The Almanac - April

The Almanac reaches April and we try and locate a few stories that have occurred this month in previous years that might otherwise slip through the net. Alongside some (hopefully) I did not know that’s, there are a few games to remember as well as some quirks of fate. As the season’s end is now in sight there are a few dates sneaking up that need to be celebrated. None more so than the 17th in 1961 we beat Sheffield Wednesday and won the Title and the first part of the Double in front of 61,205 at White Hart Lane.

So if you have your calendar and red pen to hand. 1901 and on the 20th we made our first appearance in the FA Cup Final, which of course was a draw. A World Record crowd of 114,815 watch the game. Then on the 27th we have the replay and our first triumph in that competition.

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 Slip back to the 23rd and in 1921 for our Second victory in the same competition.  1991 and the first ever FA Cup semi-final is played at Wembley on the 14th and Paul Gascoigne scored his famous goal V Arsenal (2). Another semi was our first in 1901 when Sandy Brown scored 4 times as we beat West Brom at Villa Park. It was also the first time the two teams had met.  Oh and Sandy was born on the 7th in 1879 (1).  

In 1991 on the 20th and ninety years to the day after that first FA Cup Final match guess who we played, Sheffield United, this time we win from a Justin Edinburgh  goal. More Cup glory in 1902 as we win the Southern Charity Cup, and on the 2nd Woolwich Arsenal are beaten 2-0 in the semi final.

Games to remember and one you won’t have been at but in 1910 on the 30th. Tottenham beat Chelsea at home to ensure their safety and send Chelsea down to Division 2.  1986 and on the 26th our visit to QPR sees us play on their plastic, instead of grass, pitch. It ends 5-2 with Clive Allen and Mark Falco both scoring twice.

left - Paul Gascoigne (2).

Below - Teddy Sheringham and the London Monarchs.

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Under the, ‘and you thought it had not happened before’, section we find that on the 23rd. (St Georges Day) White Hart Lane welcomed American Football in 1995 and the London Monarchs played the Amsterdam Admirals. 8,763 come to see the game. The top crowd at the six games that year just over twelve thousand.  Clive Allen was the Monarchs goal kicker for part of their short reign.

Another visitor to the Lane arrived in 2006 when Prime Minister Tony Blair inspects our Community work on the 6th.

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Hat tricks and when Cliff Jones hits his on the 24th (1965) we beat Leicester and it means we have gone the whole season unbeaten at home. Other three goal boys are Gary Lineker V West Ham on the 1st (1992), Bert Bliss V Bolton on the 3rd (1915) and again against Wolves in 1920 (2nd). Another player to put three past West Ham was Alf Whyman on the 15th in 1907. Then Bobby Smith (3) against his old club Chelsea on the 15th in 1960.

2006  and on the 22nd we see Arsene Wenger and Martin Jol go head to head on the touchline when the ref doesn’t stop play after two Arsenal players collide.

One gets up sees he is out of position and falls down again. Keane meanwhile scores for Spurs and the home side fail to win an Oscar. 

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Our good neighbours again, in 1917 and the 10th - Arsenal goalkeeper Ernie Williamson plays as a guest player at Highbury in our home game V Portsmouth (we win 2-1).  None of their Directors can be contacted prior to kick off to ask permission and afterwards they complain to the FA and we are fined.
 
Before that in 1886 on the 19th and Spurs held their first annual dinner at the Milford Tavern in Park Lane, Tottenham. 

Birthdays and the ‘old boy’s’ include Teddy Sheringham (above) turning 50 this year on the 2nd.  Ron Burgess was born in 1917 on the 9th.  The 16th sees Aaron Lennon become 29. 

While the current boys celebrating include, Happy Birthday to you – Dele Ali is 20 on the 21st. Then the 24th Ben Davies (top)  will be 23 the same day Jan Vertonghen (right)  is 29. Whilst Josh Onomah will be 19 on the 27th.

