Footballers' Birthdays

[CosmicHotspur]

Tottenham legend and ambassador for healthy living for those with diabetes, Gary Mabbutt MBE, is 48 today. Our former defender and captain was with us for 16 years, our longest-serving player, from 1982 to 1998, and put in 482 appearances. He was capped 16 times for England as well as honours at B and Under-21 levels.

He owns a sports management company and sits on various football-related panels and committees and maintains his links with Tottenham.




I remember our red-headed former forward Frank Saul well and I was pleased when he made the grade from the reserves to the first team as part of our 17 man Double-winning squad. A talented forward with a lot of energy and input, Frank scored in our 1967 Cup Final against Chelsea.

66 today, he was born in Canvey Island where he still lives and now works as a builder, he joined Tottenham in 1960 and was with us until 1968, making 116 appearances before he moved to Southampton in a swap for Martin Chivers . Frank joined QPR in 1970 and went on to play for Millwall in 1972 before retiring from the game.

He's on the far left in this photo, with Billy Nick, Joe Kinnear, Terry Venables and Pat Jennings.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Dugald "Doug" Mcfarlane was born today in Barrow-in-Furness in 1880. He first played for the local Barrow side before transferring to Burnley where he played from 1903-1907, a versatile footballer who could play equally well as an inside forward, at outside left and also as a half back.

He joined Spurs for a season in 1908, the year we were elected to the Football League, making 21 first team appearances as well as 23 appearances for our South Eastern League reserve side, finding the back of the net on a regular basis. He returned to Barrow to end his playing career and died there, aged 84, on 22 April 1965.

*****​

Henry "Thomas" Bradshaw was born today in 1873. He played for Liverpool and Northwich Victoria before joining Tottenham, at the old Northumberland Park ground, in 1898 and was with us for one brief season, playing at outside left and centre forward before moving on to Thames Ironworks (who later became West Ham).

An injury led to his health deteriorating and although he continued to play, being rested for a few games, it was a dreadful shock when he died from TB (then known as consumption) on Christmas Day 1899, aged only 26.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Joe Hulme was born today in 1904 and was Spurs manager from 1945-49 after working as a policeman during World War II and, although the team had little success during his reign, he did lay the foundations for the famous 1950-51 side.

During his playing career, he was a pacy right winger with York City, Blackburn, Arsenal (part of their very successful 1930s team) and Huddersfield Town. He was also a talented cricketer, playing in 225 games for Middlesex.

He went on to have a successful career in journalism and died in Winchmore Hill, aged 87, on 27 September 1999.




Inside forward/winger Jimmy Scarth was born today in 1926 in North Shields. He joined Spurs in 1948 but played in only seven games for us before departing for Gillingham in 1952, where he held the record for the fastest hat trick ever scored in the Football League for half a century. He also played for Gravesend & Northfleet before retiring from the game. His son Bobby was briefly at Tottenham as an apprentice but didn't make the grade. (He went on to coach deaf and hard of hearing footballers).

One of Jimmy's games was as part of our title-winning 1950-51 side. He died in Welwyn Garden City on 12 December 2000, aged 74.

He's the third player from the left in the front row.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Whether you're for him or against him staying at the Lane, I hope David Bentley enjoys his 25th birthday today.




A mention and happy birthday wishes for a truly great centre forward and football legend. Nat Lofthouse OBE is 84 today.

Born and raised in Bolton, he played for the club from 1946 to 1960, with 452 appearances and 288 goals and he remained with the club in various positions, including a management spell, when he hung up his boots. He has been Club President for many years. He was capped 33 times for England, scoring 30 goals.

He is a rare thing, a one-club man for the whole of his footballing career, on and off the pitch.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Our former midfielder Paul Allen, of the formidable Essex Allen clan and nephew of Les Allen of our Double-winning side, is 47 today.



He was the youngest player to play in an FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium when only 17 years and 256 days old while he was with West Ham in 1980. He joined Spurs in 1985 and played in 297 games for us until he left in 1993 when he turned out for Luton and later played for Southampton, Stoke, Swindon, Bristol City and Millwall.





A mention for "Crazy Horse" Emlyn Hughes OBE who was born today in 1947. The England defender and captain, best remembered for his years at Liverpool, became a TV personality renowned for his high-pitched voice, gaffes (like putting his arm around Princess Anne) and daft sense of humour.

Sadly, he died aged only 57 on 9 November 2004 from a brain tumour. A statue of him has been erected in Barrow-in-Furness where he was born and he is about to be inducted into the England Football Hall of Fame.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Talented right back Stephen Carr is 33 today. He joined Spurs as a youth player in 1991 and eventually made 226 appearances for us before moving on to Newcastle in 2004 for four seasons. He announced his retirement in 2008 but changed his mind and joined Birmingham in February this year.

