Talking Tottenham 46

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With players changing their cars so often as its easier than having to wash them, this weeks Talking Tottenham looks at our high performance players, the club and the combustion engine over the years.
Some wonderful stories including why Real Madrid might not buy our best players this summer as well as exclusively revealing  why our undercover reporter has been strangely silent.
So fasten your seat belts as we start our whirlwind tour of the not totally serious world of Tottenham.

Just how many of you remember Superleague Formula racing? The events organizers decked out racing cars in the colours of twenty of the top clubs, mostly European, in an attempt to develop ‘cross-sport fan-bases’ Races were in various countries and  was broadcast in more than 60 starting in 2008. We finished runners up in twice in the three seasons we were associated with the races. The idea of attracting our fans to Donnington Park in the Midlands wasn’t helped when the UK race fell on a home match day. Good fun while it lasted.

Jurgen Klinsmann was famous for his blue beatle.

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Five of the next generation of Spurs players were picked for England squads this week to take part in tournaments next month. Marcus Edwards and Kazaiah Sterling are with the Under 17's. The Under 16 squad has Jaden Brown, Japhet Tangawga and Keanen Bennetts. The future really is Lilywhite.

The voting for the PFA Fans' Player of the month closes midnight (UK time) Saturday.  Harry Kane is one of the contenders. To vote simply go to -
http://fanawards.90min.com/

On one of the rare occasions I’ve been able to twit this week this fell open, an Asian family of Spurs fans living in London. fq link.- http://www.fqmagazine.co.uk/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=524:%E2%80%98the-football-dad%E2%80%99-part-one&Itemid=417
I know what your thinking, Who is he? Where is he? Is he a member?

Meanwhile Benny Assoc-Ekotto wants to help the environment by using his Smart car. He does also have FIVE Mustang sports cars so what does he drive on Sundays?

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Its always a challenge finding current stories which you might not have seen but lets start with a “Good grief Charlie Brown,” - The Daily Mail reveals that Manchester Police have been called to the City’s training round 31 times in five years. United ‘lag behind’ on 13!  Although to be fair a lot of those calls were due to fans of their own or other clubs. The Metropolitan Police have not released figures for Tottenham’s training base but confirmed they did attend one case of a reported burglary.

And you heard it here first - but don’t blame me when its wrong - this week saw a couple of bits of gossip in business type sources that 1) Tottenham are heading back to the USA this summer and 2) More of a surprise -  that the next kit deal might be with Nike!

Adebayor (left), with homes in at least three countries, has an array of vehicles and at least one newspaper has ‘suggested’ he has his own private aircraft. When you have that many cars who needs chairs?

Got to feel for Vertonghen, first he is robbed of one goal by the ref and now the other has been ruled an own goal.

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I hate to think what the groundsman said with a racing car on his pitch.

One news story that might of got away, The Guardian is reporting that Real Madrid are under investigation by UEFA for their signing of underage players, in this case two twelve old's from Columbia. If found guilty they could face a transfer ban the same as Barcelona.

A lot of players to avoid the limelight and guard their privacy do so by having personalized  number plates !!  One of these was Roger Hoy. The story goes he actually found and brought a car with HOY in the registration just for the plate. Roger came through our youth ranks and played 12 times before moving to Crystal Palace.

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I hope you enjoyed our look at the National Championship winning Tottenham Hotspur Baseball team (1). With the approaching Ars game I thought what a good time to look back. You will all be aware of how they stole out place in Division One, however do you know how we responded? Three trophies in three years and  two runners up spots. The story of the second great Tottenham team in the Roaring 20’s starts on Monday and continues on Tuesday this week when we visit Hotspur Towers. 

1970 - Jimmy Greaves leaves Wembley in the World Cup Rally.

How times have changed, Whilst Jimmy Greaves was driving to Central America and with today’s training ground car park looking like the latest Motor Show, back in 1970 Ford Motors gave the England team players a Cortina - on loan for the year. Below you see our World Cup goal scoring heroes, Martin Peters and Alan Mullery with their cars (2).

