Tottenham Christmas IV - Rise of the Lilywhites

Down The Lane the snow is glistening, which just proves it must be The Talking Tottenham Christmas special. So a warm welcome to this seasons blockbuster -
‘A Tottenham Christmas IV - The Rise of the Lilywhites.’

It’s the usual mix of stories, sillies and some various seasonal images, some I hope will be new to you, from the winter wonderland of Hotspur.

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Being the fourth (and that’s just a little frightening) special I’ve mixed in tales from other clubs as well as from Spurs but I think your find it an amusing diversion away the serious business for a few moments. We start with this tale of footballers being silly.

Left - Its 1988.

Sixty years ago we played our last Home game on the 25th, that 6-0 bashing of Everton. The following day the return was at Everton a 1-1 draw. Terry Dyson (his first game of the season)  remembers the trip home. ‘We held a palace of varieties’ on the southbound train. Danny Blanchflower took over as chairman and called for a song from each of us when my turn came I gave a rendering of ‘Cold Water’ to my surprise I was urged to give an extra chorus. And then another, then I discovered why. The boys were keeping me at it while Danny slipped into the dinning car kitchen for a jug of cold water. I was still in full song when he returned and poured it over me The joke was certainly on me I’ll never sing that song again without first looking round."

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Some more Christmas presents for players and in the Double season at the club party these include, Bobby Smith and a model petrol station. He had a habit its said of borrowing peoples cars and forgetting to fill the tank when returning them.  The chairman was given a copy of 'Lady Chatterely's lover,' a book that had been banned until recently. While Terry Dyson then a bachelor also received a book, 'Little Women.'

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Above Cliff Jones and John White in festive mood.

It might not be Tottenham related, but a great story from this time of year. Christmas Day 1940 and Brighton had a game at Norwich. Unable to field a full team they set off with only five players. They stopped on route to recruit players and finally from the crowd at the ground.
They went on to lose 18-0.
 

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On the way back the reporter from the Brighton paper plucked up the courage to ask the players for their thoughts only to be told it was an even game. The reporter looked surprised and was told, yes they scored 9 in each half.

Right - Waddle and Gascoigne.
 

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The programme for 1929 shows Chirpy wondering if Southampton would bring him any presents - well yes they did as Spurs won 3-2.

This one from just last year in case you missed it, Benjamin Williams, the referee before the Sydney V Central Coast game in their ‘A  League' decided to be a little festive for their Boxing Day meeting and instead of tossing a coin he made the two captains pull a cracker.

Below Christian Eriksen on hospital duty last December.

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Hospital visiting has become a tradition over the years this is what Jermaine Defoe said: "This means the world to us. We are in a position where we can give something back and make the kids happy. It’s Christmas as well – we can give them presents which is always nice and it’s great for the kids. We make them happy, so we’re happy."

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Above - A Bill Nicholson signed card from 1950

Tottenham 2009 and the players went on mass to Dublin for a night out. The problem was they did not tell manager Harry Redknapp who when asked by the press said he was not planning a party that year. Then as Jermaine Jenas said ‘We knew he would say no, so we did not ask him and just went anyway on our day off. To avoid being spotted at an airport we booked a private jet and hired private cars to take us straight on to the runway, where the plane was waiting for us. We landed and were driven straight to a pub.

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We thought we were like secret agents but, looking back, I don't know how we thought we would get away with it. I mean, who is not going to notice the entire Tottenham team out together in Dublin?’    Harry was not happy.

Left The Clubs 1938 Card.

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Danny Blanchflower & Freddie Sharpe 1960

Being a footballer over the holiday isn’t always fun and traveling for the games over Christmas has always been a problem. Stoke in 1915 left home at 8.15pm on Christmas Eve and arrived in Euston at 03.20.
They went to their hotel had supper at 5.30 in the morning and into bed at 6am. They arose again two hours later traveled to their game with Brentford for the 11am kick off,  and managed a 2-2 draw.

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Yes talking of traditions every year we mention 1911 and beating Woolwich 5-0 at the Lane. Happy now. (Do watch out for a extra present tomorrow!)

Being the time of good will to all men here's one about our neighbours. Until they bought the land in 1925 Arsenal couldn’t play at home on Christmas Day. The land Highbury was built on was owned by St John's College of Divinity, and the terms of the lease prohibited them from playing matches on religious holidays.

Left - The Arsenal prog 1978.

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Above the club greeting from 1952 - When we beat Middlesbourgh 7-1

1951 and Ted Ditchburn seems to be winning the balloon balancing competition.
At another Christmas party Cliff Jones was presented with an alarm clock, he himself will admit one of his faults is unpunctuality.

It was Christmas Eve in 1904 and with Spurs winning 2-1 at Southampton in a Western League game heavy rain brings the game to a halt.

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We don't normally include newsy stuff but rumour has just reached us that MP is thinking giving a debut to a new player over the holidays.

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Or if you prefer Charlton, their keeper Sam Bartam tells the story of Christmas Day 1937, which was foggy. They were playing at Chelsea  during the second half the fog became so bad the ref called the game off.  Sam thinking his side were attacking stood on his line and it was only when a policeman found him after everyone else had gone off that he returned to the dressing room to find the rest of the team had already had a bath and were dressed. Well they thought it was funny.

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One hundred years ago and the 25th saw Spurs win 5-1 away in the London Combination at Brentford.
 
If you have any seasonal relating tales or memories, especially Spurs related then do drop me a note.

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A big thank you to everyone who sends in lots of pics and stuff and their thoughts during the year and all the twits and sharers who help spread the word. Massive Ta! If your celebrating this weekend have a super time. And to all of you out there in Tottenhamland have a super, peaceful, points filled, trophy laden, New Year.

COYS
Keith Harrison.
t- Keith 16024542
f- https://www.facebook.com/keith.harrison.9659
You can my full archive at -  View Full Bio 

Don't forget you see the other Christmas specials @
http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/a-very-tottenham-christmas
http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/a-tottenham-christmas-ii-the-elves-strike-back
http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/a-tottenham-christmas-iii-the-lilywhite-awakens