THE Cup part 2

Tottenham v Marlow 1993

2  -  The Dream.

Things have changed since spurs were the giant killers in 1901 over coming League teams to be the only non-league side to win the trophy. We of course have since grown into one of the top teams in the country. On a number of occasions non-league clubs have fought their way through the early rounds of the Cup before attempting to claim the honour of defeating the giant known as Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs have had some close shaves and a game that should never of happened!

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Spurs were drawn with Margate in 1973. Margate considered asking for the tie to be moved to Tottenham and paying their fans travel expenses but decided to go ahead at home. Having won the UEFA Cup the season before they now traveled to the Kent seaside town and played before an official crowd of 8,500. Although a number of estimates put it closer to 14,500. Spurs took the lead in the 25th minute after Chivers free kick was blocked he put the follow up ball in the net.1-0 at half-time and Pearce replaced the injured Perryman. It was Jimmy Pearce’s center for Chivers that brought our second and Pearce got the third himself. A trade mark Spurs goal A long throw towards the near post was flicked on by Gilzean to a late arriving Peters to head home for the fourth. Knowles from left back scored his only goal of the season and John Pratt rounded things off 6-0 to the Spurs. The Southern League teams captain that day was Eddie Clayton who was with Spurs from 1957 to 1968. Eddie made a total of 133 appearance’s for us (but only one in the FA Cup). If you have a few minutes do visit http://www.margatefchistory.com/spurs73.shtml for an incredible insight into the game. If only to see how the attendance figure was reached.

Tottenham haven’t always had it their own way  as early as 1923 they were very nearly on the wrong end of the result. Spurs had won the Cup two years earlier and the season before had reached the semi final. So when they were drawn with Worksop Town in the First Round Spurs must of felt they were in for an easy ride. Especially when the tie was moved to White Hart Lane. Tottenham still had six members of the Cup winning team in the side. The team from the Midland League in cold wet conditions held us to 0-0. The FA ruled that the Worksop pitch was unsuitable for use and so Spurs were happy to also host the replay. On that Monday evening Tottenham clearly upped their game and won the replay 9-0 having been six up at half time. Our goals were scored by Alec Lindsay (4), ‘Tich’ Handley (3), Jimmy Seed and Jimmy Dimmock. 

In 1956 Boston United from Lincolnshire came to White Hart Lane in the Third Round.  The Midland League side must have been quite confident having beaten Derby County in the previous round 6-1. Which is the record score for a non-league team over a League club by. More than forty six thousand saw Spurs win 4-0. Goals from Duquemin, Robb and Smith 2 saw us home.

If we come forward again to 1993 and the Third round. Marlow from the Diadora Premier League were drawn at home to face the might of Tottenham. Marlow came into the game with their own special place in FA Cup history having competed in the competition every year but one since it started (1). Although drawn at home Marlow asked to play the game at White Hart Lane to increase the financial benefits. More than 26 thousand turned up and saw Marlow give a good performance. They was an element of luck about the goal that gave Spurs the lead in the 19th minute. Nayim’s corner was headed back across goal by Gary Mabbutt to Nicky Barmby whose effort hit Sheringham on the way in.

Marlow Goalkeeper Gary Lester in action

Barmby got his second in a one-on-one with the goalie to make it 2-0 at half time. In the second half Samways got two and Sheringham scored. The biggest cheer that afternoon came for David Lay, Spurs fan and Marlow captain when he scored late on.

Tottenham have met Altrincham twice in the FA Cup. The first time was in 1979. Altrincham were then in the Northern Premier League and had won the FA Trophy the season before. We were drawn at home and the visitors were worth a draw in a game finishing 1-1. The Spurs goal coming the penalty spot, Peter Taylor scoring. The replay was moved  from Altrincham’s home ground to nearby Maine Road. Then home to Manchester City. A crowd of just under 28,000 saw a Colin Lee hat trick take us to a 3-0 win.

We were drawn to met them again in 1995. The question was would the game be played.  At that time we had been banned from the competition for breaching FA rules. Spurs had appealed and then Chairman Alan Sugar fought to get this overturned. The FA finally agreed to allow our name to go into the hat but made it clear that they felt this was a kindness and that the team drawn against us would receive a bye into the Fourth Round. There were most unhappy when the ban was overturned following legal advice. The game went ahead against the side now playing in the GM Vauxhall Conference and this time we won at the first time of asking 3-0. We opened the scoring in the 8th minute. Klinsmann and Rosenthal combined to set up Sheringham. Rosenthal got the second following an Anderton corner. The third was defender Stuart Nethercott's header, his only senior goal for the club.

Oh if you were looking for a Cup upset how about Manchester United losing at Third Division Bournemouth 2-0 in 1984.


Note 1. Marlow didn’t compete in 1910/11. Their entry arrived too late. Their website is well worth a visit if you want an insight into how a club has grown from the very early days of organised football in the UK to the modern day.

Thanks to - THFC,  THOS, Boston United FC,  Margate FC History,  Marlow FC,  Top Spurs,  Spurs Odyssey,  The FA,  mehstg.com, and
Bob Goodwin - The Complete History.

Spurs for the Cup

About the author:
Keith Harrison, Nilgiris, TN
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