Memory White Hart Lane 1980/1984

“MEMORY LANE”
Over the years I’ve often tried to work out what I consider to be My all time favourite Spurs game? But to be honest it’s been impossible, i guess that’s mainly down to me being only 7 when I first became interested in The Mighty Spurs, and then only 8 when I went to my first game. So rather than try to work out the impossible I’ve decided to make a list of memories instead, and maybe even try to explain “why” they’ve stayed in my mind.

“MEMORY LANE – My first Kit”
My first memories go back as far as 1980 that’s when I got my first Spurs kit, the Admiral one with the blue V neck and white collars. The shirt was made from some cheap fabric, you know the one – the itchy stuff. I also remember the shop where we got it, Henry Tilly in Cheshunt. I was a small kid for my age and i remember the shorts being far to big so my Mum decided to try and take them in at the sides, they never seemed to fit right after that? along with my first kit Mum and Dad also bought me my first ever pair of boots, no particular brand or fancy colours like today, just plain black boots with white laces.

I even got the good old traditional tin of dubbing, not to mention the importance of it lecture and demonstration. Of course it would of been a Saturday, and I remember putting the kit on as soon as we got home then running off to Goff’s playing field with a ball, on my own.

“MEMORY LANE – My first Game”
As for the actual games back then they’re either forgotten or blurred, and like I’ve said it’s been impossible to pick out any 1 game as a favourite.

I’ve mentioned on another page (Since 1981 – My Spurs) that my first ever match was against Wolves, the F.A Cup Semi Final reply in 1981.
I have various memories about that game, like it being a night game, queuing up outside but as I was small all I could see was legs, our bright shining all white kit, the Wolves fans being penned in to our right, Highbury being almost completely full of Spurs fans, Ricky Villa’s great goal, and of course a victory for us that then meant “Spurs Are On Their Way To Wembley”

SPURS Vs Wolves
F.A Cup Semi Final Replay 1981

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“MEMORY LANE – F.A Cup Final Replay May 1981”
SPURS Vs Manchester City

Everybody remembers this one, whether you’re a Spurs fan or not everyone knows this game. Not only because of the “Greatest Cup Final song ever”

or because it was the 100th Cup Final, but also because of “that” goal. I didn’t actually go to this game because tickets were like gold dust, but never the less it’s still part of my memories.

Watching the game at home was me, my Mum Dad and Sister, the 2 Downes brothers and Tony Harris. I remember Steve McKenzie scoring a belter from the edge of the box, Milija Eleksic (R.I.P) dived to his right to try and stop it but even at full stretch he couldn’t get to it. It was a cracking strike and to this day Milija’s attempt is one of my all time favourite goalkeeping dives, he very nearly slid into the post. “that’s” how to dive.

Ricky Villa had already scored before McKenzie’s wonder strike, both Kevin Reeves and Garth Crooks had also scored 1 apiece. The score was 2-2 when it happened, to this day I can still hear those words, and every single time I see “that” goal I can’t help myself, as Ricky is weaving in and out the City defence “I become John Motson” his commentary for “that” goal is legendary and is embedded in the mind of every single Spurs fan that heard it.

“Vlilliar…. AND STILL RICKY VILLIAR”

What a way to win the F.A Cup!

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“MEMORY LANE – March 1982”
SPURS Vs Southampton

This is a game that has always stayed in my mind, but for only 2 reasons.
One is because the crowd attendance that day was huge, a whopping 46,827.

And the other, is because Graham Roberts had a blinder, although I’m not completely sure I think he may have played up front that day? However what I am absolutely 100% certain about is he did in fact score a Hat-trick.
I remember it being spoken about for weeks.
We won the game 3-2.

