- Aug 14, 2006
- 51,069
- 22,383
Having noticed that I've now got Dave Mackay by my avatar, it's recalled some great memories. He was known as the "Iron Man" and he was one of the most determined, grittiest players ever to wear a Spurs shirt. He was not only courageous and as hard as nails on the pitch, his passing was pinpoint accurate and his considerable footballing skills were probably much under-rated.
He took over the captaincy at WHL in the mid-60's and proved he was as good a general as he was a half back. He was only 5 ft 8 ins but built like a bull with one of the most powerful boots in football. His long throw-ins taken in the opposing team's half were as good as any corner.
Who can ever forget this picture of him with Billy Bremner, which later took pride of place in his club tie shop window in Winchmore Hill?
Davie took me to the first nightclub I ever went to. It was summer, I was 17 and his wife had been despatched to Scotland to have their second son (his kids had to be born over the border so they would qualify to play for Scotland - not that either of them ever did). We were chatting at the White Hart pub on a summer afternoon and he asked me if I'd like to go with him to the Carlton Club in Arnos Grove that evening where he was meeting some friends. Would I like to go? Do bears shit in the woods?
I had a fantastic time, dancing not only with Dave but also with a Millwall player (nice guy, Des someone, can't remember his surname) and Bill Dodge who was an ex-Spur and getting chatted up left right and centre. When we moved to Whetstone in 1988 the Carlton Club was still there, just down the road, although since then it has changed hands and names several times.
I once visited Dave at home; he had a beautiful house in Bush Hill Park, Enfield.
I went to cheer him up a few times at St Ann's Hospital in Tottenham after he broke his leg in a clash with Noel Cantwell at Man U (I was there that day). He was out of action for nine months and I went to his comeback game with the reserves against Shrewsbury to give him a welcome back instead of going to the away game that week. If I remember correctly, there was a crowd of around 13,000 that day doing the same thing. We all heard the crack as he broke his leg for the second time. Awful sound! But he came back eventually, determined as ever!
I have many fond memories of Davie, he was (and probably still is) a very cool guy.
He took over the captaincy at WHL in the mid-60's and proved he was as good a general as he was a half back. He was only 5 ft 8 ins but built like a bull with one of the most powerful boots in football. His long throw-ins taken in the opposing team's half were as good as any corner.
Who can ever forget this picture of him with Billy Bremner, which later took pride of place in his club tie shop window in Winchmore Hill?
Davie took me to the first nightclub I ever went to. It was summer, I was 17 and his wife had been despatched to Scotland to have their second son (his kids had to be born over the border so they would qualify to play for Scotland - not that either of them ever did). We were chatting at the White Hart pub on a summer afternoon and he asked me if I'd like to go with him to the Carlton Club in Arnos Grove that evening where he was meeting some friends. Would I like to go? Do bears shit in the woods?
I had a fantastic time, dancing not only with Dave but also with a Millwall player (nice guy, Des someone, can't remember his surname) and Bill Dodge who was an ex-Spur and getting chatted up left right and centre. When we moved to Whetstone in 1988 the Carlton Club was still there, just down the road, although since then it has changed hands and names several times.
I once visited Dave at home; he had a beautiful house in Bush Hill Park, Enfield.
I went to cheer him up a few times at St Ann's Hospital in Tottenham after he broke his leg in a clash with Noel Cantwell at Man U (I was there that day). He was out of action for nine months and I went to his comeback game with the reserves against Shrewsbury to give him a welcome back instead of going to the away game that week. If I remember correctly, there was a crowd of around 13,000 that day doing the same thing. We all heard the crack as he broke his leg for the second time. Awful sound! But he came back eventually, determined as ever!
I have many fond memories of Davie, he was (and probably still is) a very cool guy.