that some people wanted the ties switched to
• WINTER TERM
Like Rangers previous opponents Sparta, Spurs roots also laid in the
more sedate pastime of leather on willow. In 1882 a group of teenagers from the
local grammar school played cricket on the land of two of their players’ uncle
and they called themselves the Hotspur Cricket Club. As autumn arrived, they wanted
a winter activity and with the advantage of having ‘their own pitch’ set up a
football club under the same name. With the further advantage of having a
couple of skilled young carpenters on the team they were also able to make
their own set of goalposts.
• HOTSPUR
The name Hotspur was based around the local history of the
Northumberland family who owned much of the local land and whose family seat
was once based at Northumberland Park, in the marshy lands of Tottenham. The
most famous Northumberland was Sir Henry Percy from the fourteenth century who
became known as Harry Hotspur and was immortalised in Shakespeare’s play, Henry
IV. He was a fine and famous soldier, (though the least said about his attacks
on Scottish raiding parties, the better!) and in conjunction with his father
was crucial in the overthrow of Richard II. The ‘Hotspur’ nickname came about
because he always wore spurs when riding. For scholars of North London history,
Tottenham was originally the village of a man called Totta.
• PAYNE AND GLORY
1884 Play their first ‘informal’ fixture.
1885 First Competitive Match.
1886 Lose 1-0 to Caledonians in the East End Cup Final.
1895 Turn Professional. The story goes that a player called Payne lost his boots on the way home from a match and a new pair were bought for him out of club funds. The powers that be declared that by accepting the gift, Payne had relinquished his amateur status and the club was to be suspended from all competitions. So Spurs turned professional.
1896 Spurs
join the Southern League.
1898 Become a Limited Company.
1899 Moved to their current ground ‘White Hart Lane’ and adopted white shirts
and blue shorts. The landowner, brewers Charringtons originally wanted to build
houses on the site but were persuaded by the landlord of the White Hart Inn
(who had previously run a pub near to Millwall FC) of the matchday profits.
1900 SOUTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS.
1901 FA CUP WINNERS. The only Non League Club to
win the Cup since the creation of the Football League.
1908 Join Division 2 of the Football League.
1909 Promoted to Division 1.
1914-1918:
1919 Relegated to Division 2 (See 1963 Why Spurs Hate Arsenal and Vice
Versa.)
1920 Promoted to Division 1 as Division 2 Champions.
1921 FA CUP WINNERS.
1922 Division 1 Runners Up.
1928 Relegated to Division 2. The simmering feud with Arsenal reignited
when Arsenal dropped points to Spurs relegation rivals and it was felt by some to
be more than coincidence.
1933 Promoted to Division 1.
1935 Relegated to Division 2.
1939-1945
1950 Promoted to Division 1.
1951 FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
Managed by Arthur Rowe, Spurs used a novel system that became known as
‘push and run.’ Essentially, attacking football with short, quick passes
between players, keeping possession whilst other players move into space with
an emphasis on moving the ball forward. Rowe is widely credit with inventing
the expression ‘Give and Go.’ (As repeated a million times on touchlines ever
since!)
They were skippered by a Welsh international named Ron Burgess, an
awesome footballer. In Bill Nicholson’s 1984 autobiography Glory Glory he
nominates him as his first choice in his ‘best ever’ Spurs side.
1952 Division 1 Runners Up.
1955 Arthur Rowe resigns and Jimmy Anderson is appointed the new manager
with Bill Nicholson as coach.
1957 Division 1 Runners Up.
1958 Third place finish in Division 1.
1959 Following a poor start to the season Anderson who had served the
club for almost fifty years, resigns. Bill Nicholson is appointed manager.
1960 Third place finish Division 1.
1960-1961 DOUBLE WINNERS: LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP AND FA
CUP WINNERS.
Dubbed ‘The Team Of The Century’ by journalists. Until that point, it
was thought that it would be impossible for any team to perform this feat in
the twentieth century. Spurs netted a staggering 115 League goals.
1961-62
Spurs came within an ace of a ‘double double’ FA Cup Winners and Runners
Up in the League. Alf Ramsey’s Ipswich Town took the title by a margin of four
points. Spurs lost their ‘eight point’ double headers in both games with
Ipswich. Had they beaten
Indeed as shall be shown, this team came within a whisker of following up
their ‘Double’ with a ‘TREBLE’. Not just any Treble, but including a European
Cup.
█ RANGERS
SINCE 1960 █
• TREBLES, DOUBLES AND NEAR MISSES
1960-61: Scottish Champions and League Cup Winners. European Cup
Winners’ Cup Runners Up to Fiorentina. Perhaps, the 1960 European Cup Final
gave them the extra inspiration or maybe it was their increasing experience. At
last Rangers were punching their weight in Europe, they disposed of
1961-62: Scottish Cup Winners and Scottish League Cup Winners. Rangers
just missed out on a ‘Treble’, as
•
TRAGEDY ON STAIRWAY 13
On 16th September 1961, tragedy struck at Ibrox when two fans perished
in a crush on Gate 13, the Cairnlea Drive stairway which led from the Copland
Road. Over forty more were injured.
~REST
IN PEACE~
Tommy Thomson and George Nelson
Sadly such a tragedy was always possible. The Copland Road end held at
least 30,000 but leading to and from it were just two main stairways. The
danger was not in entering the ground as fans would not all arrive at once but
at the end of the game when everyone left together.
In addition to the lack of exits, these two stairways were built in to a
terrace built on a man-made hill, so were exceptionally steep and given the
size of the terrace very long. In addition to that you have to bear in mind
that fans were not upon exiting the stairway going into an empty street. There
was the circulation of fans leaving from other parts of the grounds which meant
crowds would dangerously build up on the stairs. Those who had used this exit
on the busiest matchdays, spoke of literally being swept off their feet.
A final dangerous recipe for tragedy was that there were bottlenecks
before getting on to the stairs. A nightmare scenario would be what took place at
Bethnal Green tube station in 1943 when it was used an air raid shelter.
Someone tripped on the steep staircase and it caused a domino like collapse of
humanity and 173 people died.
█ THE EUROPEAN CUP 1961-1962 SPURS AND RANGERS █
• A NEW WINNER
In 1960-1961, Real
• JUST SHORT OF THE STANDARD
In 1961-62, Rangers were edged out in the quarter finals 4-3 on
aggregate by Standard Liege.
• SPURS ROBBED
Spurs came even closer, extremely unlucky perhaps even robbed when they
went out 4-3 on aggregate in the semi-final to new holders Benfica who now
included a nineteen year old lad called Eusebio from Mozambique. Spurs were
victims of extremely ‘dodgy’ refereeing in the first leg in Lisbon and had two
seemingly good goals disallowed. In the return at White Hart Lane they hit the
woodwork three times and had another goal disallowed as Benfica somehow clung
on to make the final where they became back to back winners beating Real Madrid
5-3. (Another boring European Cup Final!)
“I often wonder whether my biggest disappointment was losing my place in
the
█ TEAM OF THE
CENTURY SPURS PLAYERS AND STYLE 1960-1964 █
• THE HISTORY BOYS
Dubbed the ‘team of the century’ not just for having achieved the
‘Double’ but for the amazing brand of football that it played. Given smaller
pay differentials between clubs at this time and the fact that youngsters had
fewer alternatives to playing football in their spare time, there was a spread
of quality at all football clubs. Although the best team would usually win the
League, it was felt that to win the FA Cup, you also required the ‘luck of the
cup’. Spurs had rewritten the rules, they made their own. One group of people
who rejected the ‘team of the century tag’ were some of the fans and players
from the 1951 Spurs team and a favourite pastime of older Spurs fans was
selecting a best team from both sides. I would also add and perhaps giving
weight to the 1951 aficionados, that you do have to bear in mind Spurs success
came shortly after the 1958
• BUILD NICHOLSON
Spurs Boss, Bill Nicholson was fortunate in that he already had some
fine players at the club when he took over as manager in February 1958. He then
identified the best talent elsewhere, brought it to Spurs and moulded it into a
formidable outfit. At the time there was some criticism of Spurs buying their
way to success but then again does money always buy success? In 1958
• ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK
Going forward Spurs were simply irrepressible. Indeed having won the
double, they then went out and bought perhaps the finest goalscorer of the era,
the afore mentioned Jimmy Greaves. Their only relative weakness was in defence.
