Bill nicholson - part 4

"Bill Nicholson is the name that is synonymous with Tottenham. His achievements, and the way in which he achieved them will always be remembered by anyone with a Spurs connection.

Off the field Bill is a gentleman in the true sense of the word, Bill lived a life which revolved around Tottenham Hotspur. Nobody had a bad word to say about him.  

  -  Gary Mabbutt

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As we search for the man behind the legend, maybe one of the keys to understanding Bill was that he seemed to remain the same quiet modest person chap throughout his life. At a time when some managers are media / image obsessed not for him the quip or sound-bite. Always showing respect to the other team. Was this in part due to growing up in a large family during the depression or by joining the army at twenty for six years during the war ? He lived in a modest house just a few minutes walk from White Hart Lane his whole adult life.

To try and understand the man a little better here are a few facts, figures and some tales that might help.

There’s a story in my family that the day we paraded the Double trophies through the streets of Tottenham the players were waving and the crowds were cheering. Towards the back of the open topped bus sitting quietly, just watching was one Bill Nicholson.

1. April 1999, Bill Nicholson Way

I read a story at the time of his passing. A supporter was standing watching a reserve game when someone walked up next to him and asked the score, he told him. The newcomer then asked how we were doing and the supporter made a few comments. The newcomer then asked what did he think of a certain player and was told. The newcomer thanked him and started to walk away when the supporter turned and realised if had been Bill Nicholson asking him, his opinion.

There’s another story that he was found in tears at the wedding of one of his daughters saying that he hadn't "seen her grow up"

Yet another tale describes him at a family wedding when he was found outside playing with the kids and later organised a cricket match between the guests.

2. Testimonial with Florentina, 2001

An estimated 8-10,000 attended his memorial service at White Hart Lane in November 2004. A number of speakers remembered the great man. It was his daughter Linda who told those present "My Dad loved you as much as you loved him."  Before 85 white doves, one for each year of his life, were released.

3. Prior to the memorial service, many fans laid tributes. Some just wanted to sit and remember.

4. With Darkie, at Heathrow 1974.

Bill use to tell the story that when he was called to the Board room and appointed manager they did not mention a contract or a pay rise so he didn’t. Arriving home that day he did not even tell his wife, Grace, universally known as Darkie because of her hair, she only found out about it later from her mother. While she was an ardent Spurs fan, she and daughters Linda and Jean were banned from attending games because as Darkie once explained “I went to a match once early on and Tottenham lost so he told me not to come again."

As well as his major honours Bill also won the FA Charity Shield in 1951 (player) and in 1961, 1962 as well as sharing it in 1967. Having won both trophies in 1961 there was a question of who to play. We met an England team thinly disguised as an FA XI. We won.

Bill was granted two testimonial games. The first in 1983 when we played West Ham before 20,101.

5. Bill enters the Hall of Fame, here surrounded by his Double team.

The second in August 2001 was against Florentina. The kick off was delayed by ten minutes as an amazing crowd of 35,877 attended.  You might like to consider that shortly before that Arsenal’s Tony Adam's testimonial drew 12,000. That’s only slightly more than Bills memorial service.

In July 1991 he was appointed Club President. In 2004 Bill was fittingly the first inductee into the Tottenham Hall of Fame. At his induction in his usual style he shared any credit saying “"What was achieved at that time was down to the players and staff plus a lot of hard work. This club has been my life and will always remain so.” Several months afterwards he was inducted into the National Hall of Fame.

In 1975 Bill received the OBE. Sidney Wale the Chairman at the time said "Bill will be remembered with gratitude as the most successful manager in the club's history. His services to football were honoured with the award of the OBE by Her Majesty the Queen, a distinction which I personally think should have been bestowed upon him some years earlier." 

The BBC paid this tribute on Football Focus, October 2004.

He never received the Knighthood he deserved but I was proud to support the campaign.The OBE was followed by a PFA merit award in 1984. Then in December 1998 he received the Freedom of the Borough from Haringey Council. The short road leading to the stadium from Tottenham High Road was renamed ‘Bill Nicholson Way’ with an official unveiling of the newly named road in April 1999. 

Acknowledgements will be listed at end of series. Images- Top- The Club Bill Made, 1,2,3 & 5 - THFC, 4- Popperfield/Getty images.

About the author:
Keith Harrison, Nilgiris, TN
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