Best and worst times at WHL
- Thread starter dagraham
- Start date
phil
Well-Known Member
- Oct 25, 2004
- 2,038
- 1,239
So many memories. At the age of four, I was taken to see the Push and Run team in 1951 by my Gooner father. From that point, I became a Spurs supporter. Until I was at secondary school, I had few chances to visit the Lane as my dad would drag me off to Highbury every other week.
From the age of eleven (in 1958), I have been a regular attendee at the Lane apart from a couple of years when I lived abroad. I was there for Bill Nicholson's first match in charge in 1958, the unlikely 10-4 victory over Everton. I saw most of our home games in the double-winning season although the match that sticks in my mind most was the last home game of the season. We had already equalled the First Division points record (66 points) and finished the season with a home game against West Brom. Such an anti-climax as we lost 3-1 with Clive Clark tearing our defence apart.
I was there for Jimmy Greaves home debut the following season against Blackpool. Jimmy scored a hat-trick in the 5-2 victory including one of his trademark scissor kicks. Unbelievable goal-scorer. The best atmosphere at the Lane must have been for the second leg European Cup match against Gornik. We were 4-2 down from the first leg (in fact we had trailed 4-0 until late goals from Mackay and IIRC Dyson). The second leg was amazing; roared on by the 66,000 crowd we were 3-0 up inside 20 minutes, let 5-1 at half time and ran out 8-1 winners. It was a very special atmosphere that I don't believe has ever been equalled. Then there was the bitter disappointment of the semi-final against Benfica. We won 2-1 but lost 4-3 on aggregate. We were desperately unlucky that day.
The saddest day at the Lane was the memorial game for the great Johnny White. We lost the game 6-2, but it was a privilege to watch Gentleman Jim Baxter at his height.
I remember Pat Jennings home debut against Sheffield United. After about 10 minutes a cross came in from the right and nerveless Pat just plucked it out of the air one-handed. The greatest keeper of all time? I can't think of any better.
I remember the last game of the season in 1975. We had to beat Champions Leeds United to avoid relegation. Inspired by Alfie Conn we triumphed 4-2.
For those of us who attended, who will forget the 13-2 demolition of Crewe in the FA Cup replay (we'd drawn 2-2 in Crewe); the 9-2 victory over Forest; the 7-2 win over Liverpool; the 6-2 win over United when we also hit the woodwork 6 times; and more recently Defoe's 5 goals in the 9-1 win over Wigan.
Most amusing incidents were probably Alfie Conn sitting on the ball in the afore-mentioned win over Leeds, Tommy Harmer faking to take a penalty against Bert Trautman, and an evening game against United. It was very foggy and the conditions were getting worse. We could barely see the near touchline. Suddenly a United player appeared out of the mist (I think it was Albert Quixall), came over to the crowd and told us United were winning 2-0. In fact the game was called off before it started.
Please forgive an old man reminiscing about things that happened before most of you were born.
I may shed a tear on Sunday.
From the age of eleven (in 1958), I have been a regular attendee at the Lane apart from a couple of years when I lived abroad. I was there for Bill Nicholson's first match in charge in 1958, the unlikely 10-4 victory over Everton. I saw most of our home games in the double-winning season although the match that sticks in my mind most was the last home game of the season. We had already equalled the First Division points record (66 points) and finished the season with a home game against West Brom. Such an anti-climax as we lost 3-1 with Clive Clark tearing our defence apart.
I was there for Jimmy Greaves home debut the following season against Blackpool. Jimmy scored a hat-trick in the 5-2 victory including one of his trademark scissor kicks. Unbelievable goal-scorer. The best atmosphere at the Lane must have been for the second leg European Cup match against Gornik. We were 4-2 down from the first leg (in fact we had trailed 4-0 until late goals from Mackay and IIRC Dyson). The second leg was amazing; roared on by the 66,000 crowd we were 3-0 up inside 20 minutes, let 5-1 at half time and ran out 8-1 winners. It was a very special atmosphere that I don't believe has ever been equalled. Then there was the bitter disappointment of the semi-final against Benfica. We won 2-1 but lost 4-3 on aggregate. We were desperately unlucky that day.
The saddest day at the Lane was the memorial game for the great Johnny White. We lost the game 6-2, but it was a privilege to watch Gentleman Jim Baxter at his height.
I remember Pat Jennings home debut against Sheffield United. After about 10 minutes a cross came in from the right and nerveless Pat just plucked it out of the air one-handed. The greatest keeper of all time? I can't think of any better.
I remember the last game of the season in 1975. We had to beat Champions Leeds United to avoid relegation. Inspired by Alfie Conn we triumphed 4-2.
