Planet Spurs - 14

In this trip to Planet Spurs to uncover tales that might otherwise get away and we start  in France with some of the hazards of continent travel, one of our greatest managers gives an insight into his philosophy, the Army come to the rescue and the House of Lords learn about the owners of football clubs. While our regular 'Spurs and the Law' finds one of the legendary Double winners in court.

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When Spurs opened their tour of France in 1949 they lost their first two games (1) but there was a good reason. When the team arrived in Calais by ferry they found there was a train strike and spent the night on a stationary train and all they had to eat was a few sandwiches they had brought with them. The following morning the British Army came to the rescue when a nearby unit heard of their plight and provided breakfast. Then a coach was hired, eventually, and the team set off on the two day 800 mile trip, in a heat wave. Clearly the players were stiff and sore when they arrived on the south coast. And that wasn’t the end of it one of the hotels they stayed in they shared the rooms with various lizards and swarms of ants.

The team picture and the Royal Artillery team that won the Army Cup in 1954. Front Row, first is Ron Henry (who played left wing) and 5th is Terry Dyson (Left Back).

John Cameron, our first great manager had this to say about penalties. “When I was Manager of the 'Spurs I always made a rule that a goalkeeper should have plenty of practice in this department. I found that in a big match things were certainly different, and especially if there was a large crowd present. The eye of the multitude is concentrated on the keeper and the kicker, and there is a great strain on both, although to my mind the goalkeeper has the advantage in this way. If a goal is scored no one blames him, as it is expected. If the forward fails there is usually a loud groan.

Left - The 'genial' John Cameron pictured here in April 1901.

The Politicians are at it again, and another mention of Spurs this time from the House of Lords  (1956)  “To suggest that football clubs are wealthy and that the directors of Chelsea and other clubs wear gold watch chains and smoke fat cigars is a complete myth. There are only about six clubs in that category and they include the Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and the best club in the country, my own Newcastle United.”

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Spurs and the Law, Terry Dyson our left winger in the Double side found himself in court on a charge of receiving stolen property in January 1964. He was given some cartons of cigarettes by a supporter which he says wasn’t unusual at that time. Terry passed them on to a local shopkeeper to sell. A shop customer then recognized them as being marked as a special consignment for use aboard by the United Nations which had been stolen a few months earlier. Terry and two other men were arrested and was released on bail off ten pounds and later found not guilty.  

Top pic- Terry and Danny Blanchflower in Egypt 1962,

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

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