Bill Nicholson - part 2.

"Oh, magic man. There's no doubt - not only in football during my career but he's had the biggest influence on my life, generally.

..When you thought of Tottenham you thought of Bill Nicholson , one of the legendary figures in football. Bill was a major servant to English football and a fantastic man. It was an honour to serve under him."  
                                                                                            - Pat Jennings

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With such an excellent managerial record its is sometimes overlooked what a good player he was. Today we look at the next part of his playing career and his first steps in coaching. When World War 2 broke out Bill joined the Durham Light Infantry. Being a professional footballer he was sent on a PE course and would rise to the rank of sergeant-instructor.

Whilst at the same time making guest appearances for Newcastle, Darlington, Hartlepool, Sunderland Middlesbrough and even Fulham. After the war he served with the Central Mediterranean Forces HQ at Udini, Italy.

Looking back before his testimonial game in 2001 he said “I was at the club before the war started and it was a good attraction for me then, even before I joined the staff as a footballer,” he recalled. “When I joined as a footballer it was important as well. It was always a nice place to be.”

1. Bill on right in action.

Upon his discharge he attended a FA coaching course at Birmingham University and passed his Full Badge at the first attempt. He returned to Tottenham and played center half for two years before moving to right half. In December 1948 he scored the first of his six League goals, and the clubs 2,000th goal in the Football League. 

Bill probably lost half his playing career to the war, but he had no regrets. He was convinced that his wartime experiences helped shape what came afterwards "It was invaluable. What I did for six years in the Army taught me how to handle people and how to talk to people."

He became a vital part of Arthur Rowe’s team that perfected the “Push and Run” style. Although they liked to describe it as ‘Pass and Move.’

2. League Champions 1950/1. Bill on left

Bill became known as a solid, dependable, ball-winning, hard-tackling and robust half back and was considered one of the best of his generation. The ‘Push and Run’ era of 1949-51 saw Bill miss just four games as we lifted the Second Division Championship in 1949/50 and then the First Division Championship in 1950/51. They then finished runners-up in 1951/52.

3. England V Portugal

In the summer of 1950 he was named in the England squad for the World Cup in Brazil (1). Having already played for the ‘B’ team and gained FA and Football League representative honours.

His only Full cap would come at Goodison Park against Portugal on May 19th.1951. Bill scored with his first touch in the opening minute (2) of a 5-2 victory. It was the fastest ever goal by a player on his England debut. A record that still stands. Describing his goal he said “ It was nodded back and I ran on to it and let go a first time shot which, from the moment I hit it, I knew was going in.”

He was due to play a second time V Austria the following autumn with Billy Wright moving forward to play inside right but injury prevented him from playing. He was named as a reserve on 22 occasions. Looking back on his international career, which would of produced many more caps if his position had not been dominated by Billy Wright and injuries. He said  "My duty is to get fit for Tottenham. Well, they pay my wages, don't they?" He added that it was however very disappointing not to have played again.

The FA invited him to coach the Varsity teams during the early Fifties. When his playing career ended in 1954 he switched easily to a coaching role and assisted with the England Under-23 team.

During his playing career Bill made 341 appearances for Tottenham, 314 in the League the rest in the FA Cup. He scored six times, all in the League. His goals coming against Fulham A, Forest A, Bury H, QPR H, Huddersfield A and Chelsea H.

4. Cigarette card - 1948

5 The Artist is Micky Durling

In 1955 he was appointed Tottenham’s assistant manager.

He was part of the England coaching team, in charge of the defence, that went to the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. Where England were the only team to prevent Brazil from scoring in the competition.  

6. Cover of the Clubs 'The Lilywhite' 1951

7. Cover of the Sporting Mirror, 1950

At the start of the 1958/59 season we had played 11 games and obtained 9 points. (remember it was two points for a win) from three wins, three draws and five defeats. Tottenham were 16th in the table. When on the 11th October 1958 he was called to the Board room at lunch-time and informed they wanted him to take over from Jimmy Anderson as Manager starting with that afternoons game at home to Everton.

Notes -
1.  Flying Down to Rio - Flights 2 and 3.
2.  The timing is subject to some dispute. It has been recorded at anywhere from 19 seconds to 30 seconds, but either is still a record.

Images - top, 2 & 3 Empics sport/Press Association,   5 - Micky Durling,  6 - THFC,  7 - Sporting MirrorThanks- A full list of acknowledgements will appear at the end of the series, but particular thanks in this section must go to. THFC, THOS, John Fennelly, England on Line, and Bob Goodwin’s- The Complete Record.

About the author:
Keith Harrison, Nilgiris, TN
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