For those of us who attended, who will forget the 13-2 demolition of Crewe in the FA Cup replay (we'd drawn 2-2 in Crewe); the 9-2 victory over Forest; the 7-2 win over Liverpool; the 6-2 win over United when we also hit the woodwork 6 times; and more recently Defoe's 5 goals in the 9-1 win over Wigan.
Most amusing incidents were probably Alfie Conn sitting on the ball in the afore-mentioned win over Leeds, Tommy Harmer faking to take a penalty against Bert Trautman, and an evening game against United. It was very foggy and the conditions were getting worse. We could barely see the near touchline. Suddenly a United player appeared out of the mist (I think it was Albert Quixall), came over to the crowd and told us United were winning 2-0. In fact the game was called off before it started.
Please forgive an old man reminiscing about things that happened before most of you were born.
I may shed a tear on Sunday.
WorcesterTHFC
Well-Known Member
- May 4, 2016
- 1,783
- 2,553
Great post, and I envy you for having seen some great teams and individuals. One mistake - our goalscorers in the 2-4 loss to Gornik were Jones and Dyson. Just checked the 1962/63 club handbook and the Complete Record book. Mind you, I'd need the club's handbook to check details of games played a lot more recently, so I'm not having a dig.
Buggsy61
Washed Up Member
- Aug 31, 2012
- 5,645
- 9,060
First game was vs Leicester City on a freezing cold Saturday in February 1981 taken there by my old man who is a United fan!. We lost 2-1 but Steve Archibald scored and got to see the mesmeric dribbling of Ardiles and Tony Galvin with socks down to his ankles cutting in from the left - I was hooked.
Best days
I loved the shelf in the mid to late 80's - used to stand in the section next to the Park Lane end which was not for the faint hearted - " I'm only a poor little yiddo, I stand at the back of the shelf......
Every now and then someone starts to sing that, or shout "peanuts!" and it brings it all back.
Woolwich and Chelsea 5-1 semis loom large as great nights as well as Milan in CL
Worst days
6-1 spanking at home to Chelsea
4-0 loss at home to a pretty average Blackburn team on last day of season in 2002. This was the day of the infamous season ticket chucking onto the pitch, but the team were dire that day - even players like Stephen Carr looked like they did not give a f**k anymore. It was the beginning of the end for Hoddle unfortunately.
3-5 loss at home to Man Utd after being 3-0 up at half time. I was crowing on text to my friends at half time and looked like the hoses arse afterwards. Learnt to never celebrate too early where Spurs are concerned!.
Best days
I loved the shelf in the mid to late 80's - used to stand in the section next to the Park Lane end which was not for the faint hearted - " I'm only a poor little yiddo, I stand at the back of the shelf......
Every now and then someone starts to sing that, or shout "peanuts!" and it brings it all back.
Woolwich and Chelsea 5-1 semis loom large as great nights as well as Milan in CL
Worst days
6-1 spanking at home to Chelsea
4-0 loss at home to a pretty average Blackburn team on last day of season in 2002. This was the day of the infamous season ticket chucking onto the pitch, but the team were dire that day - even players like Stephen Carr looked like they did not give a f**k anymore. It was the beginning of the end for Hoddle unfortunately.
3-5 loss at home to Man Utd after being 3-0 up at half time. I was crowing on text to my friends at half time and looked like the hoses arse afterwards. Learnt to never celebrate too early where Spurs are concerned!.
Ionman34
SC Supporter
- Jun 1, 2011
- 7,182
- 16,793
Reminisce away my friend. Those stories and more were my bed time stories as a kid and I've never stopped loving hearing them.
Strangely enough, the one match that really sticks out in my memory was our tie against Barcelona in the Cup Winners Cup in '82.
Pissing down with rain, electric atmosphere, Clemence lets one through his hands to give them the lead. If anything it galvanised the fans into even more noise because the dirty bastards were trying to kick us off the pitch. Then we equalised and the entire ground went mental, I can't even remember who scored, but I remember completely losing the plot, screaming myself hoarse and losing about 10 quid as all the money went flying out of my pockets with me jumping around like a lunatic.
My worst memory is also my earliest, losing to Sunderland in '77 to get relegated. I was taken to the NLD in '75 as my first game but don't remember it too well, I was only 6, but '77 stuck because I was absolutely inconsolable on the way home.
Lots of good memories from the '80's, the '90's was all about making our own fun in the stands, though I almost started a huge tear up in the East stand once! 3-0 up against Watford and the back rows were chanting Graham out. I lost my temper and shouted "who let the gooners in here?"
One of the funnier ones looking back, though it was pretty scary at the time, was a NLD when I was a kid in the Paxton. About 500 goons got in and kicked off. They were all around the floodlight stantion and a gap of about 5' opened up (this was the scary part as the place was standing and packed, so we were getting crushed up against the concrete). We climbed up onto the concrete to escape the crush and were watching as it went off. What the goons didn't know was the Shelf got wind of it and were in the Paxton waiting for them. It was like watching a tidal wave roll over them, they got battered!