In retrospect statistics probably look harsh on the Spurs defence, but given
the talent at their disposal going forward and the philosophy of its captain
and manager, it made sense to go out on all attack and the upshot was that at
times the defence could be left exposed.
• DEFENCE
In goal,
Full backs Peter Baker and Ron Henry were both clever readers of the
game and preferred to nip the ball off incoming wingers or jockey them out of
harm’s way. By not rushing or sliding in, they created time for the attack to get
back and by remaining on their feet could trigger counter attacks if they
gained the ball.
Although the full backs were good in the air, Morris Norman added the
physical dimension to defence. As big and strong as anyone playing in England
at the time, he was almost unbeatable in the air and a powerful tackler.
Moreover Spurs used him with lethal effect from set pieces, one of the first
teams to utilise the height of a centre half at dead ball situations.
• MIDFIELD
Before getting a sniff of the Spurs defence, the attacking side would
have to get past the ‘dynamo’ in midfield that was Dave Mackay. A ferociously
committed but clean tackler, some of his teammates shuddered just watching him.
According to his teammates Mackay even hated seeing players on the opposing
side not putting 100% into their challenges. Not the tallest of men, he was
nevertheless built like a tank and incredibly powerful. Many remember him for
his ball winning alone, but that was just one part of his game. When most
footballers from the 1960’s pick their fantasy team, Mackay is always
considered. He was a supreme technical player. Double footed, capable of
playing on either side, tight ball control, all round passing skills and a
netbusting shot. He also had a phenomenal throw in and was a magnificent leader
by encouragement and example.
The left half was equally special and important to Spurs. It was Danny
Blanchflower who alongside the likes of George Best and Peter Doherty ranks as
the finest outfield player to emerge from
He could also tackle. Like all his football, cleverness was the key.
He’d move to encourage the attacker to move the ball one way and then nip in
and take the ball away from him. Spurs captain, he had forged a tremendous
working partnership with Bill Nicholson who trusted him to act as the manager
on the field. Given his wit and outgoing personality, a role and responsibility
he relished.
• ATTACK
Essentially playing the role of twin strikers were Les Allen and Jimmy
Greaves. Of course Greaves is an English footballing legend a world class
marksman with an unerring positional sense. So much so, that many new teammates
in their initial few weeks with him thought he was a ‘lucky’ player, by the next
month, they realised he was a genius who made his own. Jimmy Greaves job in
this team was to score goals, tackling and heading which Jimmy was not good at
(in his autobiography, Jimmy boasts that the only tackle he ever won was
against Jim Baxter in an
Both men in turn were supplied with an endless stream of accurate
passing from Terry Medwin, John White and Cliff Jones,
• AND HE COULDN’T GET A GAME
To give an idea of just how
good this Spurs side was,
• AND THEY COULDN’T GET A GAME
For Nicholson it was imperative to have a good squad. Not just as cover
for injuries but to build competition for places. It was clear to everyone in
the team that if you weren’t performing there was someone ready to come in.
Many seasoned observers reckoned that Spurs reserves could have comfortably
held their own in the top flight.
• INTELLIGENCE
It was a team which did not just boast naturally gifted players, but
clever players who thought throughout the game and almost telepathically knew
where to position themselves and where to play the ball. To an outsider, it may
have seemed like good provenance, it was not. With the push and run teams of
Arthur Rowe Spurs had built up a reputation for clever football, with a
disciple of that team in Bill Nicholson as manager and a total advocate in it
in skipper Danny Blanchflower. It was a case of ‘the more we practice, the
luckier we get.’ Augmented with shrewd tactics, modern training methods and
meticulous preparation.
█ RANGERS
1962 AND PREPARING FOR SPURS █
• THE NEW GENERATION
There was little wrong with Rangers in the early 1960’s. Moreover a crop
of exceptionally gifted youngsters had started to replace the older players
from 1960. Namely: Jim Baxter, Willie Henderson, John Greig, Ronnie McKinnon
and Billy Ritchie. Long serving players Ralph Brand and Bobby Shearer were also
available for this fixture.
Scot Symon’s signing of the outrageously gifted Jim Baxter transformed
Rangers image from an efficient, hardworking team into one which had flair and
skill. Though Scot Symon still rarely said too much in the dressing room before
games he now made sure to remind his players to, “Give the ball to Jim.” He was
invaluable in closely contested matches, his vision and passing could open up
any defence and he could create space by dribbling past players and then
finding an unmarked colleague. Or he could of course use his precision shooting
to score from distance.
Having beaten off thirty top British clubs for his signature including
Spurs, Rangers were delighted with the progress of teenage prodigy Willie
Henderson. Standing at just 5’4½, extremely fast and skilful and already capped
by
In the League, Rangers usually dominated games so it was imperative to
have a goalkeeper with fine anticipation to deal with breakaway attacks.
Ritchie’s speciality was dealing with the sort of ‘one on one’ situation that
often cropped up. His bigger physique than Niven made it more difficult for
‘physical’ teams to hustle Rangers. However, he would certainly face a full
examination against Spurs.
Rangers were also fortunate in having captain Bobby Shearer back to full
form. The swashbuckling right back was nicknamed ‘Captain Cutlass’ and his
ability, experience, strength and leadership were essential qualities.
P R E – M A T C H B U I L D
U P
█ A FORTNIGHT
TO GO █
• TWO SPYING MISSIONS
The real build up to matchday began almost a fortnight earlier. On 19th
October, the Mirror reported that Bill Nicholson was going to ‘spy’ on Rangers
in their game with
Most unusually Rangers too had spied. Scott Symon travelled to London to
see Spurs host Manchester United on Wednesday 25th October and probably wished
he hadn’t bothered. Spurs ripped United apart winning 6-2 but the trip was not
all bad. He had a chat with Bill Nicholson who agreed that Rangers would be
allowed to train on the Spurs pitch before the game, provided the turf was in
no danger of cutting up.
• A CLASH OF THE CHAMPIONS
Although this was a Cup Winners’ Cup clash, both teams were top of their
respective Leagues and playing superb football. Rangers unbeaten in the League
had won eight of their nine games, Spurs joint top of the English League and scoring
goals prolifically.
Spurs did not specifically raise their game against
• GOALS GOALS GOALS
At Spurs the emphasis when in possession was always on moving the ball
forward and the defence and midfield were constantly reminded that ‘if one ball
goes back the next ball must go forward.’ This made for some thrilling
football. Just over a quarter of the way through the season Spurs had netted in
individual games:
4 Goals x 4 Matches v Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Aston
Villa (All at White Hart Lane.)
5 Goals x Once v League Champions, Ipswich Town in the Charity Shield.
6 Goals x Twice v Manchester United and away to West Ham.
9 Goals x Once v Nottingham Forest at White Hart Lane in late September.
The last time they had failed to score at
█ FOUR DAYS
TO GO █
• WEEKEND ACTION
Saturday 27th October and both teams in League action.
Spurs demolish Leyton Orient 5-1 at
Rangers too were in the goals winning 3-2 at
John White and Les Allen collected minor knocks at Orient and Dave
Mackay was shaking off a heavy cold which had forced him out of Saturday’s
fixture. Bill Nicholson was confident that the trio would all be available,
telling pressmen that, “They will all be fit.” and announcing that he would
pick his team on Tuesday.
█ THREE DAYS
TO GO, TOTTENHAM’S HOTTEST TICKET █
• YOU’RE GONNA
NEED A BIGGER GROUND
This was the ‘hottest’ ticket
of the season. Securing a ticket required either hours of queuing, good
connections or plenty of money to buy from a tout. Given the massive demand for
tickets, it was immediately made ‘all ticket’.
