Almanac- February

The Almanac reaches February with its usual selection of stories, first lasts and the like that may just escape the attention otherwise. As Footie is about goals so let’s start there, on the 2nd (1987)  and Clive Allen scores a hat-trick in just nine minutes as we beat West Ham in the League Cup 5-0.
Then on the 3rd (1960) his dad Les was on target five times as we destroyed Crewe 13-2 in the FA Cup. You can find that story at (link -http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/platform-13  or see what happened the rest of that season in (1).

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On the 4th (1990) it’s a Gary Lineker hat trick as we beat Norwich 4-0. There is also a hat trick on the 6th (1982) this time for Ricki Villa as we smash Wolves 6-1on the day the new West Stand is opened.  The 8th (2003) and Teddy Sheringham reaches a personal landmark with his 300th career goal as we beat Sunderland.
Teddy’s profile – http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/edward-teddy-sheringham

Also on the 8th (1993) Spurs score four in under five minutes at home to Southampton. The 11th   and in 1928 Taffy O’Callaghan hits four as we beat Everton who started the day at the top of the table, 5-2 away. 

left - rare pic of Taffy with his son David, and you thought replica shirts were a new idea.

Also on the 11th  (2012) we hammer Newcastle 5-0 at home as Harry Redknapp returns after his trial to a warm welcome.

The 11th must be a good day for us as in 1933 George Hunt scored a hat trick at Oldham as we win 5-1. It’s a good ground for George as he also hits a hat trick the same season there in a FA Cup tie. The 12th (2014) and its Newcastle again this time a 4-0 win away.

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Again on the 12th (1944) sees us play Luton Town and win 8-1, The war-time Football League South game sees Manchester United’s England international Jack Rowley quest for Spurs and he scores seven times.

Then on the 13th (1915) Jimmy Cantrell scores four times at Middlesbrough, as Tottenham score five but they get seven! The 20th (1993) that man Sheringham again this time it’s a hat trick in a 4-0 win V Leeds.  

Right - Gary Lineker on England duty in LA in 1986.

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The 21st (1953) the latest hat trick man is The Duke, Len Duquemin in a 4-1 win over Preston.  Then the 22nd (1958) Bobby Smith (4) and Tommy Harmer get two each as we draw 4-4 at Arsenal. On the 26th (1916) the home game with Luton in the London Football Combination ends 7-4. To end the goal rush on the 27th (1980) another hat trick, this time it’s Glenn Hoddle, two of them come from the penalty spot.

Birthday Boy - Goran Bunjevcevic, (left)  on the 18th, he turns 43.

He played 57 games for Spurs, with two goals, both in away games. He was at Tottenham from 2001to 2006.The central defender, although he played in a number of positions.

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Next it’s a look at some Cup competitions and the 1st. (1899) sees us go to Newton Heath (later to become Manchester United) in a first round replay and win 5-3. On the 4th (1982) and Tony Galvin is sent off along with Martin Jol (West Brom) for fighting. Micky Hazard is the man to grab the winner.

Then on the 5th (1986) Everton at the Lane and the players almost outnumber the crowd of 7,548 as we draw 0-0 in the Screen Sport Super Cup. The 13th (1901)  It’s a Sandy Brown hat-trick when we beat Preston in a FA Cup first round replay by 4-1 on the way to our first Cup triumph. The 15th  (2011) sees our first away win in the Champions League. Peter Crouch scores with ten minutes to go in Milan. The 18th (2007) both Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov grab two each as we beat Fulham away 4-0 in the FA Cup 5th Round.

right - Hoddle in action V  Aston Villa.

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The 19th (1996) and snow stops our cup tie at Nottingham Forest after just 15 minutes. The 24th (2008) is when we beat Chelsea in the League Cup final (5). On the same day in 2002 we are beaten in the League Cup final by Blackburn. Because of the weather the roof at the Millennium Stadium is closed and it is the first major game played in doors in this country.  27th (1971) It’s the League Cup again as we beat Aston Villa 2-0 for our first trophy win in that competition.

me odd dates for you include the 2nd (1898) crowd trouble at the Lane and the Luton players are attacked, the ground is closed for one game. This is played on the 26th at Millwall when we draw with Reading.

The 4th (1961) and our first home defeat in the Double season. On the 7th (1961) Danny Blanchflower turns down appearing on This is Your Life and leaves manage and team mates sitting in the TV studio.

