• Home
  • About Us
  • Recruitment
  • Contact Us
  • Gallery
  INDIA SPURS:
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Recruitment
  • Contact Us
  • Gallery

Hotspur Towers - Peter Baker

10/4/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture

Peter Baker one of the unsung heroes of the Double side who went about his job in a quiet unassuming manner. Playing at right back he formed a good combination with Maurice Norman at center half and Ron Henry on the left to defend Bill Brown in goal. His talent was often overlooked and he tended toward the methodical rather than the mercurial.  One of the players that every team needs. He simply did his job.

Peter was born in Hampstead in North London in 1931 and was capped at Youth level. He played for  Enfield before signing for Spurs as an amateur in 1949 and turning professional in 1952.  

His debut came towards the end of that season at Sunderland in a 1-1 draw when he stepped in for Alf Ramsey.

When Ramsey left  Charlie Withers took over the role and later Maurice Norman when he signed for Spurs started at right aback. Peter stepped in when Norman was injured and did so well that upon recovery Norman had to switch to the number 5 shirt.
Picture

Once established in the team he hardly missed a game in seven years.
In the Double year he missed just one game.  
He was a regular as he also won another FA cup and European Cup Winners Cup medals.  

Peter was seen as consistent performer, an accurate passer and good tackler with an excellent  positional sense.

He had Danny Blanchflower playing in front of him who would go buccaneering up the field and Baker would find himself exposed at times. He had to learn not to take on a player when he was out numbered but he did develop the ability to shepherd a player away from danger and hold them up whilst his teammates had time to provide cover.



Picture

He has been described as Cool and Dependable.  In 1959 at Birmingham he even took over in goal when the keeper was injured. Not known for getting forward he did on occasion and could provide telling crosses into the box.

After being at Tottenham for 13 years he found his playing opportunities limited and whilst Bill Nicholson did not want to lose him he allowed him to move to Durban United in South Africa.

He later coached out there and then went into business. When he retired he returned home to North London.

right - Here in the White Hart Lane Gym in January 1960 before the cup tie with Newport County.

Pictures Above and Below - At Villa Park 1961.

Picture

In 1976 in an interview he said “To play for a club such as Tottenham Hotspur for 13 years as I did must make anyone proud."

He described one of his favourite moments as when Tottenham beat Glasgow Rangers in the European Cup Winners Cup. Tottenham winning both legs of the tie. "To beat them at home was acceptable, but to beat them on their own park was almost sacrilege."

Peter Baker made 342 senior appearances for us in 12 years. He managed three goals, one of them coming in the Double year.


Picture
COYS
Keith Harrison.
t- Keith 16024542
f- peter shearman (old non de plume reserved for THFC matters)


Ht 56


1 Comment
Alok
27/1/2016 08:57:11 pm

Thanks keith for this. Our true heritage is such players.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Features

    Flying Down to Rio
    History of T.H.F.C.
    Tribute to Bill Nicholson
    Talking Tottenham
    Early Legends
    The Road to Turin
    International Connections
    Hotspur Towers

    Most Read Articles

    The 100 Year War
    Interview with Marina Sirtis

    A Long Dark Shadow
    By Royal Appointment
    School Report: An Insight into the Younger Eric Dier
    Dear Jimmy
    All Change At Spurs
    Hotspur Towers
    History Of THFC: Part 1

    Passage to India: Rohan Rickets
    Thanks For The Memories
    Our Tommy Carroll
    The AVB Files: Part1 
    The Lilywhites 
    You The Jury
    The Hand Of Hugo
    Connection - Argentina
    Creating a Reputation
    One Hotspur


    Archives

    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013

    Categories

    All
    Fanpost
    Interviews
    Keith Harrison
    Martin Cloake
    Match Preview
    News
    Nikhil Saglani
    Tactics
    Transfer
    Youth Team

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    View all titles
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Recruitment
  • Contact Us
  • Gallery