White Hart Lane held 63,000 spectators, with Rangers officially
allocated just 3,000 tickets. Spurs then sold their remaining unreserved seats.
Season ticket holders were able to secure their regular seats at 20, 25 and 30
shillings.
• THE QUEUE THAT STRETCHED TO GLASGOW
The 41,000 terrace tickets went on sale on Sunday, with the sale
officially commencing at 1pm. These standing or ‘ground’ tickets were priced at
5 shillings and my understanding is that tickets were allocated to a maximum of
two per person. Although overnight queuing was officially banned, many fans milled
around the ground overnight and by dawn an estimated 25,000 formed a queue
stretching the best part of two miles long. In reality it stretched a lot
further. Many Rangers fans had travelled to
Unfortunately, there had been some crushing in places in the queue and
the police had their work cut out dealing with such large numbers. The biggest
problems occurred when gaps in the road were created to allow traffic through.
It was reported that two people collapsed in the queue, one of whom was a sixty
two year old man who suffered a heart attack and died later. Alan Leather the
Spurs assistant secretary made a particularly stupid and insensitive remark
when he told the Daily Mirror, “Otherwise things went off very smoothly.”
• SELLOUT
The entire 41,000 tickets sold out in just over two hours at nineteen
different turnstiles with total receipts for the evening estimated to exceed
£25,000.
• THE POSTMAN HAD TO RING TWICE
Prior to the ticket sale at
• ARTHUR DALEYS’ IN RESIDENCE
A number of Arthur Daley clones were soon in evidence (in camel coats?)
selling tickets to those who had missed out at the back of the queue. The 5
Shilling ground tickets had risen sixfold in price.
█ TWO DAYS TO
GO, MONDAY 29th OCTOBER 1962 █
• THE BIG MATCH
The sports pages start their build up. Although there was other European
action during the week, it was this game that dominated the back pages.
• THE FLYING SCOTSMEN
In the evening, Rangers flew into
• COMMENTS & NO COMMENTS
Nicholson told the assembled press pack, “Everything is set as far as we
are concerned. There are no last minute upsets in the Tottenham camp.”
“This match against Rangers means more to my players than any match I
have known. Including the Cup and European Cup. They will take some stopping
when they get there.”
“Rangers will really have to go to get my team out of this cup. I
believe that League matches are most important, but my players are really
determined to do well in this competition.”
“There is more atmosphere this week than before any game since Benfica.
(Last season’s conquerors of Spurs in the European Cup). Even the FA Cup seems
just another match but not this one.”
Scot Symon had less to say, he succinctly outlined his schedule and
informed journalists, “We shall not train on the day of the match. The lads will
be free to do as they please.”
• CHECK IN
The Rangers party then checked in to their London Hotel. Brian James of
the Daily Mail noted how relaxed the travelling party seemed.
Particularly eye catching were the players in their special club uniform
of blue club blazers, white shirts and club ties. Best of all were the striped
cricket jumpers. Brian James of the Daily Mail noted that, “They looked as
though they had been designed for an especially patriotic cricket club.” The
team then took dinner with a photographer taking a snap of the players dining
and raising their glasses towards him.
Brian James further noted how the Rangers players seemed pleasant and in
good humour but quiet in demeanour. One player saw the press invasion of the
hotel as an opportunity. He asked the journalists if they had any ‘spare
tickets’ as he needed some more for friends who wanted to watch the match and
not especially surprised when his request fell upon deaf ears.
• HIDE AND SEEK
Scot Symon was engaged in a game of hide and seek with the Press. Upon
being found he forfeited a short statement. “We train at Tottenham tomorrow,
not Wednesday. Their lights are all right. I saw Spurs last week. No further
comment.” The press expecting a bit more copy were not overly impressed and moved
onto a Rangers official who ventured, “We’ll not do bad. We are confident.”
Brian James reported that he had discovered that Ian McMillan would be
replacing young regular John Greig.
█ ONE DAY TO
GO, TUESDAY 30th OCTOBER 1962 █
• THE STELLAR CAST IS REVEALED
Both clubs announce their teams for Wednesday night.
SPURS: 1 Bill Brown age 31 2
Peter Baker 31 3 Ron Henry 28 4 Danny Blanchflower 35 5 Maurice ‘Mo’ Norman 28 6 Dave Mackay 26 7 Terry Medwin 29 8 John White 24 9 Les Allen 24 10 Jimmy Greaves 21 11 Cliff Jones 26.
The following 7 Spurs players had played in World Cup Finals: Bill Brown
(Scotland 1958), Dave Mackay (Scotland 1958), Danny Blanchflower (Northern
Ireland 1958), Terry Medwin (Wales 1958), Cliff Jones (Wales 1958), Mo Norman
(England 1962) and Jimmy Greaves (England 1962).
RANGERS: 1 Billy Ritchie age 25 2
Bobby Shearer 30 3 Eric Caldow 27 4 Harold Davis 29 5 Ronnie McKinnon 23 6 Jim Baxter 23 7 Willie Henderson 18 8 Ian McMillan 32 9 Jimmy Millar 27 10 Ralph Brand 25 11 Davie Wilson 24.
John Greig was indeed replaced by Ian McMillan. The thinking behind this
was that Rangers best course of defence would be to attack and McMillan had
more experience to bringing Wilson and Henderson into the game.
The Officials all came from
• TROUBLE AT THE LANE
On a dry morning, Rangers embarked on a light training session at
Here Come The Men In Black! Rangers sported a training kit comprising of
a black ‘zip up’ jersey that zipped up from the chest and matching shorts and
socks.
~THE
SYNDICATE
Trouble arose when the press were advised that they would have to pay
for any additional photographs taken of the squad apart from the official
pitchside practice session. Scott Symon told the journalists that, “Rangers had
a syndicate and charged a fee.” (The Scotsman)
The press were not takers, The photographers took their ‘free’ shots and
then walked out, claiming to have never heard of such a thing as a syndicate.
In fairness, I’m sure they had but Rangers had already compounded matters by
not making time to sign autographs for waiting fans at the ground entrance.
The Scotsman newspaper felt embarrassed by this behaviour and the
following day a headline in the sports section proclaimed, “Rangers Set Themselves
Above Film Stars.” They drew the conclusion that if players had to take time
out of their schedule for a photographic session it was understandable. “But,”
they concluded, “all in all, it is a short sighted policy.”
More damaging still was that they made the front page of the Evening
Times back in
• RIGHTING A WRONG
However in fairness to Rangers, they almost immediately realised their
error of judgement with the Press the moment the photographers walked out. Scot
Symon in a bid to make amends appeared after training just before midday to
issue an apology. He hoped that, “The media would understand the positions.”
Furthermore he even promised to field some questions which for the Rangers boss
was one stop short of asking for his blood.
He informed the media of the team’s schedule for the rest of the day.
The players were to have a free afternoon where they could do as they pleased
and in the evening they were all going to visit the Palladium.
Symon would not be drawn into pre match predictions, but he wasn’t half
impressed with Spurs. “Spurs are better than any team we have played in the
European Cup Competition,” (High praise, given Frankfurt in 1960) but felt
unable to precisely judge how good Spurs were until after the match.
• BENFICA LAWRENCE
It had been ‘leaked to the Press’ that director John Lawrence had
compiled a dossier on Benfica, Spurs conquerors in Europe the previous season.
Symon did not offer a comment when he was asked about this. (If directors Alan
Morton or George Brown had some advice you would have to listen to it, given
their playing reputations and out of respect. But John Lawrence?) Not that I
can see his dossier containing anything other than having a ‘favourable’ ref
for your home leg and getting very lucky in the away.
• BETTER TO KEEP A MO PROFILE
Whilst Rangers were encountering a spot of bother at
Later in the day, Bill Brown of the Evening Times caught up with Spurs
Mo
M A
T C H
D A Y
█ MORNING █
• PREDICTIONS
Brian James of the Daily Mail, who had been covering the game in depth
predicted, “Class and Courage to give Spurs a 5-2 lead.”
