Planet Spurs - 8

Welcome to the latest Planet Spurs where we try and dig out some stories you otherwise would not have come across as a short diversion before the weekend action commences. In this issue we discover the team that come to Tottenham as they deserved a holiday. We also reveal the danger to the game from armchair fans and as this edition is planned to appear just before out first clash with Huddersfield since 1972 I’ve slipped a couple of Terrier stories into the mix along with some great pics.

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To start however, for those of you enjoyed ‘Spurs and Parliament’ (1) recently here is another gem I couldn’t squeeze in. This from Lord Mitchell “ My Lords, 2015 got off to a cracking start for me. On 1 January, my football team, Tottenham Hotspur, put five goals past Chelsea. For those who do not follow football, that is as good as it gets.”

Another team picture with a difference this time its Bill Nicholson's testimonial.

As for those tykes, we have discussed three of the most famous meetings previously. There was that cup encounter when Spurs traveled to the peak district for a few days before the game and they all the players caught the flu.

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I since found this description from a reporter traveling north he claimed the train was full of Spurs supporters, nineteen to a compartment, as an estimated seven thousand Londoners made the trip, (in a gate of 42 thousand), for what was thought would be a very open tie and promised to be a thrilling struggle between two powerful sides. Favours were in evidence everywhere the vendors had solved the problem  of colours by selling white for Tottenham and blue and white for Town. The game was played on ‘a delightful afternoon for the struggle’ on a pitch with very little grass. Due to the players being laid low not surprisingly we took a thumping that day. Whilst it’s a headline we may not want to see too often I thought you might like this clipping from the local press at the time.

The other dramas were the most controversial goal ever scored at The Lane when we played it off the ref,  (see below).
And the 5-5 draw that came just weeks after the off side law was changed to encourage attacking football.
Links to all three stories below.

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Thanks for the comments re our footy on TV story recently - in that case you might also like this from The Football League Review (the Leagues official publication) in 1971. After some market research they reported that while filmed matches played a major image building role, the game must beware that it does not just become another television programme. It further warned that a new kind of fan was being breed. “The armchair fan.” It made clear these were no help to the game. They felt the idea of televised highlights should be to persuade people to attend live games not watch them from their living rooms.

Then and Now - above right - Hugo Lloris in pre-season and left - Spurs attack the Huddersfield goal, 1950. 

You should have had this at the time but it got away - And just for those of who still think that last season was the first time we had met Wycombe Wanders can I just bring to your attention the minutes of their AGM  as reported in the South Bucks Standard in September 1896. “We also received a guarantee of £3 to play against Tottenham Hotspur a very small amount and an engagement  which we lost considerably by, but in justice to me for arranging this fixture on the spur of the moment I thought that owing to the team being engaged at home every Saturday they ought to have a little holiday away just for a change. This action was endorsed by the committee." - I can find no reference to this game so it is quite likely to be a reserve fixture for Spurs (?)

COYS
Keith Harrison.
t- Keith 16024542
f - https://www.facebook.com/keith.harrison.9659
My profile / archive is @ -  View Full Bio

Further reading -
Baily & Huddersfield-
http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-22
The 5-5 draw -
http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-22
The Cup and Flu -
http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-the-forgotten-years-part-3
Spurs and Parliament -http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/spurs-and-parliament

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