Almanac - May

The Almanac turns its pages to May and the end of the season. The month is dominated by dates that can’t be ignored but there are a few other stories that might otherwise slip through the net from testimonials and tours to the usual mix of firsts, last, records and birthdays. As well as hello and goodbyes there is a voting day and some wins at Highbury. 

Starting with the ‘must make a note of’ dates and they don’t come massively bigger than - The 6th in 1961 and Bobby Smith and Terry Dyson get the goals as we beat Leicester City in the FA Cup Final to complete the double.  Other FA Cup triumphs arrive on the 5th (1962) as we beat Burnley to become only the second team in the century to retain the FA Cup.  Then the 20th (1967) we beat Chelsea in the first all-London final.

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In 1981 on the 14th we beat Manchester City in a replay 3-2; the first game had been on the 9th. The following year and 1982 we retain the trophy on the 27th beating QPR. The first game was on the 22nd. By retaining the trophy we are the first team to do it twice that century.  1991 and on the 18th we beat Nottingham Forest.

Then there was the small matter of being the first British team to win a European Trophy in 1963 and the European Cup Winners Cup on the 15th (1).  It was European glory again in 1972. The UEFA Cup final first leg at Wolves is on the 3rd and the trophy is secured at The Lane on the 17th.  Forward to 1984 and The UEFA Cup heads for Tottenham again, the first leg in Anderlecht is on the 9th and the second leg is on the 23rd.

It was runners up in 1974 and the UEFA Cup as we lose to Feyenoord, the first leg is at home on the 21st and the return away on the 29th.  Winning eight out of nine FA Cup Finals is a good record; the only blip comes in 1987 on the 16th.

Our first appearance in the FA Charity Shield is on the 15th in 1920 when we lose to West Brom. The following year on the 16th see our first win in the Shield as we beat Burnley (2).

left - Bill Nicholson and the Double trophies.

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Then in 1951on the 5th, having already won the Championship the previous week, Tottenham are presented with the League trophy at The Lane before the match with Liverpool.

The month includes testimonials and benefits and the Ossie Ardiles game on the 1st in 1986 when Diego Maradona turned out  (top). The fans chanted sign him up and there wasn’t a handball in sight.

On the 6th in 1946 we entertained an FA XI (4-1) for Willie Hall. 1984 and the Keith Burkenshaw game on the 29th sees an England XI visit the Lane. 1990 and a game for Danny Blanchflower is played at the Lane V Northern Ireland XI.

Right - Arthur Rowe in 1950

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A benefit game in 1953 on the 4th for the National Flood and Tempest Distress Fund after the Thames floods sees us at Highbury for a 2-0 win.  Then on the 14th in 1921 we beat Fulham in a game in aid of military charities and the kick off is by the Prince of Wales.

A bit late in the year for debuts but the 1st (2005) sees Radek Cerny played in a win over Villa. Going back to the same day in 1999 and substitute Ledley King was a debut boy (below) at Liverpool. Back in 1966 on the 9th Terry Venables starts for the first time in a game at Blackburn. Frank Saul scores on debut in 1960 (2nd).

A number of players join the club prior to the new season including Gareth Bale signing on the 25th in 2007.

Last games are more common and we waved goodbye to many of our players, here are a few, In 1992 its Gary lineker on the 2nd. The 12th (1984) and Stevie Archibald scores in his last game. The 18th in 1940 and Johnny Morrison has a hat trick V Southampton. Bill Brown has his last game on the 9th  in 1966. Bill was of course nominated for the Scottish Hall of Fame by India Spurs,  (3).

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A few games to remember and the one in 2010 on the 5th sees Peter Crouch score and secure Champions League football when we win at Manchester City. The 10th in 1955 and The Republic of Ireland play Holland and include the first Spurs player in the national side, Johnny Gavin.

Its birthday time and amongst those celebrating this month are – Alex Pritchard  (below) 23 on the 3rd. (he also made his debut on the 11th in 2012). Tom Carroll is 24 on the 28th the same day as Kyle Walker is 26.

A few ‘old boys’ and Maurice Norman (4) will be 82 on the 8th.  The 20th and Clive Allen is 55, Don McAllister is 63 on the 26th. The 27th sees Roberto Soldado turn 31 the same day as Paul Gascoigneis 49.

Brad Friedal will be 45 on the 18th and on the2nd in 2012 he became our oldest player in a league game (40 years 350 days) as we won at Bolton. Back in 1910 Joe Meek was born on te 31st and he worked down a coal mine before becoming a footballer.


The club often heads off around the globe during May and previous years have seen us amongst other places, Budapest in 1912 playing an Olympic XI we won 4-3. In 1957 on the 19th we beat Glasgow Celtic in New York. 1960 and we play away to Juventus on the 25th and 1968 against a Cyprus International XI also on the 25th.  While 1976 sees us in Fiji on the 1st and New Zealand on the 3rd. Forward to 1995 which finds us in Singapore on the 26th. Tragedy strikes on the 31st in 1963 when Terry Medwin breaks a leg in South Africa which will end his career.

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Right - The Prince of Wales kicks off in 1921.

1963 and on the 4th a record falls as Jimmy Greaves gets his 37th league goal of the season.

1908 and the 27th, Tottenham having resigned from the Southern League are not elected to the Football League and face the prospect of just having Cup ties and friendlies next season.

The 4th (1949) sees Arthur Rowe (above) take charge at Tottenham and will lead them to our first Championship two years later.

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And finally the same day as we completed the Double back in 1929 on the 6th we won the London FA Charity Cup beating Millwall in a game at Highbury. 

COYS
Keith Harrison.
t- Keith 16024542
f- peter shearman (old non de plume)
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Notes – 1 - The story of that campaign round by round starts at Glasgow Rangers and finishes at The Legacy. http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/ht-glasgow-rangers-part-1  & http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-the-legacy
2 - http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-spurs-and-the-charity-shield
 3 –http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/bill-brown
4 - http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/the-colossus-of-tottenham