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“MEMORY LANE – F.A Cup Final Replay May 1982”
SPURS Vs QPR

Just like the season before we reached the F.A Cup Final, and just like the season before Chas and Dave got the call for another Cup Final song, they didn’t disappoint either, coming up with “another cracker” with fantastic lyrics.

http://youtu.be/3Lp4m0N39Do

The first game also went to a replay after a 1-1 draw. We didn’t manage to get tickets for the first game but I remember queuing with my Dad on Sunday morning to get tickets for the replay. I remember the Queue stretching way back, it did a full loop around Whit Hart Lane before almost reaching Edmonton. I also remember the closer we got I was convinced they would close the turn stile and say “That’s it – All gone”
But i can still see Dad handing over the money, taking the tickets, walking through the stile and turning to me whilst holding them up to show me “we’ve got em”

Back then in those days when your team reached the F.A Cup Final it was common to decorate your house, and ours was no different. Dad would go well over the top, the outside of the house was covered in White Blue and Yellow balloons, there were flags on poles hanging from the upstairs windows, flags attached to the wooden facia boards, there was posters and Spurs shirts in the windows and a white bed sheet hanging from the roof with the squad names written on it in blue. Now it wasn’t just me and Dad going to the Match, Mum was a regular back then too and I remember she’d gone shopping and bought a new outfit for the game, a Yellow skirt, blouse, yellow shoes and yellow ribbon for her hair.

Graham Roberts went on a storming run before being brought down in the box, “Penalty”
Glenn Hoddle stepped up and in typical Glenn Hoddle style calmly banged it into the bottom corner for 1-0. I don’t really remember much of the actual match apart from what I’ve been told and since seen, but I vividly remember Robbo’s run and Glenn’s penalty, I also remember looking in the direction of the Royal Box waiting for Steve Perrymen to lift the Cup.
When he did it was a magical moment for me, the roar of the crowd, the flash bulbs from cameras going off all around Wembley lighting up the players in their yellow Le Coq Sportif kits “just beautiful”
That kit remains my “all time” favourite Spurs kit.. Ever!

Also just for those who may not know, the 1981-82 Season for us was terrific.
F.A Cup – Winners
LEAGUE Cup – Runners up (To Liverpool)
EUROPEAN Cup Winners Cup – Semi Finalist (knocked out by Barcelona)
FINISHED 4th in League (Then called Division 1)
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“MEMORY LANE – APRIL 1983”
SPURS Vs Arsenal

This was another game that I remember, but again only in parts. Although I was still very young I knew the importance of a London derby as this wasn’t my first, but this one sticks right out. I can remember it being sunny, not hot just sunny, I remember the name of their goalkeeper because my Dad used to play cards with a bloke of the same name, George Wood. I remember the fighting in the stands too, Arsenal came and wanted to take over the shelf, but instead of taking their fight to the lads that made all the noise down the other end they actually went into an area of the shelf that was generally where dads would stand with their wives and kids. It was up in the corner towards the Paxton road end.

Back then me and Dad used to stand in the Paxton behind the goal but due to the larger crowd that day we had to stand nearer the floodlight in the left hand corner, and could clearly see what was happening up on the shelf just to our left. Now not wishing to glorify violence but what actually happened that day could almost be described as fantastic, whilst the Arsenal fans attacked anyone within striking distance they hadn’t banked on loads of fellas from the other end of the shelf coming to the rescue, dozens and dozens of men could been seen running along the walkway then going up the gangway and getting stuck in. I was also told after that many more men also came into the stand from the stairs that used to be at the back, what was now clear though, and for all to see was lots of Spurs lads were now in there and fighting back, you could actually see them getting the upper hand as they pushed the Arsenal fans back into the gangway and down the stairs, Arsenal fans were actually falling down the stairs and getting clobbered by loads more fellas now grouped at the bottom. Although I was only 10 I still remember it being pretty scary, but what I’ll always remember was how I went around school telling everyone about these “Tough guys” coming to the rescue.

Arsenal didn’t just get turned over in the stands that day, they took a right beating on the pitch too, I remember Mark Falco scoring 2. 1 was a spanking volley

Chris Houghton also got 2


Mark Falco’s 2nd made it 4

And Alan Brazil slotted 1 in to complete the score

It was one of those games that everybody played their part, and played it well. We won that game by 5 goals to Nil, that’s right 5-0 and it’s a game ill always remember.