Having mulled over both teams, his prediction was based on the fact that,
“Spurs were tested weekly by better teams than Rangers can meet.”
John Rafferty of the Scotsman, predicted a Spurs victory. On the basis
that the Spurs attack had too much pace for the Rangers defence.
What Did The Bookies Predict? 4-7 Spurs, 3-1 Rangers with a best price
of 7-2.
A 5-2 Spurs Victory? “100-1 mate.”
• IF
YOU WERE SCOT SYMON?
• John Rafferty of the Scotsman felt that attack was the best form of
defence.
• Gair
• His colleague at the Evening times, Bill Brown suggested isolating Blanchflower
and Mackay, to block off the supply to Spurs deadly forward line.
•
FOLLOW WE WILL
From daybreak onwards on this dry sunny autumnal morning, Rangers fans
arrived en masse to London by any available mode of transport. They came on
service trains and football specials, cars, coaches, vans and even by
aeroplane. The bulk of the support congregating at and around Euston station
where it quickly became clear that despite an official allocation of 3,000
tickets, many more fans would be travelling. Bill Brown of the Evening Times
was most impressed, “It sounded to these rather deafened ears that there were
30,000 Rangers fans around Euston this morning.” Others estimated lower
amounts, but quoted a figure of at least 10,000 fans. At their Euston
rendezvous they sported hats, banners, scarves, flags and enjoyed ‘bottled’
beverages. I rather liked the woollen sweaters worn by a few fans which
depicted the outline of Rangers players.
~ “WOT A SIGHT. ARE THEY ALWAYS LIKE THAT?”
Remarked Brown’s London Cabbie. The cabbie may have been surprised at
the level of Rangers support. However, fans of
█ TOUT OF
LUCK █
• THE ARTHUR DAILY MIRROR
On the morning of the match, the touts felt good. According to the Daily
Mirror, over the previous days tickets had been changing hands at the following
prices; 5 Shilling Terrace Tickets at £5, 15 Shilling Tickets £10 and 30
Shilling (best seats) £60. Fans travelling south were given a send off from
touts plying their trade at
• MORE THAN A CUP FINAL TICKET
“Tickets are fetching more than ever asked at a Cup Final.” Reported
Bill Holden of the Mirror. The
• SHAMELESS
Just to show that London touts have no shame, Rangers reserve Doug
Baillie revealed to the Evening Times that touts even surfaced at the team
hotel, waiting outside the front doors. As they heard on the grapevine that some
of the Rangers team needed tickets for family and friends.
• JITTERY
As the day wore on, the touts started to try to clear their stock. A 25
Shilling seat now fetched £16. During late afternoon, fans made their way to
the ground with the touts in close attendance and the latter were starting to
get jittery as they still held plenty of tickets.
• DOING THE BUSINESS
As dusk set in and the streetlights came on, the touts panicked and
earnest trading got under way. The Scotsman Newspaper reported that by 5.30 pm,
the 5 Shilling terrace tickets were now going for £1. As the evening wore on
they were taking ever decreasing amounts, “If you won’t pay £1, how much then?”
• THE CANNY SCOTSMAN
According to The Scotsman, the
In the hour before kick off, the terrace tickets were going for face
value.
For the neutral there was so
much to get excited about. Not just ‘
█ FINAL
PREPARATIONS █
• SOME TEAM STATISTICS
Combined Caps: Spurs 191 Rangers 109
Height: Spurs 63 feet 6 inches Rangers 62 feet 7½ inches (the myth about
tall Rangers)
Weight: Spurs 123 stone 2 lbs. Rangers 119 stone 8 lbs.
Players with at least 1 international Cap: Spurs 8 (3 Scottish, 2 Welsh,
2 English, 1
• WORK, REST AND THEN PLAY
Spurs spent matchday morning with a light workout at White Hart Lane. As
Scot Symon stated at the Airport on Monday, Rangers did not train on matchday
and the players were given the morning off before an afternoon spent resting in
their hotel rooms.
Leaving the remainder of the Rangers camp to make their final comments
and predictions. Director, John ‘Benfica’ Lawrence, “It will probably be our
hardest game ever. But we have a first class record in
Trainer, David Kinnear, “We are hoping to win but will settle for a draw
and then a supreme effort at Ibrox.” (Evening Times)
At 5.30pm, the gates opened and thousands of the keenest fans rushed in
to claim their preferred standing spot.
• CAPTAIN CUTLASS AND CREW
With ‘Captain Cutlass’ skippering Rangers, it was only fitting that the
pirates should turn up. Spurs was ideal for selling fake programmes given the
long distance between the nearest stations and the ground. Unlike the official
programme sellers who were located in and around the stadium, they took a march
on them by going further up the
• OH WHAT AN ATMOSPHERE
Except for local derbies, travelling support was generally limited at
this stage in history although those who queued for tickets might have
correctly anticipated a massive travelling contingent. Not only was it massive,
it was of course vocal and in terms of colour unlike anything they had ever
seen.
Like at Highbury in 1960 the Rangers fans were allowed to parade their
colours around the cinder playing track before the game. There were even more
flags and banners in red, white and blue. There were also lions rampant and
saltires. Most popular with the
Such a special atmosphere was surely deserving of a special game.
• THE SPURS DRESSING ROOM
Spurs players had to arrive at the ground an hour before kick off for
home games. Having arrived, each player would have his own special ritual. In
the ten to fifteen minutes before taking to the pitch, Bill Nicholson spoke to
each player, reminding them of his earlier team talk. Most importantly, his
assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of their opposite number on the
pitch.
• THE RANGERS DRESSING ROOM AND A RARE TEAM TALK
Given Scot Symon’s normally quiet demeanour in the dressing room, I was very
surprised to learn this from the Rangers Historian, (Volume 6 Number 6).
“Manager Scot Symon held his one and only team talk which lasted all of eight
minutes consisting of an analysis of how good every individual Tottenham player
was.”
M A T C H R E P O R T
Teams and officials as announced.
SPURS KIT
Long sleeved white shirts with cockerel motif on the left breast. White shorts. White socks.
RANGERS KIT
Blue shirts with a deep white ‘V’. White shorts. Black socks with a red top.
Under Competition rules, no substitutes allowed.
Evening Conditions : Cool and Dry.
As Spurs kick off, their fans are heard at last, above the roars of the
Rangers fans. Lustily breaking into a chorus of club song ‘Glory Glory,
Hallelujah.’
FIRST HALF
Spurs are to kick off towards the Park Lane Goal. Rangers to attack the
Paxton Road Goal.
1 Min : Les Allen touches the ball to John White who passes to
Blanchflower who finds Mackay and Spurs sweep into attack. They immediately
pile the pressure on Rangers, with Jimmy Greaves and Dave Mackay immediately looking
dangerous.
3 mins : Jimmy Greaves makes a fantastic run and lays a great chance on
for Les Allen. He just misses as he hits the side netting.
4 mins : Ralph Brand is caught in possession by Dave Mackay deep in his
own half on the Rangers left. The ball breaks to Terry Medwin who delivers a
low cross. Ronnie Mckinnon slides in to clear the ball behind for a corner.
5 mins : GOAL 1-0 SPURS
Spurs have a cluster of three players including their giant centre half,
Maurice Norman on the goal area and one other lurking close to goal. There are
a further two behind either side of the penalty spot. Rangers have four players
in the goal area and a further two men on the goal line, joining Ritchie. Jimmy
Greaves takes an inswinging corner on the right. The four Rangers seem most
concerned with Norman but the unchallenged John White leaps high to score.
9 mins : GOAL 1-1
Rangers quickly respond with an equaliser. A mix up between Baker and
Blanchflower on the halfway line, ends with the ball at the feet of the
unmarked
The German referee surprises the crowd with some strange decisions.
