Connections - Germany 7

In the latest German Connections we start with the game that had the German FA stepping in at the last moment, there is our only trip behind the Iron Curtain to East Germany. We discover the importance of bringing your golf clubs as well as a host of non competitive games with German opponents and some early player movement between the countries.

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The game with Rot-Weiss Essen in November 1954 found the German FA stepping in a few days before the match to insist it be delayed twenty four hours. The papers telling us  ‘An instruction from the German Football Association has forced Tottenham Hotspur to postpone their floodlight game with Essen Rot-Weiss at White Hart Lane from next Monday 1 to the following evening the Tuesday.  The switch was necessary when the German FA insisted their club have at least 48 hours after their customary Sunday game.’ Spurs would win 4-2, Ramsey and Brooks  (below) scoring two each.

Our only competitive trip to East Germany was with Locomotive Leipzig in the semi final of the 1973/4 UEFA cup, having defeated the West’s Cologne in the previous round. More than seventy thousand attended the first leg. The Germans who had already put out Ipswich and Wolves were surprised when Spurs went on the attack and grabbed two goals. Mike England came forward and his ball went to Peters who fired home after quarter of an hour. A few minutes later Ray Evans looking for Chivers over hit the ball which came back off the woodwork and Ralph Coates smashed home. Chivers then hit the woodwork.  Leipzig got one back on the hour but Spurs brought a vital lead home.

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Two weeks later and the second leg saw Spurs approach the game by allowing the Germans to come on to them. The counter attack nearly worked as Chivers had several chances before Leipzig nearly brought the tie level with a one on one but Jennings won the ball. The tie looked safe when just before the hour McGrath headed home. Chivers made it certain a few moments later when Perryman set him free. 2-0 on the night and Spurs were back in a European final.

Top - Chivers V Leipzig at WHL.

We met Vfb Stuttgart twice in 1957, the first game was in the August when we traveled there and drew 2-2,  Bobby Smith scoring twice. Stuttgart then visited us in November and a 3-2 win saw Smith, Robb and Dyden netting for Tottenham.


We would tour the country in the seventies. In 75 we started against our old friends Rot-Weiss Essen and drew 1-1 (Cliff Jones). Next was Karlsruher and a Joe Kinnear penalty wasn’t enough as we lost 1-2.
Hanvover was next and Jones again in a 1-1 draw before we crossed into Holland for the last game of the trip.

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The following summer having already visited Australia, Fiji and Canada at the end of the season we again found ourselves in Germany in July. Osnabruck was the first stop and a 3-1 win Jones with 2 and Armstrong. We then lost our games in Frankfurt and Cologne before we finished with victories over KSV Baunatal and Bad Honnef.

Some early exports and Eddie Birnie, he scored once in his five games during his year with Spurs left us in 1911 to become player manager of Mulheim.  Going the other way Jim Townley (1) had played for Hamburg before coming to the UK and joining Spurs in 1925. Another link is Irish international Charlie O’Hagan, he won five caps in his time at Spurs and scored 25 times in 51 games. He left us in 1906 and later coached in Germany. John Cameron one of our greatest managers was coaching in that country when war broke out and he became a prisoner of war, (2).

On a lighter note the instructions to the England payers for the game with German at WHL in 1935  includes this interesting notes on ‘what time they are expected to arrive in London at Enfield Chase station, before heading together to the Theobalds Park Hotel in Waltham Cross from Kings Cross station. All players were also requested to bring their golf clubs for a game post matchday.’

COYS
Keith Harrison.
t- Keith 16024542
f - https://www.facebook.com/keith.harrison.9659
My profile / archive is @ http://www.indiaspurs.com/keith_harrison.html

notes - 1- http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/tottenham-mysteries-the-game-time-remembered
2-http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/ht-32-john-cameron