Just got back from a stormy Rhodes and watching MOTD recording, the commentator made a very interesting remark which which resonated with me perfectly.
He was of course talking about the fact that Spurs played Everton exactly 64 years ago on the 11th October at White Hart Lane.
It was also the day my Dad took me to my first professional match and the day I fell in love with Spurs. Why? Well firstly the score was an amazing 10-4 feast of goals and football, both sides were quality and despite heavy balls, boots that had nailed on studs plus a pitch that sometimes made Hackney Marshes look like a bowling green, the quality of passing and dribbling (a forgotten art these days) was great to watch.
Every player was either English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish. Nearest thing to a Brazilian or foreign player was little Tommy Harmer, whose style was akin to Gazza, Venables and Ardiles all rolled into one, in other words a genius of a player. He was only playing because Eddie Bailey was out injured, Bailey was an England international and in those days you didn’t get a cap unless you were a quality player, plus international players were treated differently those that were uncapped. So Harmer never made the England team sadly because Bailey kept him out of that team also.
Back to the match, Bobby Smith scored 4 goals and he was another vastly underrated centre forward*** in the international arena. He played 15 times for England scoring 13 goals which is up there with the best and he was unfortunate not to have made the squad for the 1962 World Cup.
Sorry for foisting my reminiscing on you all, you can blame the commentary on our match on Saturday for that.
*** Centre Forward for those of a younger age was what Harry Kane would have been known as if the playing positions had never been changed. In my (and Sandy’s) a striker was someone who stood on a picket line🤔🤣😣
64 Years Ago This Week!
posted on 17/10/22
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 18/10/22
comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 8 hours, 53 minutes ago
Interesting thread. My dad took me to WHL to watch the great Tottenham side of 1950/51. Won the second division and then first division in successive seasons.
Never been done again since (well, maybe once).
Ted Ditchburn was in goal (best keeper Spurs have ever had).
Captain was a Welsh coal miner, Ron Burgess.
He was captain and commander of that team, from LH in the old 2-3-5 system.
Other players some of you may remember.....
Alf Ramsey (RB), Billy Nicholson, Len Duquemin (CF) and Les Medley.
Ron Burgess was just the kind of midfielder our current squad needs right now.
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Ted, my Dad played schools football with Les Bennett in the 1930s. They were both Wood Green lads.
posted on 18/10/22
comment by Conn & Duncan..Scottish Legends (U15636)
posted 7 hours, 59 minutes ago
I’ve read all about the 1950/60’s players… Blanchflower,Mackay & Greaves, in their prime,would walk into any team past or present.
I started supporting Spurs in their relegation season of 76/77… we had a few decent players back them…., & some very bad ones,..
My favourite Spurs team of all time, is the early 80’s team…
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Conn, strangely I really loved that relegation season.
posted on 18/10/22
comment by Raptor✡ (U1071)
posted 7 hours, 53 minutes ago
I had always thought you were born around the 1920s Sandy
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posted on 18/10/22
Sandy / Greaves, your view of 80s Spurs notably our Uefa cup win and Hoddle etc? My mum and family were at that final. I wasn’t even born, but have always been interested in that era as let’s be honest, it’s our recent most successful time as a club.
posted on 18/10/22
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 8 hours, 53 minutes ago
Interesting thread. My dad took me to WHL to watch the great Tottenham side of 1950/51. Won the second division and then first division in successive seasons.
Never been done again since (well, maybe once).
Ted Ditchburn was in goal (best keeper Spurs have ever had).
Captain was a Welsh coal miner, Ron Burgess.
He was captain and commander of that team, from LH in the old 2-3-5 system.
Other players some of you may remember.....
Alf Ramsey (RB), Billy Nicholson, Len Duquemin (CF) and Les Medley.
Ron Burgess was just the kind of midfielder our current squad needs right now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ted, my Dad played schools football with Les Bennett in the 1930s. They were both Wood Green lads.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy, just a little before my time!
I was born during WWII
I can remember the Blitz, V1 Doodlebugs and one V2 Rocket that dropped half mile from my house.
posted on 18/10/22
comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 28 minutes ago
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 8 hours, 53 minutes ago
Interesting thread. My dad took me to WHL to watch the great Tottenham side of 1950/51. Won the second division and then first division in successive seasons.
Never been done again since (well, maybe once).
Ted Ditchburn was in goal (best keeper Spurs have ever had).
Captain was a Welsh coal miner, Ron Burgess.
He was captain and commander of that team, from LH in the old 2-3-5 system.
Other players some of you may remember.....
Alf Ramsey (RB), Billy Nicholson, Len Duquemin (CF) and Les Medley.
Ron Burgess was just the kind of midfielder our current squad needs right now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ted, my Dad played schools football with Les Bennett in the 1930s. They were both Wood Green lads.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy, just a little before my time!
I was born during WWII
I can remember the Blitz, V1 Doodlebugs and one V2 Rocket that dropped half mile from my house.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I forgot to mention......I had a shrapnel collection that covered the big steel Morrison shelter table in our living room. Used to trade bits of shrapnel with other kids.
posted on 18/10/22
comment by Don_tottenham (U3372)
posted 2 hours, 45 minutes ago
Sandy / Greaves, your view of 80s Spurs notably our Uefa cup win and Hoddle etc? My mum and family were at that final. I wasn’t even born, but have always been interested in that era as let’s be honest, it’s our recent most successful time as a club.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I was at that final as well Don. I used to share a season ticket in the East Stand, back then with a mate. I used to stand on the Shelf in the games he had the seat. I loved those days. Maybe more so than the 1960s.
posted on 18/10/22
comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 2 hours, 26 minutes ago
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 8 hours, 53 minutes ago
Interesting thread. My dad took me to WHL to watch the great Tottenham side of 1950/51. Won the second division and then first division in successive seasons.
Never been done again since (well, maybe once).
Ted Ditchburn was in goal (best keeper Spurs have ever had).
Captain was a Welsh coal miner, Ron Burgess.
He was captain and commander of that team, from LH in the old 2-3-5 system.
Other players some of you may remember.....
Alf Ramsey (RB), Billy Nicholson, Len Duquemin (CF) and Les Medley.
Ron Burgess was just the kind of midfielder our current squad needs right now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ted, my Dad played schools football with Les Bennett in the 1930s. They were both Wood Green lads.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy, just a little before my time!
I was born during WWII
I can remember the Blitz, V1 Doodlebugs and one V2 Rocket that dropped half mile from my house.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ted, yeh I realise just before your time. But mentioned Les Bennett, because he played in the 1950s team.
Mum used to tell me about the Doddlebugs, she reckoned you could never hear them until they were almost on you.
posted on 18/10/22
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Don_tottenham (U3372)
posted 2 hours, 45 minutes ago
Sandy / Greaves, your view of 80s Spurs notably our Uefa cup win and Hoddle etc? My mum and family were at that final. I wasn’t even born, but have always been interested in that era as let’s be honest, it’s our recent most successful time as a club.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I was at that final as well Don. I used to share a season ticket in the East Stand, back then with a mate. I used to stand on the Shelf in the games he had the seat. I loved those days. Maybe more so than the 1960s.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Archibold , Ossie, Villa etc? Sounds great. When Spurs we’re actually successful