23 mins: GOAL 2-1 SPURS
Another corner. This time a cluster of three Spurs players converge on
the goal area and two close to goal. Rangers again have four defenders in the
goal area and two on the line. Greaves scores directly from a perfect
inswinging corner kick on the right hand side. Ritchie is distracted as the
Spurs men converge in on goal whilst their markers are statuesque. White and
Allen follow the floating ball into the net without getting a touch. Some
observers believe that White actually got a touch and scored. (On Friday 2nd
November, it was reported that in the referee’s report sheet, he had awarded
the goal to Greaves.)
Now the momentum shifts to Rangers. They pepper the Spurs goal and it
looks only a matter of time before they level the score. Jim Baxter in
particular is in the thick of the action but Spurs are still a danger with
White displaying his array of short and long passing skills.
37 mins : GOAL 3-1
Danny Blanchflower takes a free kick. The ball is only weakly cleared
and collected by Jimmy Greaves, he flicks to Les Allen who bravely lunges at
the ball, despite the close attentions of the Rangers defence, to loop his
header over the advancing, Ritchie.
Ritchie is forced into further action and makes a series of top drawer
saves from Medwin and White. Spurs are now in the ascendancy.
44 mins : GOAL 4-1
Mackay plays in Les Allen with a clear run at goal. He cuts inside and
shoots low, hard and on target. Both Ritchie and Bobby Shearer make desperate
lunges but the shot bisects them both. The ball may have taken a feint
deflection off Bobby Shearer but it was goalbound anyway.
45 mins: GOAL 4-2
Straight from the restart Willie Henderson runs away with ball on the
right hand side. He rides two strong challenges to cross perfectly to Jimmy
Millar on the left. Millar who has lost his marker powerfully guides the ball
home from ten yards out.
HALF
TIME SCORE : SPURS 4 RANGERS 2
SECOND HALF
Although both teams come out fighting for the second half, it is clear
that the frantic first half has sapped much of the players’ energy.
Rangers boosted by their late first half goal, take the initiative and
dominate the game, but lack the cutting edge to really open up Spurs.
Coinciding with the fading of Jim Baxter’s contribution on the hour mark,
Spurs regain their composure and take control of the game… Ritchie makes a
succession of great stops from Allen, Mackay and Greaves.
79 mins: GOAL 5-2
Spurs have been winning a stream of corners which Rangers are now
dealing better with. However another Jimmy Greaves inswinging corner comes in
from the right and Mo
FINAL
SCORE
SPURS
5 (White, Greaves, Allen,
Allen/Shearer OG, Norman)
RANGERS
2 (
Attendance
: 58,859
• JUST LOOK AT THESE MATCH STATISTICS
• The first foul did not come until the 15th minute.
• Total Goal Attempts Spurs
42, Rangers 21. (A goal attempt every 90 seconds)
• Shots, Headers and Crosses Saved
by the Goalkeeper or deflected Spurs 20 Rangers 11
• Shots and Headers Wide Spurs
17 Rangers 8
• Corner Kicks Spurs 12 Rangers 10
• Fouls (Committed by) Spurs
12 Rangers 11
• Offside Spurs
1 Rangers 2
• Goal Kicks Spurs
11 Rangers 21
• Throw Ins Spurs
37 Rangers 25
• Back Passes Spurs
8 Rangers 4
•Stoppages for injury. Spurs
0 Rangers 0
• Dives Spurs 0 Rangers 0!
█ THE SPURS
POST MATCH RITUAL █
• RITUAL CRITICISM!
After the match, Spurs went through their tried and tested post match
ritual. Firstly, the players had a good soak and then as they dried off, Bill
Nicholson sat beside each player and told them what they had done wrong. And it
made no difference how many international caps you had won or how much you had
cost, the manager treated all the players the same.
Even when Spurs had achieved a great result, it was particularly rare
for him to lavish any praise on his players, the perfectionist Nicholson could
almost always find some area for improvement.
• DRINK ABOUT IT
It was customary afterwards for most of the players to move on to one of
the local pubs for a drink. Tottenham High Road offered a good range of
hostelries, the players’ favourites the
P O S T M A T C H
R E A C T I O N
█ QUOTES AND
ANALYSIS █
• THE DAILY MAIL
The Daily Mail obtained these quotes after the match.
Typically Bill Nicholson was far from satisfied, “I’m not at all
pleased. We can play a lot better than this. But I did think we would need a
three goal lead for Ibrox and we got it.”
Assistant manager, Harry Evans was easier to please, “White and Mackay
were magnificent. Who needs foreigners when we have players like these.”
Harold Davis commented, “Spurs are certainly not supermen, just a bunch
of ordinary good players. We gave away far too many easy goals.”
Willie Henderson rued, “At 4-2 we really had a great chance. Now we’ll
have to go for a quick one at Ibrox.”
• THE EVENING TIMES
Bill Brown of the Evening Times picked up these quotes from the Spurs camp.
Dave Mackay enjoyed the match. “It was hard, but never rough and I was
very pleased at the way Rangers chose to play aggressive football.”
Harry Evans was still happily extoling the virtues of British talent,
“You can have all your foreign stars. Give me John White every time.” (This
must have delighted the
Most revealingly, he spoke to Morris Norman who told him that Spurs had
practised set pieces specifically for this game.
Elsewhere, it was also revealed that Cliff Jones had sustained an injury
to his toes early in the game which explained his slightly below par
performance.
• NOSTRADAMUS
All the media noted the impact of Greaves’ corner kicks. But surely we have
to start with Brian ‘Nostradamus’ or ‘100-1’ James of the Daily Mail.
On Rangers. “In ninety minutes that left my ears ringing from the din,
Rangers proved that the threat of their fervent fans during these waiting weeks
has been no idle boast. They play this game with a raw, rough pride and
precision that makes easy defeat unthinkable.”
On Spurs. “But for class, sheer skill, Spurs were always a move ahead.”
Brian James agreed with Harry Evans assessment that Mackay and White
were the best players on the night.
• HOLD ON
Bill Holden of the Daily Mirror felt that Spurs were fortunate to have a
three goal advantage but that the tie was not beyond Rangers. He nominated
Jimmy Greaves as Man of the Match for Spurs and Willie Henderson for Rangers.
“Top honours in this 5-2 Spurs romp went to Jimmy Greaves, who showed
the kind of fight and skill he does not always produce for
• A FIZZING WHIZBANG!
Peter Wilson also writing for the Mirror, penned the headline, “A
Fizzing Whizbang of a Game.” He felt that it was, “A great, great occasion,
British football at its best that was White Hart Lane last night. Spurs won
deservedly considering the second half play although I thought them a trifle
lucky to be 4-2 up at half time.” He concluded that, “It was a night to prove
that all is not decadent in British sport.”
• GAME OF GAMES
John Rafferty of the Scotsman also enjoyed himself. “This was to be the
game of games and indeed it was. It was a monumental contest, a sporting one, a
brilliant spectacle of attacking football, but unfortunately for
• CORNERED
He noted not just Spurs effectiveness from corners but how, “They
(Rangers) fell to the oldest trick in the book – the high cross ball. Against
it Ritchie and McKinnon were unsure and every ball swirling high into goal was
potential trouble. Yet paradoxically the Rangers defence was otherwise
wonderful.” Rafferty was impressed with how Shearer and Caldow defended against
the pace and skill in the Spurs attack and was impressed with Davis’s non-stop
work and running. But felt that the Rangers forwards Brand and McMillan were not
good enough to exploit Spurs biggest weakness their defence. He suggested that
Henderson was inexperienced at this level and that only Millar was able to
menace Spurs.
• MADE IN BRITAIN
Bill Brown of the Evening Times felt that the tie was still alive. His
star of the evening was Dave Mackay, “Mackay made himself a one man raiding
party.” He too thoroughly enjoyed his evening and quoted a French scribe he met
at the match who remarked to him, “This was made in Britain.”