Capped for the Republic of Ireland 44 times, he also played for his country at schoolboy, youth, under-18 and under-21 levels.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Former defender Harlow-born Neil Young is 36 today. Luke Young's older brother joined Tottenham in 1991 but never broke into the first team, transferring to Bournemouth in 1994 where he played over 500 games in his 14 years at the club before retiring in 2008 and is now coaching at a soccer school in Adelaide, Australia.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Centre-half Arthur Rowe was born in Tottenham today in 1906. He began his career at Northfleet before joining Spurs as a schoolboy in 1921 and turned professional in 1929. He had eight seasons with us as a player, with 201 appearances and was capped for England once when he was 27 years old. He was forced to quit playing in 1939 due to a cartilage injury.


He then went to Budapest to coach and returned to England when WWII broke out and became a physical fitness instructor in the army. He returned from the war to play for Chelmsford, helping them to win the Southern League Cup. We were in the Second Division when Rowe returned to the Lane as manager in 1949. He built the famous "push and run" side and we took the Second Division Championship in his first season and the following season the First Division Championship, making us the first post-war team to win back-to-back titles. An astute and successful manager, perhaps his most famous signing was Danny Blanchflower.

His health started to fail and he never fully recovered from a breakdown in 1954 and Jimmy Anderson was appointed acting manager and took over when Rowe resigned in 1955. After leaving Tottenham Arthur took time off to recover and joined Crystal Palace in 1960, bringing them an instant promotion that season. He was again forced to resign through ill health during the 1962-63 season, returning briefly as stand-in manager in 1966. He also coached at West Brom, Leyton Orient and Millwall during the 60s and 70s.

Arthur died on 5 November 1993.

This 1935 photo shows, left to right, George Hunt, Arthur Rowe and W G Hall in training at the Lane.

 

[TheChosenOne]

I salute you Arthur Rowe. Thanks.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Striker Frédéric "Fredi" Oumar Kanouté is 32 today. Born in Lyons of French-Malian ancestry, he joined us from West Ham in 2003 and played in 60 games, scoring 14 goals, before moving to Sevilla in 2005. He elected to play for Mali after playing one Under-21 game for France and has made 32 appearances, scoring 23 goals, for his country. He was voted African Footballer of the Year in 2007.

Temperamental, often controversial and a devout Muslim, he is far from being your average footballer and is capable of showing flashes of real brilliance.

He has been involved in charitable projects for a number of years. In 2006, he established the "Development Trust", an organisation that seeks to build not only a school but an entire village for about 100 orphans in Mali.



(bottom row, third from right)

Former winger David Jenkins is 63 today. The Welshman joined Arsenal in 1962 and came to the Lane in 1968 in an exchange deal for Jimmy Robertson and played in only 17 games for us. Some think he was one of our worst ever signings and he was never popular with the supporters.

He moved on to Brentford in 1972 and later played non-League football before retiring from the game and working as a furniture salesman in Bristol.





A Ramos signing, Spanish goalie Cesar Sanchez joined Spurs from Zaragoza in 2008. Capped once in 2000 for Spain, he made his first and only appearance for us in our 4-2 League Cup win over Liverpool when he came on to replace injured Heurelho Gomes. He left on a free transfer in January, by mutual consent, to join Valencia. Cesar is 38 today.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Les Medley was born today in 1920 in Edmonton and joined Tottenham in 1939. A striking, high scoring left winger he was an important part of the famous and successful 1950s "push and run" team. I know that I would have seen him play when my dad took me to games, but I was too young to really remember him. He played alongside other legends like Tommy Harmer, Len Duquemin, Eddie Baily, Alf Ramsey, Bill Nicholson, Sonny Walters, Les Bennett and Ted Ditchburn.

Les died on 22 February 2001.




Midfielder at the Lane who later played at centre forward, Albert "Bert" Abraham Goodman (aka "Kosha") was born today in 1890 in Dalston and played for non-league clubs (including Tottenham Thursday) before joining Spurs in 1919. He played in 17 games for us before leaving to join Margate and later played for Charlton Athletic, Gillingham, Clapton Orient and Guildford City.

Bert died in 1959.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Double legend and part of the huge Essex footballing dynasty our former inside left, Les Allen, is 72 today. I remember Les well and he was a much underrated player.

I have vivid memories of the Double year when his heavily pregnant wife Pat was about to launch another legend - son Clive.

Les came to the Lane from Chelsea in 1959 and was with us until 1965 when he went on to play for QPR until 1969 and where he also became manager until 1971.




Former winger Richard Cooke is 44 today. Born in Islington, he joined Spurs as an apprentice in 1983. He made 11 appearances before transferring to Bournemouth in 1987 after a loan spell at Birmingham. I believe he played one game for England at Under-21 level.

He then played for Luton Town from 1989 to 1991 before returning to Bournemouth, where his career ended after he suffered a knee injury during a game against Leyton Orient. He and his family currently live in Bournemouth and Richard works as a taxi driver. He still turns out for friendlies for our "legends" side.

Despite an extensive search, I was unable to find a photo of him.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Spurs legend William "Sonny" Walters was born today in 1924. A fast and tricky winger, he joined Spurs as a Junior in 1939, turning out for Walthamstow, and signed professional forms in 1944. He made 50 wartime appearances for the army and continued to play football in Ireland during his National Service from 1945 to 1947. He played for us from 1947 to 1957 and was part of Arthur Rowe's famous "push and run" team, making 234 appearances and scoring 71 goals.