That was all we won though, if I remember correctly we lost 1-0 to a Charlie Nicholas goal. The useless sweaty only ever scored against us!
To this day though, I've ALWAYS had a tingle whenever I've walked into that stadium, it felt like home. Win, lose or draw, the PLACE was/is special, just for the way I felt when I set foot in it, you could feel the history, the passion and the love you always feel for a place that you just felt right in.
Spurs will always be the first love of my life and that place embodied it. As much as I love the new stadium, or what I am seeing it will become, I will always feel a bit of my heart broken because the home I spent so many years in will be gone.
WalkerboyUK
Well-Known Member
- Jun 8, 2009
- 21,658
- 23,476
I have no idea how many times I have been to the Lane.
I know it's not a lot compared to most, but it's more than many fans will get the opportunity to do.
My first game was on 5 May 1990, a 2-1 win over a Southampton side that had a teenage Shearer sat on the bench!
My last game was WBA last season.
In between so many memories... Feyenoord in the Cup Winners Cup semi, United just after we sold the Teddy, 2 Carr wonder goals against United and Sunderland, woefully dull 0-0 against Arsenal, and many more.
One standout for me though was having the opportunity to play on the pitch back in 2001 as part of the Football Aid charity event.
I played up front and barely got a kick - an aging Mabbutt completely marked me out of the game. Didn't help that I had played 90 mins for my local team the night before either!!
Like I said, I wasn't a regular by any means, but I will always have memories!
I know it's not a lot compared to most, but it's more than many fans will get the opportunity to do.
My first game was on 5 May 1990, a 2-1 win over a Southampton side that had a teenage Shearer sat on the bench!
My last game was WBA last season.
In between so many memories... Feyenoord in the Cup Winners Cup semi, United just after we sold the Teddy, 2 Carr wonder goals against United and Sunderland, woefully dull 0-0 against Arsenal, and many more.
One standout for me though was having the opportunity to play on the pitch back in 2001 as part of the Football Aid charity event.
I played up front and barely got a kick - an aging Mabbutt completely marked me out of the game. Didn't help that I had played 90 mins for my local team the night before either!!
Like I said, I wasn't a regular by any means, but I will always have memories!
slartibartfast
Grunge baby forever
- Oct 21, 2012
- 18,320
- 33,955
Although I started following spurs in 81 when I was 10 (still got my completed Panini sticker album) I lost interest in football for long while. I was into bmx until about 16 then heavy grunge weirdness, booze and hair pie.
Got back into football around 2000 and went to lane for first time in 2003. Living in Norfolk its not a go on a whim thing. Spurs v Everton. 7 goals and my fav Keane scored his first hattrick for us.
Then won ticket on TS for Spurs v Wolves.
Following season a local club started so could go on mini bus regularly.
Unfortunately that folded following season but I kept going anyway.
Then my dad said he'd like to come when Redknapp was appointed.
9.1 against Wigan was my dads first return to whl in about 30years lol.
All highlights for me plus beating Chelsea for 2.1 for first time in ages, lane was literally bouncing that night, getting CL football first time and taking my daughter and son to their first match.
Also took son on mini tour recently and have some great photos and memories of that.
Low points are few for me. Even when we were mid table we always gave 100% and were exciting.
I couldn't stand AVBs tenure because we were boring and didn't try to win. Didn't look forward to watching us at all. This seasons cl performances were similar but wasnt at whl so not relevant.
For me today is more about the pride and history of the club as well as personal memories.
Huge day.
COYS
Got back into football around 2000 and went to lane for first time in 2003. Living in Norfolk its not a go on a whim thing. Spurs v Everton. 7 goals and my fav Keane scored his first hattrick for us.
Then won ticket on TS for Spurs v Wolves.
Following season a local club started so could go on mini bus regularly.
Unfortunately that folded following season but I kept going anyway.
Then my dad said he'd like to come when Redknapp was appointed.
9.1 against Wigan was my dads first return to whl in about 30years lol.
All highlights for me plus beating Chelsea for 2.1 for first time in ages, lane was literally bouncing that night, getting CL football first time and taking my daughter and son to their first match.
Also took son on mini tour recently and have some great photos and memories of that.
Low points are few for me. Even when we were mid table we always gave 100% and were exciting.
I couldn't stand AVBs tenure because we were boring and didn't try to win. Didn't look forward to watching us at all. This seasons cl performances were similar but wasnt at whl so not relevant.
For me today is more about the pride and history of the club as well as personal memories.
Huge day.