• AS IT SHOULD BE
One pattern in reporting emerged. Generally the English media were more
praising of Rangers and more modest about Spurs. Vice versa the Scottish media
equally magnanimous, heaping accolades on Spurs but slightly less fulsome in
their praise of Rangers. Perhaps trying to match the sportsmanship shown on the
park. The one thing the media were agreed on was that the match had lived up to
its pre match billing and was a brilliant end to end attacking game of
football.
• EVERYONE EXCEPT…
Everyone that is, except Gair Henderson of the Evening Times. He was
impressed with neither side, nor for that matter the Rangers support.
~Gair On The Crowd
He began by castigating the Rangers supporters and The Metropolitan
Police for allowing the colourful pre match display. Frankly much of what he
said was offensive and does not deserve much attention as given that he
subsequently states the
~Gair On The Match
Somehow his reporting managed to deteriorate. He wrote under the headline,
“Rangers Bubble Is Burst.” Concluding that the Rangers team were “plodders,”
had been exposed and that Scottish teams need no longer fear them.
He claimed, “Tottenham fans in this 5-2 humiliation of Scottish football
were laughing at the weary attempts of the Rangers forwards to keep themselves
in with a slight chance.”
Next he turns his attention to Spurs, the team within one match of doing
a unique double double and one match of a place in the European Cup Final and
current leaders of the English League. He claimed that Spurs failed to live up
to their “Super Spurs” reputation and proceeded to insult their defenders. “They
were dunces and the mistakes perpetrated by Norman, and the two full backs
Baker and Henry were so moderate that Rangers with even a moderate degree of
intelligence would have punished them to the full.” He argued that the best way
to beat Spurs was to attack them. A slight change of mind, given that pre match
he had been urging Rangers to play defensively.
Eventually some praise for two Rangers. “Only Henderson and Millar
looking capable of exploiting attacks.”
His Man of the Match was John White of Spurs and he had kind words for Bobby Shearer. “Superb in the tackle and I thought he had first class support from Harold Davis who played so well in the defence that the great Greaves was never seen as a man of danger.”
~Well Gair
• At the very highest level, players don’t
always look that good. They cancel each other out.
•
Greaves was never a danger but he made three goals from his corners.
• Mo Norman looked clumsy, but that was his
style. He didn’t earn his
• If the Rangers team were plodders, why had
four of their players been selected for the forthcoming Scotland team. Shearer
and Davis were not amongst those.
That only leaves four outfield players and
Jim Baxter played some great stuff early in the game.
• As for his comments about Spurs and
Rangers, let’s not forget to have a look at the Postscript to the season at the
end of this chapter.
• THE NON ITALIAN JOB
Bill Holden reported on the Friday following this game that Fiorentina
were interested in making a bid to lure Dave Mackay to
• ELSEWHERE ON THIS NIGHT
On
this busy night of European football, Spurs fans might be interested to note
that Alan Gilzean of Dundee scored a hat-trick at home to Sporting
• ELSEWHERE THIS WEEK
The Scottish selectors (incredibly the manager did not choose the team)
announced their team for their forthcoming international on Friday 2nd November.
From Rangers, Caldow, Baxter, Henderson and Wilson were selected and from Spurs
Brown and White were chosen. Dave Mackay, despite his excellent performance was
nominated as a reserve. He had not been able to displace Jim Baxter.
• HINDSIGHT REACTION (COMMENTS MADE LONG AFTER THE GAME)
Even after Jimmy Millar pounced to make it 4-2, Spurs came thundering
back and again the weakness in the air cost Rangers as Norman headed number
five….Spurs use of the high cross hit Rangers severely.”
(Rangers
V Spurs Programme 1980)
“Spurs took advantage of Rangers defensive frailties in the air, four of
the five goals coming from corner kicks, as Billy Ritchie and Ronnie McKinnon
were exposed. The tie may even have been won and lost before kick-off, when manager
Scot Symon held his one and only team talk.”
(The
Rangers Historian Volume 6, Number 6)
“We had a nightmare game against Spurs - they beat us 5-2.”
(Bill
Richie in Voices of the Old firm by Stephen Walsh)
What of the great Greaves. In his most recent and detailed autobiography
published in 2003, Jimmy Greaves recollects this game. Typically modest, he
claims not to have scored and felt disappointed with his performance. Despite
his creative role, he did not believe his man of the match nomination by some
of the scribes was justified. It was only when Bill Nicholson took the rare and
drastic step of lavishing praise on Greaves for his team contribution that he
convinced his striker that he hadn’t played half badly after all.
Cliff Jones contributing to Jimmy Greaves by Matt Allen recalls the
aftermath and Jimmy’s disappointment. “It was strange afterwards… Because we
were all really happy we’d beaten Rangers, but Jim was a little despondent
because he hadn’t scored, although he’d easily been man of the match. But I
suppose when Spurs scored five in those days, most people would have expected
Jim to have got at least two of them.”
• THE AUTHOR’S ANALYSIS
My view is that this was the best in British football both on and off
the pitch. Spurs were probably one of the best teams in Europe at this
juncture, not only were they great individuals but as a team they were greater
than the sum of their parts because of Nicholson’s outstanding management.
Given that this exceptional Spurs team were in a particularly good run
of form, any team in the world, club or international would have had to work
exceptionally hard to get a result at White Hart Lane. What was galling for
Rangers was that they were capable of matching Spurs for long spells of the
game and the goals conceded from corner kicks were unnecessary and avoidable.
The goals conceded at these set pieces were a powerful metaphor for how the
traditional methods of football management were fast becoming obsolete. Scot
Symon should have paid more attention to Rangers weaknesses for no other reason
than that his counterpart would have already identified them.
~7+4 OR EVEN 8+3
Looking deeper into the cause of this result, Spurs had outstanding internationals
from all four corners of the British Isles to go with the four Londoners in
their team and the acquisition of these players was not always cheap.
Financially, Rangers were wealthier than Spurs at this juncture, It would have
been fascinating to see how Rangers would have performed with two or three
world class internationals from other parts of Britain or Europe.
T A L K I N G P O I N T S
█ MACKAY OR
BAXTER FOR SCOTLAND? █
• BOTH !
However the Selection Panel comprised of various Scottish Club Chairmen
could not even manage this easy answer. Mackay was equally effective in either
wing half position and so you could play both and what a blend. Mackay the
buccaneering all round footballer with tremendous leadership qualities. Baxter,
less reliable but peerlessly capable of controlling a game against anyone, his
self confidence a massive boost to colleagues. Interestingly, they formed a
close friendship together on trips with the Scotland team, both players held
each other in the highest regard and they enjoyed each other’s company which
would have augured well for a midfield partnership.
The 1962
█ ENGLAND’S
BEST MANAGER? BILL NICHOLSON █
• THE YORKSHIRE AND SPURS CONNECTION
Up to this point, in my view
the greatest English manager had been Herbert Chapman a Yorkshireman who had
played for Spurs.
There were now another pair of
English managers setting new standards. Both had been regulars for Spurs in
their championship winning team of 1951, missing just three League games
between them. Alf Ramsey had transformed Ipswich from a mediocre 2nd Division
side into Champions of
• BILL NICHOLSON THE PLAYER
1936
Joined Spurs ground staff
aged sixteen on a salary of £2 per week.
1938
Signed Professional and
played a few games for the team prior to the outbreak of War.
1939-45
On the outbreak
of war he joined the
1946
Returned as a regular in the Spurs defence. His game characterised by strong tackling, effort and reliability.
1951
Wins a Championship medal in Arthur Rowe’s ‘push and run’ team. Makes his one and only England appearance against Portugal. Scores in the first minute!
Are there any other England debut makers who’ve scored on their debut,
let alone in the first minute, never to be selected again?
The reason for him not retaining his place was the presence of
• BILL NICHOLSON THE COACH AND MANAGER
1955
Upon his retirement after
344 appearances, became coach/assistant to Jimmy Anderson.
1958
Appointed manager.