More games to remember and 1981 on the 15th we win 3-0 in the FA Cup semi final replay Crooks 2  and Ricki Villa with a marvelous goal for us. The game at Highbury sees the Spurs fans in the Home end! The fans chant ‘we like it here’ and outside Ars fans throw stones over the wall. 

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Another Cup tie and 1967 (8th) Birmingham claim Pat Jennings drops the ball behind the line in our 6th Round Cup game but the ref thinks otherwise. Before the replay their captain says one goal will decide the game, we win 6-0. The 3rd (1982) Leicester are beaten 2-0 as we win the semi final on the way to retaining the Cup.

Quickly forgotten but on the 18th in 2003  Kazu Toda (left) makes his Spurs debut at home to Manchester City but we lose 2-0. He is the first (and only) Japanese player to feature for Tottenham in a short time at the club.

Back in 1899 and the 13th 9-0 away at Dartford in the Thames and Medway League. John Cameron gets two on his birthday and Bill Joyce has five to his name.

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European Action throws a number of stories including 24th, (1963) and Jimmy Greaves is sent off when we play away in Belgrade. In 1984 on the 25th Mickey Hazard  gets the only goal as we win at Hadjuk Split  to reach the UEFA Cup Final. Baraclona visit WHL, not the football playing side we know these days they earned the tags animals and the Battle of White Hart Lane with a draw. The off the ball tactics and spitting make it a night (the 7th – 1982) to forget.

Greasvey has had better days and the 20th in 1962 he scores in his 9th concessive game.  The following year on the 15th he knocks in four V Liverpool.  Another four goal haul comes Bobby Smith’s way back in 1959 (18th) when we play West Brom.  One chap who did not score too many goals was Tiny Joyce but on the 10th in 1914 he laid down his keepers gloves and scored from a penalty.
While in 2015 on the 19th Harry Kane scores his 30th goal of the season the first player to do this since Gary Lineker in  91-92. Harry got his first PL goal back in 2013 on the 7th.

Right - Two goals V QPR, kicking for the Monarchs and here on England duty, Clive Allen.

1923 and Jimmy Cantrell became the oldest player to feature for Spurs in a league game when he turns out at 40 years 349 days on the 21st. He netted four times in ten games that season. After he retired he becomes a professional golfer.
 
1957, the 22nd.  Spurs beat Charlton 6-2 at the Lane on our way to runners-up slot in Division One. On the 24th, 1920 we fail to score at Grimsby, the only time that season we don’t register a goal. Then on the 28th reigning champions Leeds go down 2-4 in our final game as we avoid relegation in 1975.

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A man in a hurry, Adebayor scores after just 32 seconds to become the second fastest goal in the PL era (behind Ledley King) in 2013 on the 7th.  Mixed feelings on the 10th in 1991 as Ian Walker lets in two goals, his dad was watching, he was the manager of Norwich.
The 25th in 1936 sees Ted Harper get two goals, and a total of 36 in a league season a record that stands to 1963.  The same day in 1964 and John White gets one goal, his last for the club.
 
So near, on the 26th in 1900 we have to beat Millwall to win the Southern District Combination to go with the Southern League title we win that year but only manage a draw.  Then 2011 and the 30th sees Sandro get his first goal at Chelsea.

On the international scene Fanny Walden at 5’2’’ the smallest man to play for England makes his international debut. The same day the 4th in 1914 Tottenham play a draw away to Liverpool.  Then in 1921 we have four players in the England team on the 9th in the game v Scotland.
 
Its hello to Glenn Hoddle on the 8th in 1975 as he turns professional and goodbye on the 9th (2004) to Stephen Carr in his last game as he scores and is sent off.
And finally back in 1885 on the 4th we play a team called Mars, glad to say it was a home game.
 
COYS
Keith Harrison.
t- Keith 16024542
f- peter shearman (old non de plume)
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Notes – 1 – Watch out for Sandy brown and the Ibrox Disaster, later this week.
2  - http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/gazza
3 - http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-bobby-smith