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Danny Blanchflower: A Tribute by TheChosenOne

TheChosenOne

A dislike or neg rep = fat fingers
Dec 13, 2005
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A Tribute to Danny Blanchflower
by TheChosenOne (Kev)

Danny Blanchflower is in my opinion the most successful Spurs captain of all time.

A 60-61 League and Cup double, a 62 Cup final and the first lifting of a European trophy by a British football team in 1963. Perhaps if he hadn’t missed 22 games through injuries obtained during the Glasgow Rangers game we might have won a second title having finished 2nd, although lifting the ECWC was some consolation.

Having being born in 1926 in Northern Ireland, his life spanned across a myriad of memories. He joined the RAF in the last days of World War II after lying about his age although he didn’t see active service as he was training in Canada when the war ended. [ar] [/ar]

He came to Spurs from Aston Villa in 1954 aged 28, Spurs paying £30,000 for his services when Arsenal refused to go higher than £ 28,500. In 1958 he played for Northern Ireland in the World Cup reaching the quarter finals, and became footballer of the year in 1958 and 1961.

A very outspoken and intelligent individual who believed when he was on the pitch that he alone had the right to change tactics during the course of a game. He was a fitness fanatic, both non-smoker, teetotal and very opinionated about football and tactics.

He also refused to appear on “This is Your Life” - the first person ever to do so. His brother Jackie was a Manchester United player who just about survived the Munich air disaster.
Those were "The Glory, Glory Days" in the early sixties but alas age and injuries took their toll and by 1964 he had to officially retire from the game. He worked as a respected journalist for the Sunday Express for 20 odd years and like many other superb footballers he couldn’t quite make a step-up to successful management. Unfortunately, like many other players of that generation the financial rewards were nothing like those of the modern day footballers and he died in relative poverty in 1993 from Alzheimer's disease.

I would class Danny as a shining example of commitment to our club and the game he loved, with a will to win at all times. Here’s a quote of Danny’s, I think it sums up his philosophy of football ...

"Football is not really about winning, or goals, or saves or supporters - it’s about glory. It’s about doing things in style, doing them with a flourish; it’s about going out to beat the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom; it’s about dreaming of the glory that the Double brought.”

Cheers Danny, I will raise a glass on what would have been your 81st, thanks for what you gave us.
 

CosmicHotspur

Better a wag than a WAG
Aug 14, 2006
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There can never be enough tributes to a player of Danny's stature and I enjoyed reading yours.
 

guate

Well-Known Member
May 12, 2005
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Thanks for reminding of that classic quote, which many football managers, period, many managers would do well to remember.
In today's money oriented world, those that "do things with style, with a flourish" are a welcome relief and the most beautiful game in the world could do with a few more Danny Blanchflowers.

QUE VIVA LOS SPURS
 

ST

Shat on a turtle!
Mar 17, 2006
9,962
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Nice one Kev. I was at the lane the day (or maybe it was the day after) he died. In any case it was the first game since (against Liverpool), and the minute's silence was the most emotional I've ever experienced. There was not a dry eye in the house, and the game was a fitting tribute too, with us coming from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 in the type of match Danny would have loved to play in.

Happy 81st, Mr Blanchflower.
 

TheChosenOne

A dislike or neg rep = fat fingers
Dec 13, 2005
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The 9th Dec 1993 was a birthday of mine ! Some cheer eh ?
 

worcestersauce

"I'm no optimist I'm just a prisoner of hope
Jan 23, 2006
26,891
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Great post for a Great man


Only one thing I disagree on:

Danny Blanchflower is in my opinion the most successful Spurs captain of all time.

It's not a matter of opinion it's a fact.:grin:
 

Simian

New Member
Jul 21, 2006
236
0
Well deserved praise for a truly class player. One of the cleanest tacklers I ever saw, who read the game so well he achieved a higher than average number of interceptions in every match. One of the crucial factors in our success.
It was a privilege to watch him play.
 
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