COYS
Last edited:
bk75
Well-Known Member
- Jul 13, 2008
- 350
- 924
Best wins for me would be. My first NLD win v Arsenal in 89. Vinny Samways and Paul Walsh scored and we won 2-1. Jurgen's scissor kick on his debut v Everton in '94 amazing goal that was!. The two 5-1 wins against Chelsea and Arsenal. The 9-1 win against Wigan and last but not least my favourite the 3-1 Champions league win over Inter. Never heard atmosphere like it.
The lows? well quite a few, one that sticks out for me was a 4-1 defeat v Chelsea in 89 my first real experience of a thrashing. Others would be the 1-6 again by Chelsea.
3 -5 against United in 2001 I will still say though that was one of the best football matches I have ever seen live. Both teams played their top level in each half. 3 -4 against City in 2004. And Arsenals title win also in 2004.
Despite all this I'm looking forward to the future with the best team with had in my lifetime. In which we will be going forward to a new stadium that promises so much more. I will be there today and I can't wait. COYS
The lows? well quite a few, one that sticks out for me was a 4-1 defeat v Chelsea in 89 my first real experience of a thrashing. Others would be the 1-6 again by Chelsea.
3 -5 against United in 2001 I will still say though that was one of the best football matches I have ever seen live. Both teams played their top level in each half. 3 -4 against City in 2004. And Arsenals title win also in 2004.
Despite all this I'm looking forward to the future with the best team with had in my lifetime. In which we will be going forward to a new stadium that promises so much more. I will be there today and I can't wait. COYS
Coyboy
The Double of 1961 is still The Double
- Dec 3, 2004
- 15,506
- 5,032
Thanks that was a great read!
slartibartfast
Grunge baby forever
- Oct 21, 2012
- 18,320
- 33,955
I was at that game. Was brilliant atmosphere
Worst game, my birthay against Newcastle.
Car broken so paid for hire car.
Fanny Martins scores hattrick right in front of me. We lose 3.1.
Parking ticket on hire car. Paid it.
Weeks later get letter from hire car company about another unpaid ticket (fkers did me twice in same spot. Contested it but got nowhere) which had gone late so full whack (£80 I think) plus £30 admin charge as they'd paid it and had taken money on my credit card.
Total cost of watching us lose 1.3 on my bday, about £270.
Fkin pleasure
Coyboy
The Double of 1961 is still The Double
- Dec 3, 2004
- 15,506
- 5,032
I did an estimate today that today will probably be around my 300th game.
I first went in the early 90s to an increasing number of games per season, had season tickets between 1998-2002, 2008-2014 and went between 1-15 games per season depending on where I was living and how much I was earning.
My first game was in 1991/92. We lost 2-5 to Villa. I think we were 2-0 up, a curiously Spursy trend of throwing away leads.
I would echo lots of the best and worst moments above, other than some which I missed- Arsenal 2-1 (Kane double), Chelsea 2-1 (Lennon winner), (Alli double) and Chelsea 5-3.
Worst I'd add 2-1 to West Ham in the league cup, Sherwood's first game.
The most bizarre was Muamba as I had no idea what was going on and had lost my phone the night before. I just remember being sat towards the Paxton in East stand and hearing a collective gasp when it may have appeared he was dying, a guy I used to sit next to me saying he'd died and as the players left the field the stadium announcer sombrely asking everyone to go home. I then overheard a car radio walking up the high road that he'd been taken to hospital and thankfully he recovered.
The fact that we are staying in the area makes this day a little less melancholy but the underlying feeling I get towards WHL is one of home and the fact it will soon be no more is pretty hard to take.
I first went in the early 90s to an increasing number of games per season, had season tickets between 1998-2002, 2008-2014 and went between 1-15 games per season depending on where I was living and how much I was earning.
My first game was in 1991/92. We lost 2-5 to Villa. I think we were 2-0 up, a curiously Spursy trend of throwing away leads.
I would echo lots of the best and worst moments above, other than some which I missed- Arsenal 2-1 (Kane double), Chelsea 2-1 (Lennon winner), (Alli double) and Chelsea 5-3.
Worst I'd add 2-1 to West Ham in the league cup, Sherwood's first game.
The most bizarre was Muamba as I had no idea what was going on and had lost my phone the night before. I just remember being sat towards the Paxton in East stand and hearing a collective gasp when it may have appeared he was dying, a guy I used to sit next to me saying he'd died and as the players left the field the stadium announcer sombrely asking everyone to go home. I then overheard a car radio walking up the high road that he'd been taken to hospital and thankfully he recovered.
The fact that we are staying in the area makes this day a little less melancholy but the underlying feeling I get towards WHL is one of home and the fact it will soon be no more is pretty hard to take.
