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.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.
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.
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.
I was at that game. Was brilliant atmosphereBest was the 5-0 win over Newcastle in the 'Harry we want you to stay' game. We were riding high in the league, Harry had just won his court case, then the England job became available. The atmosphere was electric. Plus I managed to piss off a load of people in the West Stand by being drunk and falling over a lot, which was nice.