1961
Double Winners. Spurs net
115 goals in 42 League games.
• MODERN MANAGEMENT
~Standards
Bill Nicholson made no bones about what was expected from anyone joining
Spurs. “Any player coming to Spurs whether he’s a big signing or just a ground
staff boy must be dedicated to the game and to the club. He must never be
satisfied with his last performance, and he must hate losing.” Any player who
fell short of these standards was aware that he would not have a career with
Spurs and could expect to be moved on. He did not need to rant and rave or make
long speeches, it was clear where everybody stood.
~Relationship With The Players
Despite the fact that he kept a distance from his players, he was deeply
concerned about their welfare. He was one of the first managers to treat his
players like adults and not to impose any childish restrictions. In return he
expected them to behave like adults and give complete dedication to Spurs. He
commanded respect from his players because of the way he ran the club. There
was also respect for his achievements and his honest approach which in turn
created discipline. According to Pat Jennings in his autobiography, “When Bill
entered the dressing room to change before training there was a general hush… nobody
clowned around when Bill was about, not even a joker like Jimmy Greaves.”
~Club Manager
Nicholson’s focus was not just on the first team but extended to the
youngsters with the club. He would tailor skills sessions for them and ensured
that the training they received was as good as the first’s. He would even allow
the youngsters to play practice matches with the first team so they could gain
experience and took a very keen interest in their development. Of course this
also enabled players progressing through the club to be able to settle quickly
with the first team.
~Love Of The Game
He was at the ground seven days a week from early morning until late at
night. When he was not at the ground it was almost always because he was away
on Spurs business, nobody at the club worked harder. He also had a clear vision
of how he wanted football played and Spurs became the ‘neutrals’ favourite
team.
~Meticulous
Nicholson noted every last detail not just on Spurs opponents but assessed
and correlated everything not just the obvious but everything from diet to
pitch conditions to hotels used.
~Tracksuit Manager
One of the new breed of ‘tracksuit’ managers preferring to control his
players from the middle of the training pitch instead of from behind a desk. It
was actually what he enjoyed most. A key reason for him becoming Spurs manager
was that he feared losing his coaching role if someone else took charge.
~Training Methods
At this stage he was one of the most sophisticated coaches in
~Blue Collar
Before the double winning season he worked with his players during a two
hour pre-season downpour which would have had practically any other manager
running back to the sanctuary of a dry comfortable office. There was nothing at
all flash about him, he was always immaculately turned out whether in his
training kit or matchday suit but it was always sober and understated in style.
Similarly despite the array of skill in the Spurs team, there was never any
showboating or over elaboration, yes they would use the highest skills but it
was all channelled into the end product, scoring a goal to help win the match.
Despite his successful managerial career Nicholson still lived in Tottenham and
in the same house where he had lived since being a player.
~Buying and Selling
Bill Nicholson was not a ‘wheeler dealer’ in the sense that he would buy
players to sell on at a profit. His brief was to create an excellent team and
to give credit to his board, he was given whatever funds were needed. From
1958, he was seldom wrong in any of his acquisitions and had the courage of his
convictions to break transfer records when he felt a player was good enough. He
was that good at judging a player that transfer negotiations were conducted in
the utmost secrecy as rival managers trusted his judgement better than their
own and would try to ‘gazump’ him.
~Team Spirit
He was uncannily adept at putting together a set of genuinely ‘good
lads’ who enjoyed each other’s friendship off the park and this in turn knitted
them into a tight unit. Furthermore no factions of any kind were tolerated in
the dressing room. The team always made any newcomer welcome and were modest
down to earth men, there were no prima donna’s. Bill Nicholson was aware that
the players socialised after games and quietly encouraged it.
~Public Relations
Like Scot Symon, he was not really given to PR and soundbites and did
not make any particular attempts to befriend the media. Though unlike Symon, he
would try to be co-operative and answer their questions, the idea being that if
you gave them something to write about they would then have to go away to
prepare it for their newspapers.
~Delegation
Nicholson also knew of what he was not quite so good at and his choice
of assistant, Harry Evans complemented his weakness. The cheerful Evans dealt
more on the administrative side of the job and was more approachable to players
if they needed help or advice. Similarly as you will later read, captain Danny
Blanchflower had a special role both at the Cheshunt training ground and on the
pitch. Nicholson also realised that whilst he understood football as well as
anyone he was not an expert in the field of fitness and sport science. In
Summer 1960 he first employed P.E. expert Bill Watson from
~A
Weakness!
Everyone has a weakness, according to ex-players, Nicholson’s was to
unnecessarily build up the opposition. However at this stage it was not too
much of a problem. A few would sometimes ask jokingly after a big win, ‘That
brilliant player you told me to watch out for, was he playing today?’ Similarly
rarely handing out praise after a game was not a problem for established
players who understood his management style, knew the game and their ability
but it could be a problem for a youngster keen to impress and uncertain of his
performance.
█ WHAT’S UP
COCK? █
• THE CLUB CREST
Spurs cockerel shirt badge was also the central theme of the club crest
which denoted emblems from local Tottenham history. The castle on the crest
denotes Bruce Castle located a couple of miles from the ground. (Bruce Castle
exists today and houses the local Council’s museum.) The seven trees denote the
‘Seven Sisters’ trees that stood in Tottenham on Page Green. The two red lions
are taken from the Northumberland family crest. The latin inscription beneath
the crest translates as “To dare is to do.” (I’m sure Danny Blanchflower liked
that.)
• THE COCKEREL
Now on to the tricky bit, the cockerel. If you look closely it is in fact
a fighting cock and attached to the bird’s claws are a pair of spurs, the
club’s nickname. Fans website tottenham-fans.com, claim that the cock and ball
(is there a Freudian explanation?!) initially appeared in 1909 when a former
player W J Scott cast a copper centrepiece to perch on the newly built west
stand. Others claim that the fighting cock denotes Sir Henry Percy’s (Hotspur)
reputation for bravery on the battlefield.
I would add that that the cock is a male, like the players were. Cock of
course is the root of ‘cockney’ which they originally all were and ‘cock’
itself was often used as London slang for a mate or friend. I would also
suggest, that it is not inconceivable that there may have been cockerels on or
nearby Spurs early pitches.
█ TV
HIGHLIGHTS █
• THE LATE SHOW
For those fans unable to acquire tickets there was at least the
consolation of edited television highlights. The BBC in
• PRIME TIME
Elsewhere amongst the scheduling for STV were Coronation Street, Harpers
West One (a fly on the wall documentary about the lives and stories of people
who worked at a department store) followed by Bulldog Breed (imagine a
programme by that title today) which dealt with an episode about the property
business. The BBC schedule included police drama Z Cars so despite various
highly paid executives, TV content hasn’t changed all that much in fifty years.
█ THE SPURS
BOARDROOM █
• ALL FOR A TENNER
WATCH
SPURS HOME AND AWAY FROM THE DIRECTORS BOX.
ALL
TRAVEL AND REFRESHMENTS INCLUSIVE.
PRICE
£10.
President: F Bearman. Chairman: F Wale, Vice-Chairman: S Wale
Directors: C Cox, D Deacock and A
Richardson.
• THE FAMILIES AND THE ABSURD ARTICLE 14
Spurs had only 4,892 shares and since the early 1930’s Article 14 of the
Articles of Association gave the directors the power without needing to give
any reason, not to recognise the registration of shares to anyone they did not
approve of. The upshot being that hardly anyone had since tried to buy shares
and only one or two had succeeded in buying them and getting them registered.
In layman’s terms it was a closed shop but of course if you knew the right
people you could buy a token £10 holding and be nominated on to the board.
~And Totally Legal!
Amazingly this was not an
illegal practice. In 1935 Hubert Berry a shareholder and critic of the board
sought to abolish Article 14. He gave a share to a friend and the directors
fell in to his clever trap. By refusing to recognise the share transfer, Berry
was able to take them to court but later shocked when the verdict ruled in
favour of the directors.