Great News - As previously discussed the club have made an application to build a 45 room players lodge next to the training ground. This week Enfield Council approved the application.
http://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/11753086.display/

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Dave Mackay always drove a jaguar and whenever he bought a new one he would have it sprayed maroon. This was the colour of his childhood club who he later played for, Hearts.
Ted Ditchburn drove an American Cadillac at a time when few players had their own cars and this earned him the nickname 'Dillinger'.

It was quite common for players in the 1950's for to travel to the ground by bus. I knew someone who swears he once gave up his seat so Tommy Harmer could sit down. I wonder if the conductor made them pay their fare.
Morris Keston (4) tells the story that he once saw Harmer standing at a bus stop and gave him a lift in the back of his works van.
We said previously that Bill Nicholson did not like his players driving red cars, later confirmed by Steve Perryman. Bill drove a blue cavalier when ever I saw him, however he often walked to the ground.
There’s also a great pic of an early Tottenham team bus in this weeks Roaring 20’s mini series for you to look out for. 

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With us facing the Baggies this weekend, its worth noting, did you realise their they have the highest ground above sea level in England ? It doesn't seem like it when your there but,

Spare a thought for Tottenham's Johnny Morrison and their Eric Jones, they both scored a hat trick in September 1939 as Spurs won 4-3 at their ground. Ronnie Dix got our other goal. The next day World War 2 started, the league was suspended and the scorers had their hat tricks written off the record books....Strangely Eric then turned out for us as a guest player for Spurs during the war and scored 7 goals in 16 games.

You never know who you might be standing next too, Prince Feizal, the second son of the King of Hejaz and Governor of Mecca attended the Spurs / Baggies game in 1926.

Peter Crouch demonstrates the value of having a sunroof in case you want to dance on the way home.

Meanwhile with Sony and Emirates already not renewing their contracts with FIFA The Guardian (again) is reporting that Castrol, Continental Tyres and Johnson and Johnson are following suit. I can feel my Lady Bracknall impression coming on again, “To lose one sponsor is unfortunate, to lose FIVE seems like carelessness”.

This weeks point to ponder is after the success of the tattoo special (3) - and players being booked for ripping their shirts when they score - Who do you think will be the first player to get an advert tattoo ? and what will it advertise ?
My in-box awaits your thoughts.

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I suppose I have to mention the last game. Hope you have finished dancing on the ceiling since the game Wednesday. I thought we were very good in the first half, but we still don't kill teams off. Loved the way we fought from the whistle. When I saw the short sleeved shirts I thought he has the boys in the right state of mind. The Blue and White Army were great and a nod to them and THFC/THST and who ever moves them around the country in such weather.

This weeks advertising break - Who doesn’t have a Kylie Walker Air Freshener in their car?

Back with the Baggies, when Jermain Defoe scored against them in 2005 it was our 200th goal against that club in senior competitions. 

Oddly our top scorer V WBA is Bobby Smith with 17, and his 200th career goal came against them back in 1963.

Bobby sits in second place in our top goalscorers of all time list  with 208, whilst Johnny Morrison is 15th with 102 and Jermain finished in 5th place with 143 Tottenham goals.

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Many of you may have wondered what happened to our undercover reporter. He tells us he has been keeping a low profile. He is worried that someone at the club may have discovered his identity!

So there you have it the motor special and what better way to start the weekend I hear you cry.  Keep your thoughts coming. So until next week its Vroom Vroom and of course 'que sera sera.'





Keith Harrison.
t- Keith16024542
f- peter shearman (old non de plume reserved for THFC matters)

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Thanks - THFC, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, Bob Goodwin, The Guardian, mehstg, Enfield Independent, The FA,
Notes -1- Hotspur Towers 35
2- Flying Down to Rio, 30.
3 -Talking Tottenham 44.
4 - Morris Keston, a life long fan wrote a book - 'Superfan."