The Year of The Cockerel

It will not have escaped your notice that we are about to enter the year of the Cockerel on the Chinese calendar an event that occurs every 12 years and this year it starts on 28th January.
The common belief is that Tottenham flourish during this time, so I told a quick look back at what has happened in the previous ‘Cockerel years.’

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1885 – The fledgling club adds the word Tottenham to its title in the summer and the first game under that new guise is away to Silesia College. The October sees our first competitive game when St Alban's visit The Marshes in the London Association Cup.

1897 – We finish 4th in our first season in the Southern League with our games played at Northumberland Park. The year also sees our first cup final in the Wellingborough Charity Cup.

1909 – That spring sees the conclusion of our first season in the Football League and its promotion as we finish second in the table in the first year of the Cockerel at White Hart Lane. The club then head for their tour to Argentina and Uruguay, (1).

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1921 – Spurs win the FA Cup Final at Stamford Bridge beating Wolves thus becoming the first team in 20 years to bring the trophy to London and repeating our success of 1901 to go along side a 6th place in Division One. Peter McWilliam's side also wins the Charity Shield, (2)

1933 – After five seasons in Division Two Spurs finish runners up and it’s a return to the top flight for Percy Smith’s greyhounds, (3).

1945 –World War Two and the side under the direction of Arthur Turner win the Football League South for the second consecutive season.

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1957 – Tottenham finish runners up in the league but are the top scorers with 104 in 42 games under Jimmy Anderson before heading to North America on tour,(4).

1969 – Bill Nicholson sees his side finish 6th in the league and reach the League Cup semi-final, coincidentally the team then again visit North America.

1981 – Ricki Villa scores the goal of the century at Wembley as we win the FA Cup under the leadership of Keith Burkenshaw.  This followed by a trip to Turkey.

1993 – The first ‘Cockerel’ since the Premiership was formed and Terry Venables finishes 8th and reach a FA Cup semi –final.

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2005 – Martin Jol takes over just before the year starts and brings a 9th place finish as the team then head to South Korea where they win the Peace Cup. Below V Boca Juniors.

2017 – As the new ‘Year of the Cockerel’ begins MP and his team are well placed in the league and are still in two cup competitions.  May they give us all something to crow about.
 
Just in case you’d like to know, (I gather) the first day of the animal’s year doesn’t technically start until February 3rd and this will be the Chinese year 4714. It is also the year of Green Wood. Wishing all concerned a happy new year.

COYS
Keith Harrison.
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Notes 1 - http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-spurs-in-south-america
2 - A look at that great side in teh three part Tottenham and teh Roaring Twenties starts @ http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/ht36-tottenham-and-the-roaring-20s-part-1
3 - Percy Smiths team is discussed in -
http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-the-reign-of-percy-smith
4 - http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-the-anderson-era-part-1

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