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“MEMORY LANE – U.E.F.A CUP 2nd ROUND 1st Leg – OCTOBER 1983”
SPURS Vs Feyenoord

For the younger Spurs fans out there you might not actually be aware of this but the Champions League hasn’t always been around, we’ll not in it’s current form anyway, up until 1992 it was commonly known as the European Cup and “only” the title “winners” from each league qualified, “Not” 2 3 or even 4 teams from the various leagues like today, So the U.E.F.A Cup (now called the Europa League) was in fact “Massive” “Huge” pre the current Champions League.

European nights at White Hart Lane have always been special, anyone who knows the Clubs history can tell you that. Although this game was early in the competition at only the 2nd round I still knew this was a big one. I was already aware that Feyenoord were a big team and one of the favourites to win the Cup. Feyenoord were a real quality side, although getting older they had in their side that night a “True” footballing genius, i knew who he was, id seen him on T.V and i remember feeling nervous as we were about to come up against one the worlds best ever players, the mighty Johann Cruyff. They also had another fella in their side that night and although i didn’t know it at the time he too would go on to be one of the worlds better players, a young Ruud Gullit.

I was also aware that this game had added tensions too. England had a huge hooligan culture throughout the 70’s and 80’s and when we played Feyenoord in Holland in the early 70’s in the same competition Spurs fans went on the rampage at half time, ripping out seats and fighting with the home fans, it was big big news back then and in the build up to this game the media were dragging it all up again. I remember the atmosphere in and around the ground that night as tense, although hard to describe it had the same feeling about it like there would be when we’d play Arsenal and West Ham, like something simmering under the surface waiting to blow at any moment.

I remember Steve Archibald scoring very early on, i also remember that we took a big lead before half time, in fact we went in at the break 4-0 up. I don’t really recall much more about the actual game however I do remember that Feyenoord fans filled the whole 1st section in the Park Lane terrace, and had a plenty fans in the above seats too, were making plenty of noise and that I was amazed that so many fans had come from another country, and because of that I spent most of the night looking in their direction.

The game finished 4-2, and although the game passed “without” trouble the same couldn’t be said about the return Leg.
We won that game 2-0 and progressed into the 3rd round.
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“MEMORY LANE – U.E.F.A CUP 3rd ROUND 2nd Leg DECEMBER 1983”
SPURS Vs Bayern Munich

The last round against Feyenoord was big, but this one was “Massive” and everyone knew it including me. We’d already been knocked out by Bayern the previous season, drawing 1-1 at home and losing 4-1 away, we was also 1 down from the 1st Leg this time too, Bayern “was” “are” and probably always will be 1 of the biggest teams in world football so as I said this game was “massive”.

Just as Feyenoord had with Cruyff Bayern also had a Super star, yet another truly world class player in Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, I was also aware of him, not only because of the Previous season but because he was West Germany’s top man and I’d seen him play in the Spain 82 World Cup where Germany reached the Final. However there wasn’t only 1 Rummenigge we had to deal with, there was 2, he had a brother, although he wasn’t as good he was still tasty, after all he played for Bayern so he must of been.

Again I only remember bits and bobs but I do remember the atmosphere in the ground being right up with the loudest I’d heard, the place was packed, another big crowd of 42,000. I remember the Munich kit being plain red, red socks shorts and red shirts, all mainly long sleeves. I also remember Steve Archibald scoring to make it 1-0, and right near the end Mark Falco got us a second.

We won the game 2-0, to turn it around and win 2-1 on aggregate. It was a “Fantastic win” one of our all time European “Glory Nights”

I walked into school the following morning and almost everyone came rushing to me? I didn’t know it at the time but I’d been caught on T.V celebrating at the end, I think it must have been “Mid-Week Sport Special” all my mates excitedly telling me how they’d seen me on Telly.

I can’t find any footage that shows any of the crowd at the final whistle except this clip with a German commentator.
I’m right at the end of the footage, at 7Mins 33!

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“MEMORY LANE – U.E.F.A CUP 4th ROUND 1st Leg MARCH 1984”
SPURS Vs FK Austria Memphis (Vienna)

A little cheat here, although I went to this game I remember absolutely “Nothing” about it? But I’ve put it in because it was 1 of the games we played on the way to our U.E.F.A CUP WIN!
We won the home Leg 2-0, and drew the away Leg 2-2 progressing into the Semi Final to face Hajduk Split.

