Hotspur Towers - Champions Park

In this latest look back at White Hart Lane over the years we find another representative match played here and the strange manner of how one of our custodians parted company with the club. There is also the sad tale of when The Lane was fenced. And some rather strange antics along the Touchline along with the usual images from across the years.

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We start with this programme note from the Bolton game played on 28th October 1978.
 
“Work is due to commence shortly at this ground on the erection of perimeter fencing to prevent spectators from encroaching on the playing pitch. It is a measure we had hoped would never be necessary on this ground but it has been forced upon us and other clubs by the unruly conduct of a small minority of spectators and fencing will therefore be erected on three sides of the ground. It is a step we are taking with reluctance and much regret but we feel sure that vast majority of spectators at out matches will understand. That in the interests of everyone concerned we are having to take this preventive action.

Appeals to the young supporters have met with some success but we are mindful of the Football Association rules under which we are responsible for the safety of the players of both teams and match officials. Quite apart from the physical dangers caused by invasions of the pitch, the players are distracted and there can be an adverse effect on the performance of the team.
 
Moreover it is now a requirement of the Union of European Football Associations that all clubs involved in competitions under their jurisdiction should protect their pitches in this fashion.
 
In addition to taking immediate precautions it is therefore important that we should be equipped for the re-entry into European competition that we hope our players will achieve for the club in future seasons.”

Another of the games played at the Lane over the years and was when The Football League entertained the Southern League here in November 1910 and lost 3-2. In those days the ref (in a bow tie) and Linesman would appear in the team pictures (below). This is the Football League side and the only Tottenham player involved was the goalkeeper Tommy Lunn. Tommy deserves a mention if only for the manner of his departure from Spurs.

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Tommy had been in Cup winning side for Wolves in 1908 and he also appeared against Spurs when Wolves played the first ever league game at WHL in September 1908. He then joined Tottenham in 1910. Possibly his greatest moment at the club came on the last day of that season when with Tottenham needing a win to avoid relegation he produced a number of excellent saves to send Chelsea down.

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At the start of 1913 he took over the license of the Chequers public house in the High Road. The Board advised him to do so would be a breach of his contract and he would be suspended and not play for Tottenham again. He did become the landlord and he didn’t play for the club again. At the end of the season his contract ran out and he moved to Stockport where he played just two games before an injury ended his career.

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Above - The fencing coming down in 1989 and

Right - March 1989 and a closer view of the fans caged behind them.

Below - 1987 Newcastle fans climb the fences in a bid to get away from the crush of fans.
Note the police line between the two sets of fans.

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As for these strange antics on the touchline. in the top picture and below. 

Its 1933 and the porters from the various London markets held a race around the cinder track carrying baskets on their heads.
 

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As for the title, Champions Park was another one of the suggestions for a name for the Spurs’ new ground, after  we won the Southern League in our first season in the new ground.

COYS
Keith Harrison.
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White Hart Lane is featured in other articles - That Hallowed Turf, Under Fire, The Shelf,
The White Harts Ground, The Rowels Park, The High Street Ground, Gilpin Park, Star Billing,
The Ring, The Edmonton End, The Marsh Lane End, The East Side, 
Hotspur Towers 58, 33, 16 and 5.
Hotspur Towers 50 - The Cockerel,   Hotspur 46 - Ground Sharing,
Talking Tottenham - At The Lane,   White Hot Lane,  Come All Ye Faithful,