The greatest Tottenham Hotspur matches

1. Tottenham 3 Sheffield United 1, FA Cup Final replay, April 27, 1901

As a non-League club playing a Sheffield United side who were champions three years earlier, Tottenham are given little chance, but, after a 2-2 draw in the first match at Crystal Palace, they win the replay at Bolton Wanderers’ ground through goals by John Cameron, Tom Smith and Sandy Brown.

2. Tottenham 2 Leicester City 0, FA Cup Final, May 6, 1961

Almost three weeks after clinching the League title, Tottenham become the 20th century’s first Double winners. Leicester lose Len Chalmers, the defender, to an early injury, in the days when no substitutes are allowed, and Bobby Smith and Terry Dyson score late on for Tottenham.

3. Tottenham 5 Atlético Madrid 1, Cup Winners’ Cup final, May 15, 1963

After winning the Double in 1961 and the FA Cup in 1962 by defeating Burnley 2-1, Tottenham continue to collect honours as they become the first British club to win a European trophy, above. There are two goals each in Rotterdam for Jimmy Greaves and Terry Dyson, plus one for John White.

4. Tottenham 3 Manchester City 2, FA Cup Final replay, May 14, 1981

Ricky Villa puts Tottenham ahead in the first FA Cup Final replay at Wembley, but Steve Mackenzie levels brilliantly after 11 minutes. City take the lead through Kevin Reeves’s penalty, but Garth Crooks and Villa, left, after a mazy run, see Tottenham home.

Comments

[andrew robb]

The 7-0 win v Sheffield Utd in the push and run era, 4-4 v Burnley in 61, jims 3 v Blackpool on his debut,
the Gornick return game in 61, (I can still hear the crowd),
the Benfica Semi, (3 goals disallowed over the 2 legs,
4-4 v the N5 mob, great memories.

[Andy Yelraf]

Why the media obsession with spurs?

The teams below have all won the top flight league more than Spurs.

Liverpool,
Manchester United,
Arsenal,
Everton,
Aston Villa,
Sunderland,
Newcastle United,
Sheffield Wednesday,
Wolverhampton Wanderers,
Leeds United,
Huddersfield Town,
Chelsea,
Blackburn Rovers.

Another example (if one were needed) of the UK media's London bias.

[frank]

curt we beat the dons in the semi
in 99

[dan hamilton]

Pablo: Four is a big number for the authour of this piece. He was usually on his way to another club after two or three seasons.

And to all correcting the '91 score, thank you. Just was so pleased with myself at getting the new spelling of Ar5ena1 correct I overlooked. It.

And Spurs really do deserve a '50' feature, but not expecting miracles from a paper that employs the head of the Ar5ena1 Ladies Auxiliary, Brian Glanville.

[Curt]

Actually we beat Arsenal 3-1 in the FA cup semi in '91. (Linekar got 2) I would also add the demolition of Chelsea in League Cup semi in 99 (5-1) as well as a momentous 2-1 home victory against a full strength Chelski a few years ago to break the longest running no-win sequence in the premiership.(Though we have not had much joy since) Finally a little remembered game in late April 1978. The penultimate game of the season saw Spurs having to at least draw away to Southampton in the old 2nd division to regain 1st division status at the first go. We drew 0-0 and I can tell you, as I stood behind a windswept goal at the Dell with thousands of Spurs fans, those final minutes took an eternity.

[pablo]

Is this right or am I not finding the URL to expand it? 4 matches covering 1901 to 1981 with a tiny paragraph on each? Yet you do 50 greatest snorefests on clubs like Chelsea? What is wrong with you johnny come lately's?

If it really is just 4 games, it's the most ill researched piece I've seen in a long time. No Uefa Cup Final 1984? How about the Benfica European Cup semi in '62? The first Wembley semi final in '91? Caning the Arsneal in '83? How about the Cup final in '87, a fantastic game with a team that played unbeleivable football and yet won nothing.

[Dan Hughed]

Sorry to be a pedant Dan (Hamilton) but the '91 semi ended 3-1 thanks to Glorious Gazza and two from Saint Gary of Linekar. Agree that it should be up there with great Spurs games though.

[dan hamilton]

I think you could add this year's Carling Cup 5-1 win over The Ar5ena1 to that list. Most Spurs fans I know say they can't recall a more enjoyable game.

And for sheer, typical-Spurs, where's-the-defibrillator? drama, last year's 4-3 win at West Ham was just wall-to-wall entertainment.

The '91 FA Cup semi-final win should also get in there. The goal by Gascoigne, in a 2-1 win over the club then known as Arsenal, is among Spurs' all-time greats.