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“MEMORY LANE – U.E.F.A CUP SEMI FINAL 2nd Leg APRIL 1984”
SPURS Vs Hajduk Split

Like the other games in my early years I remember only bits and bobs about this one too, However the memories I do have “don’t” actually involve any of the match. I remember the sun was again out on the way to the game, I remember getting to our usual turnstile and to our horror they’d put the price up? I don’t remember by how much and it couldn’t have been much yet Dad didn’t have enough cash on him, and I’m pretty sure this was Pre bank card days, so we had to run back to the car shoot off back home to Cheshunt get some more money and drive back to White Hart Lane, I remember Dads blue Ford Cortina powering back down the A10, Amazingly we got back parked up run to the ground paid our money but now we had to stand on the shelf at almost the halfway line as very few turnstiles were still letting people in because it was another big White Hart Lane crowd, in fact I remember it was our fans in the entire Park Lane end too. All that rushing back and forth yet we still found spot with a few minutes to spare before the kick off.

I also remember the Split kit like it was yesterday, Blue socks Blue shorts and their shirts were red and blue stripe. Like I said I don’t really remember much about the actual game, apart from the fact we’d won again and we was now in the “Final of the U.E.F.A CUP”

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“MEMORY LANE – U.E.F.A CUP FINAL 2nd Leg MAY 1984”
SPURS Vs Anderlecht

I’ll never forget this one, and the memories I have are almost soured, because by pure chance the Final and the 2nd Leg at White Hart Lane was to be played the “same” week I was on holiday in Tenby – Wales, with the school. I mean c’mon what are the chances of that? Yet because of the enormity of this game I do have memories of it even though I wasn’t there my self.

I remember I was bunked in a room with my then mate Nicky Rogerson (although he supported arsenal he also just loved football) he used to play for my Dads team Rosedale Tigers, on the wing. Anyway we’d all been sent off to our rooms for the night. The door opened and in came our games teacher Mr Bell. I remember he used to shout a lot but in the main he was ok and he liked me, after all I was his super star goalkeeper. He walked across the room and stood in front of me, I was in the top bunk, I remember him saying “boys if you promise to stay quiet – sit still – and not talk to any of the teachers they’ve agreed to let you sit in the teachers lounge and watch the game” well you don’t have to be Sherlock to know what I said, but before I could climb down the little ladder he then said “Oh 1 more thing – Do “not” tell any of the kids about this”. We followed him to the teachers lounge and it just like a scene from Grange Hill, teachers were sitting around, drinking coffee and smoking. We sat on the carpet in front of the telly and someone brought us a cup of hot chocolate each and a packet of chocolate buttons to share. I can still see Nicky’s smiling face looking at me.

U.E.F.A CUP FINAL – THE BUILD UP

U.E.F.A CUP FINAL – HALF TIME

I don’t so much remember Graham Roberts scoring, But I remember the T.V cameras panning around to show the crowd going wild when he did. I also have vague memories of the penalty shoot out too, but of course we “all” remember Tony Parks diving to his right and pushing the ball wide, then jumping up and running off fists clenched after making the winning save. I also remember Steve Perryman on the pitch at the end, holding up the Cup to the crowd.

I got off the coach outside school and Dad was there waiting for me, he was wearing a new dark blue shiny Spurs bomber jacket he’d bought for the game.
As we walked home I remember him saying there was a surprise at home?
We walked in and he pointed at our brand new front loading Ferguson Video recorder with a digital style counter, and in our fancy new machine was a recording.

And yes, we “did” sit and watch it again!

After all we were now the U.E.F.A CUP WINNERS 1983-84

Post match interviews and rare footage.

There’s another memory I have from that game, that night, and it was that Keith Burkinshaw would be leavening his position as manager of Tottenham, Win Lose or draw he’d decided it was to be his last game in charge.
In those early years of me being Spurs fan he’d won us the F.A Cup twice, got us to the Final of the League Cup and had now won us the U.E.F.A Cup, 4 Finals in 4 years.
Now that’s not too bad, is it!

Thanks Keith
Thanks for My Memories.