He transferred to Aldershot and retired from the game in 1959. Sonny died on 25 November 1970. He is 3rd left in the bottom row in this photo of the 1949-50 team.




Islington-born defender Alton Thelwell is 29 today. He joined Spurs as a trainee in 1998 and made 18 first team appearances, was often injury-stricken and gained one Under-21 England cap before transferring to Hull in 2003. In 2007, he moved on to Leyton Orient who released him this year and he has since had trials at Bournemouth, MK Dons and Gillingham.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Full back Charlie Withers was born today in 1922 in Edmonton and joined Tottenham as a junior, turning professional in 1947. He became a regular member of the team and part of the exciting "push and run" side of the early 1950s and played in 164 games for us before spending the 1955-56 season with Boston United and then retiring from the game. This photo is being posted a lot recently - Charlie is on the far right in the top row.

He died in 2005.






Chris Adams was born today in 1927 in Romford. The left winger was at the Lane from 1951 to 1953, mainly playing in the reserve side and he figured in six first team games, scoring one goal, before moving on to Norwich. He later played for Watford and Dartford. In this photo he is in the bottom row, third from the right.






Right back Stephen Kelly is 26 today. The Dubliner came through our youth programme and was at the Lane from 2000 to 2006, gaining 17 caps at Under-21 level and, so far, 14 full caps for the Republic of Ireland.

He made 37 appearances for us before transferring to Birmingham after loan spells with Southend, QPR and Watford and recently moved on to Fulham after a loan spell with Stoke.






Carlo Cudicini is 36 today. Born in Milan, his father Fabio was also a goalie, with Milan, and his grandfather Gugliemo was a defender with Trieste. Carlo was capped at Under-18 and Under-21 levels and has one full cap for Italy.

He joined us last season after nine seasons at Chelsea, and is currently in the first team while Gomes is out through injury.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Am i the only one who finds it hard to believe that Steo is still only 26? :shrug:

Happy birthday to him though, always wanted him to do well, shame it ended up the way it did.

And many happy returns to big ol' Cuddly Carlos! It surprises me, and i guess it's testament to his attitude, how easily he seems to have fitted in at the club, considering his previous employers.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Am i the only one who finds it hard to believe that Steo is still only 26? :shrug:

Happy birthday to him though, always wanted him to do well, shame it ended up the way it did.

And many happy returns to big ol' Cuddly Carlos! It surprises me, and i guess it's testament to his attitude, how easily he seems to have fitted in at the club, considering his previous employers.

Kelly was born today in 1983. A very useful defender and I hope it works out for him now.

As for Carlos, I actually feel safer with him in goal than I do with nervy Gomes. He still has a few good years left in him.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Charlie Daniels, left-sided midfielder, is 23 today. The Harlow boy joined our Youth Academy in 2006 and worked his way through the ranks to the reserve side before spending loan periods with Chesterfield, Leyton Orient and Gillingham before signing permanently for Leyton Orient in January this year.




Midfielder Garry Brady is 33 today. The Glaswegian joined Tottenham in 1993 and, at the time, was hailed as one of the brightest prospects in football. Having made only 12 first team appearances and having suffered a serious ankle injury which hindered his progress, he moved North to Newcastle Utd in 1998.

Until 2002, when he transferred to Dundee and made 119 appearances, he had limited success with other clubs and he has never really lived up to the early promise he showed. He moved on to St Mirren in 2006 where he has settled in and is a regular first team choice.




Striker Oliver Allen, Clive's son and yet another of the Essex Allen dynasty, is 23 today. After playing at youth level for West Ham and Tottenham, Ollie joined Birmingham in 1993 but failed to make it to their first team. He then played for Barnet and Stevenage, where a persistent knee injury forced him to retire from the game.

However, he has returned to the game, joining Thurrock in January this year and transferring to Billericay in March.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Islington-born former centre-forward Shaun Close is 43 today. He came through the ranks at the Lane from the youth team and made nine first team appearances between 1986 and 1988. After a spell with Halmstad in Sweden, he played for Bournemouth for a season, Swindon Town from 1989 to 1993 followed by a season with Barnet and he then joined non-league Bishop's Stortford.

He is now the landlord of "the George" pub in Hoddesden and is a keen golfer.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

I've made no secret of the fact that Luke Modric is my favourite player and I hope he's back soon. Incredible talent. 24 today and I hope he has a great day.




Midfielder Saulo Asajile is 19 today. He made seven appearances for the Academy in 2007-08, including one start and one goal in the 3-2 win against Coventry City in December, 2007 and has played for the England Under-16s.

Born in Burundi, Saulo attended Eastbury Comprehensive School, where he achieved District representative honours.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Centre forward Jimmy Brain was born in Bristol on this day in 1900. He first played for Ton Pentre in Wales and was signed by the Gunners in 1923. After 232 games and 139 goals he crossed North London to the Lane in 1931 and played in 45 games for us before moving on to Swansea in 1934.

He ended his career back in his hometown of Bristol and, after two seasons there, retired in 1939 and moved back South to Barnet where he died in 1971, aged 71.




A mention today for arguably the best German footballer ever. 64 today.

Franz Beckenbauer. Legend.