• DELIVERING THE GOODS
In fairness to this particular board, they certainly delivered the
goods. Spurs fans were delighted that they had broken British transfer records
for Blanchflower, Mackay and Greaves.
Chairman Frederick Wale was the largest shareholder and had appointed
his son Sidney as vice chairman. Director Charles Cox’s father had been a director
of Spurs, I think it’s fair to say that a pattern is emerging.
President Fred Bearman was chairman during the double season but retired
from the post afterwards to become president. A more back seat role but then again,
he was almost ninety years old. He had been a Spurs director since 1910 and was
appointed chairman in 1943
█ HOW DO YOU
BECOME TEAM OF THE CENTURY? █
• DOING THE BUSINESS
Obviously, they had a great manager and great players. They also had a
board of directors who regardless of how they had assumed their position made
significant funds available to their manager. However how many times, before
and since, have directors thrown money at managers only to achieve nothing?
This match was the perfect illustration of how thoroughly Bill Nicholson
did his homework and how his players carried out his instructions to a ‘T’.
This team contained players who combined natural skill with a very shrewd and
deep knowledge of the tactics of the game. They were brave and with the likes
of Norman, Mackay and Smith there was a physical dimension too.
Off the pitch, the players were relatively well remunerated and though
quite a few players enjoyed a night out, they would never do anything that
jeopardised their ability to
█ DANNY
BLANCHFLOWER █
• GLORY DAYS
“THE GAME’S
ABOUT GLORY. IT’S ABOUT DOING THINGS IN A STYLE, WITH A FLOURISH.”
(DANNY BLANCHFLOWER, SPURS
AND NORTHERN IRELAND CAPTAIN)
Massively influential in the Northern Ireland set up, managed by his
boyhood hero Peter Doherty he’d been made captain in 1954 and later became a
defacto assistant manager. Despite extremely limited resources with the nucleus
of some very good players and a fantastic team spirit they shocked the football
world when they reached the quarter finals of the World Cup in 1958. On the
pitch with his fantastic skill and off it with his genial and extrovert
personality his contribution was massive.
• MAVERICK
He was never afraid to use his razor sharp wit and talent for journalism
to highlight what he considered wrong with the game and a fervent believer that
the English game had failed to advance in the way that the game was played in
terms of style and tactics. He noted that those teams who played attacking,
free flowing football achieved much more than those that relied on the long
ball and physical strength. Danny was also a romantic in that he felt football
should be about enjoyment for the players and entertainment for the fans. Many
teammates agreed but his managers at
When he joined Spurs, he was thrilled to work with Arthur Rowe. However,
the nucleus of the 1951 team had grown old and not been adequately replaced.
Despite Danny’s influence, Spurs struggled and when Rowe was replaced by Jimmy
Anderson in 1955 he found himself playing in a team with a more direct style of
play. Nevertheless he got on with playing and was particularly useful in
encouraging and helping the young players brought in to the club. In 1958 Danny
won the coveted Player of the Year Award in a struggling team and his new
manager, Bill Nicholson recognised the massive contribution he could make to
the club.
• DREAM TEAM
Danny revelled in a similar role to which he had contributed so much to
Danny also acted as a valuable conduit between the players and the manager.
On face value one might suspect that there was scope for this to cause
jealousy. Yet nothing could have been further from the truth, such was the
intelligence and professionalism of the team that they appreciated this link
and the feedback given to the manager would always be acted upon and used to improve
the club. Respected and liked by his teammates and trusted by his manager,
Danny was given licence to use his initiative to make any alterations on the
pitch he saw fit. More often than not it was simply a case of Danny using his
skill to alter the rhythm or pace of the play. Dave Bowler author of Danny
Blanchflower, brilliantly summarises the relationship in one sentence,
“Nicholson could instruct, teach and advise, whereas Danny could lead, inspire
and improvise.”
• THE NEW FOOTBALLER
In the late
1950’s he was possibly the first footballer to appoint an agent, Bagenal Harvey to help him supplement his
£20/week maximum wage. For a number of years, Danny wrote various football
columns, had a lucrative book deal and endorsed various products. Including
energy tablets and football boots.
Danny took great efforts in maintaining his fitness and was both a non
smoker and teetotal. Whilst most players took two pairs of boots to a match, he
took four as insurance against changing conditions.
• DANNY ON MONEY
“Money can buy success, though it doesn’t always do so… Bristol Rovers
have paid out £100,000 in recent years on improving their ground facilities.
They seem to know how to use their wealth.”
“The sum quoted for my transfer price is out of proportion to anybody’s
ability… desperate acts by certain clubs in the past have pushed the limit so
high that negotiations are nowadays conducted by standards which are not
logically sound.”
• THE ROLE MODEL
A party of twenty young footballers from ‘The Lower Shankhill Boys’
Club’ were on tour in London and had arranged a tour of White Hart Lane. When
they arrived, they were surprised and delighted to be welcomed by none other
than Danny. He then took it upon himself to act as their guide, explain his
footballing ideas and answer questions. When the boys had exhausted a long line
of questions he insisted on having his picture taken with every single lad.
There were numerous instances of Danny taking youngsters from
Moreover, Danny was just as keen that local youngsters should be
encouraged in their football. He invited young players to train at
█ SALARIES █
• BASICALLY
Following the strenuous efforts of the PFA, the maximum wage was
abolished in 1961 and players were now in a position to negotiate their own
contact. Spurs were one of the best payers, first team regulars received a
basic wage of around £3,500 year. Johnny Haynes of Fulham was English
football’s highest earner on £100 per week. The Spurs players had certainly
given value for money, at the end of the 1962-3, the club reported pre-tax
profits of £131,821.
P O
S T S
C R I P T
█ THE SECOND
LEG █
• WORTH WAITING FOR!
The return leg at Ibrox was initially postponed due to fog and
eventually it was played on 10th December, in front of a full house and of
course there were plenty of goals. Spurs won 3-2 Jimmy Greaves gave them the lead
after ten minutes weaving past Davis, McKinnon and Caldow before scoring. After
a flying start from the home team, this piece of Greaves magic took the wind
out of Rangers sails. Ralph Brand levelled on the 47th minute however Bobby
Smith replacing Les Allen regained Spurs advantage two minutes later.
• SPORTSMANSHIP
Like the first leg, this game was fiercely contested but played with the
highest standards of sportsmanship. On the final whistle the crowd gave both
teams a magnificent ovation for conjuring such a thrilling match and the Spurs
players formed a guard of honour to show their respect for their opponents.
However victory came at a price, Danny Blanchflower damaged his knee and was to
miss the next twenty two games.
█ SPURS
1962-3 █
• HARRY EVANS
Sadly Spurs assistant manager, Harry Evans aged just forty two died not
long after on
• DOMESTICALLY
Spurs finished Runners up to Everton despite scoring 111 goals and no
question were seriously hampered by Danny Blanchflower’s injury.
• IN EUROPE
Next in Europe, Spurs brushed aside Slovan Bratislava in the quarter finals
and OFK Belgrade were outplayed 5-2 on aggregate in the semis.
In the final Spurs faced the supposedly ‘awesome’ current European Cup
Winners’ Cup holders, Athletico
Dave Mackay was ruled out with injury and Bill Nicholson delivered, even
by his standards a particularly pessimistic team talk. Danny Blanchflower felt
that the talk had created an adverse atmosphere in the camp so he later gave an
unofficial second team talk, emphasising to his teammates how good they were.
Spurs slaughtered the ‘awesome’ Athletico 5-1 and became the first British
club to win a European Trophy. The margin of victory remains the biggest by any
British team in any major European final.
█ RANGERS
1962-3 █
• DOUBLE TRIUMPH
Rangers went on to complete a domestic double. They ran away with the
League Championship ahead of runner’s up Kilmarnock (managed by Willie Waddell)
and won the Scottish Cup in a replay against Celtic, the two matches at Hampden
watched a staggering 249,916 fans.
No comments:
Post a Comment