Bill Nicholson - part 5

"He took over with the club fourth from bottom and within two years we had won the Double, it didn't take him long.…When you talk about great managers Bill is one of very few….He never let us forget that we were out there to entertain the public…. He was straight as a die, 100 per cent honest and 100 per cent Spurs…. Bill was the perfect gentleman and he was a brilliant manager," - Dave Mackay  

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We continue our search for the man beyond the legend. Although Bill felt he had learnt to talk to people during his army days his search for perfection would sometimes get in the way. He once recalled talking to Martin Chivers who had just scored in an important game  "I told him afterwards that was a sitter that you missed, and then I thought, maybe I should have said, 'well played,' and then told him!"

Cliff Jones recalls that he was a hard man to please and was very sparing in his praise. ‘After one match, when I had had a particularly good game, he said: “Well done Cliff.” This took me completely by surprise and I said: “Hey Bill, is that a pat on the back? ” To which he replied: “Remember son, a pat on the back is only two foot away from a kick up the backside!”

Alan Mullery  (pictured top with Martin Chivers and Bill in 1971) remembers “The rollicking’s we got if we didn't play good football, we once beat Burnley 4-0 and got a telling off.”

1. Bill and his team before the 1971 League Cup Final.

Even after the 1961 Cup Final which secured the Double. Bill was in reflective mood and was disappointed that the side had not won in the style they were capable of. He is quoted as saying  ‘We did nothing. We didn't play. We didn't even start to play’.

I read recently a claim that Alex Ferguson and José Mourinho were the only managers to have won all three domestic trophies. That’s strange because Bill completed his treble in 1971. The top image shows him completing his hat trick the League Cup to add to the League Championship and FA Cup previously won.

2. THFC Team magazine August 1967

3. vintage Spurs card

As a manager he used 79 players. The first player he gave a League debut to was Bill Dodge in January 1959 at home to Blackburn. Who played five League games and four in the FA Cup for the injured Danny Blanchflower. The only other player he gave a debut to in that first season was Dave Mackay in March at home to Manchester City. The last player to be given his debut was Alfie Conn.

Danny Blanchflower at 37 years was the oldest player he picked while Neil McNab 16, was the youngest. The one he chose more than any other was Pat Jennings with 480 games. The first goal scored during his reign came from Alfie Stokes, the last was by Martin Chivers.

Bill actually played alongside eight players he later managed, Peter Baker, Johnny Brooks, Dave Dunmore, Tommy Harmer, Mel Hopkins, Tony Marchi, George Robb and Alfie Stokes.

4. Bill and his Double team at the 40th Anniversary.

The 40th anniversary of the Double was celebrated on the 24th May 2001. Bill is surrounded by Back row- Dave Mackay, Ron Henry, Maurice Norman, Tony Marchi, Bobby Smith, Peter Baker, Les Allen. Front row: Terry Dyson, Bill, Mel Hopkins.

His record as a manager stands at played 832 games, won 408, drawn 196 and 228 defeats. His League record stands at played 667, won 306, 164 draws and 197 defeats. Scored 1208 conceded 922.

Forty years after he played for England he was the Guest of Honour at Wembley when the nation team fittingly played Portugal. Bill also played for England B four times and for the Football League.

Maybe one of the people who understood him best was Danny Blanchflower. When Bill stepped down as manager Danny said  “An inspiration, I think of the trophies he has won for the club.

6. With Danny Blanchflower

5. 1998 Guest of Honour at Wembley

Think of the fine players he has brought to White Hart Lane.

Nick managed great teams before Shankly and Revie and has given 38 years of devoted service to Tottenham as player, coach and manager. But he himself was one of the club’s greatest assets of all.’

Tomorrow we hear from the man himself.

I was just trying to confirm some photo credits on Wednesday when I started following some breadcrumbs and they led me to this rather lovely piece. Its from the archive of the excellent Spurs Odyssey site and gives an insight of Bill away from football. I am sure Paul Smith will forgive me if I give the link so that you can enjoy.
http://www.spursodyssey.com/0506/lsirbill.html

Acknowledgements will be at end of the series but special thanks to THFC, Bob Goodwin and Top Spurs for some of the figures included in this part. Images - 1 & 5 - Popperfoto/ Getty Images, 2 & 4 - THFC, 6 - BBC