14th (1973) Neil McNab signs for us as an amateur, and will become the first 16 year old to play for us.  McNab (left) was a Scottish Under 21 international, he played 72 games for us and scored 3 times.

The 21st (2010) having beaten Wigan 9-1earlier in the season we now win the return 3-0.

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The best fight back this month 12th (1966) Burnley are leading 0-2 in the Cup then Gilzean scores a hat trick and Frank Saul scores as we win 4-3.

The Debut boys this month include on the 5th (2005) Mido, with two goals at Portsmouth.  6th (1999) Tim Sherwood plays his first game in a 0-0 with Coventry. The 13th (1897) Robinson, no first name, also scores on debut in his only game for Spurs as we win 5-0 at home to Northfleet who would become our nursery club. 23rd (1988) Bobby Mimms and Paul Walsh both debut in the draw with Manchester United. The 19th (1919) A. Cain from Bohemians of Dublin guests for us in his only Spurs game and scores as we win 7-1 at QPR. While on the 19th (1944) Another guest Huddersfield Town’s Phil Beasley gets the only goal as we beat Millwall at Selhurst Park in the League South Cup. Millwall’s ground being closed. 

It’s a last game for on the 9th (1929) the legendary Arthur Grimsdell, our Cup winning captain and England captain helps us beat Port Vale 4-2 at WHL..

right - four goals and no win bonus for Jimmy Cantrell.


Then there are the firsts and the 9th (1884) possibly Tottenham’s first hat trick should of gone to Jack Jull, but the game ins stopped after 50 mintues as we lead Albion 3-0. 10th (2001) saw our first win on the road that season when Rebrov scores in the 89th minute at Manchester City. 16th (1901) which sees our first win at West Ham, a Southern League game ends 4-1 in our favour.  The 23rd (2009) the first visit to Hull City’s new ground, KC Stadium, and a 2-1 win. 25th (1897) our first competitive home match (Northumberland Park) with Woolwich Arsenal, James Devlin and Bob Clements score for us in a 2-2 draw in a United League game.

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25th (1956)  We beat Chelsea at home, 4-0, Tony Marchi nets his first Spurs goal the others come from Johhny Brooks (who will join Chelsea) and Bobby Smith ( who came from them).

The manager’s chair’s this month saw Billy Minter take over from Peter McWilliam on the 1st 1927, (2) Then on the 17th (1899)  John Cameron (3) takes over following Frank Brettell’s departure.

The birthday boys are and best wishes to Harry Winks turning 20 on the 2nd.  Let’s hope it’s a good one after his exclusive interview with us earlier this season (link - http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/talking-tottenham-with-harry-winks  Then on the 14th  Christian Eriksen will be 24.

Former players birthdays include – 5th and Mickey Hazard, former star and Tottenham fan turns 40. 17th (1973) Jermaine Jenas while on the 20th  Jimmy Greaves turns 76.  The 7th Cliff Jones turns 81, and also on the 18th (1958) he signed from Swansea Town and becomes the most expensive winger in the country.  The 27th (1895) Billy Cook was born. He won an Amateur Cup medal and the Football League before joining Tottenham in 1929.

Two of our finest strikers were born on the 22nd and both are Yorkshire men, George Hunt in 1910 and Bobby Smith1933.

We remember on the 10th, Danny Blanchflower who would have been 90.

Sadly on the 26th (2011) Dean Richards (left) passed away at just 36 years of age.

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Dean Richards joined us from Southampton in 2001. Dean played four times for England Under 21’s. The talented central defender played 73 games for us with 4 goals before being forced to retire due to his health. Such was his potential that when we paid eight million for him it was a record for a non-international player.  He sadly passed away in 2011 at the age of just 36.
 
Finally On the international front and on the 14th (1903) Vivian Woodward won our first England Cap and scored twice.
The 19th (1898) and John L Jones has a good excuse for missing Tottenham’s win at Northfleet. He was playing for Wales V Ireland. Two years later on the 24th John Kirwan misses our game to play for Ireland V Wales. Both games were played in Llandudno.
 
COYS
Keith Harrison.
t- Keith 16024542
f- peter shearman (old non de plume)
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Thanks to the usual sources as well as the Welsh National Archive, The Daily Express and The Birmingham Evening Mail.
 
Notes – 1 – see Hotspur Towers - Prologue part 3
2 – Hotspur Towers - The Forgotten Years
3 - John Cameron profiled in Hotspur Towers -32.
4 –http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-bobby-smith
5 – League Cup 2008 - http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-29