Spurs 51 Title team

[whitesocks]

Perhaps we had a couple of dry winters those years. When the rains returned, then that was the end of the system.

To answer my question, no.
50/51 was pretty wet, but Rowe did come up with a pitch innovation.
According to this https://www.spursodyssey.com/5051/pushandrun.html,

The ball repeatedly stuck in the boggy morass of grounds up and down the country. And then one day as they played a practice match, despite the pitch being boggy, the ball was running true again. Rowe was puzzled for a while until he remembered that no sand had been laid on the pitch that morning. Swiftly he ordered the ground staff not to put sand down on the pitch again for the foreseeable future. And Spurs began to play their exhilarating brand of football again.

It is funny to think that pitches today are near 100% sand, but I guess then, a rolling muddy ball ran better than a rolling muddy ball part covered in sand.

Of course that would not help us away, and sure enough it was our home form that drove us to the title. Away, in the muddy sand, we somehow adapted our game to keep it very tight. (Lost 0-2 at burnley though!)

 

[SPURSLIFE]

Having my first game at the lane in 1948 I was lucky to see Burgess, Ramsey, Nichloson, the "cheeky Chappie" Eddie Bailey as he was called, a smallish guy that loved an argument and played to the crowd. The "Duke" a really big old fashioned CF as was Bobby Smith 10 years later. I remember thinking standing down the front behind the goal what a giant our keeper Ted Ditchburn was.
When I look back it amazes me how we played such good football on pitches like treacle. It seems like there were so many goals 5-2's 4-4's 3-2's it always seemed exciting and each match couldn't come round quick enough. Even in those days we were a all out attack team and known for it but like today never able to capitalise and establish any long term success. I guess it's in our DNA.

I have to mention a player from those early years Tommy Harmer. He could be on his day the most exciting player you could ever wish to see. Short, very slight but a wizard with the ball, he could do anything with it. One game I particularly remember was against Sunderland Who had the great Len Shackelton playing for them. Shackelton got the ball in his own half beat 3 players in a great run flicked it over the head of (I think it was Nobby Clarke), took a shot the ball beat Ditchburn but hit the bar. Everybody applauded. 2 minutes later Tommy took the ball in his half went on an identical run flicked the ball over the defender shot and scored the crowd went wild. I don't get that excitement anymore. I loved the old White Hart Lane. I only lived a 10 minute walk away. "Take me back country roads......"

 

[shelfboy68]

Having my first game at the lane in 1948 I was lucky to see Burgess, Ramsey, Nichloson, the "cheeky Chappie" Eddie Bailey as he was called, a smallish guy that loved an argument and played to the crowd. The "Duke" a really big old fashioned CF as was Bobby Smith 10 years later. I remember thinking standing down the front behind the goal what a giant our keeper Ted Ditchburn was.
When I look back it amazes me how we played such good football on pitches like treacle. It seems like there were so many goals 5-2's 4-4's 3-2's it always seemed exciting and each match couldn't come round quick enough. Even in those days we were a all out attack team and known for it but like today never able to capitalise and establish any long term success. I guess it's in our DNA.

I have to mention a player from those early years Tommy Harmer. He could be on his day the most exciting player you could ever wish to see. Short, very slight but a wizard with the ball, he could do anything with it. One game I particularly remember was against Sunderland Who had the great Len Shackelton playing for them. Shackelton got the ball in his own half beat 3 players in a great run flicked it over the head of (I think it was Nobby Clarke), took a shot the ball beat Ditchburn but hit the bar. Everybody applauded. 2 minutes later Tommy took the ball in his half went on an identical run flicked the ball over the defender shot and scored the crowd went wild. I don't get that excitement anymore. I loved the old White Hart Lane. I only lived a 10 minute walk away. "Take me back country roads......"

Harmer the charmer as my old dad used to say was what they called him.

 

[wlhatwhl]

A reason for the 1950-51 team not having a long period of success, was the age of the players. Most of that team had the early years of their careers interrupted by the 2nd World War. Burgess and Nicholson had made their Tottenham debut prior to the war, Ditchburn, Willis and Walters had played for the club during the war years while others were appearing as 'guests' for clubs around the country and all were fulfilling their duties in the armed forces.

Looking at the age of the players at the start of the title winning season, shows that any of the team were entering the twilight years of their careers. There were no young players in the team.

Ted Ditchburn - born 1921 Age 29 FL debut for Spurs - 1946-47
Alf Ramsey - 1920 30 1949-50 (Signed from Southampton)
Arthur Willis - 1920 30 1946-47
Bill Nicholson - 1919 31 1938-39
Harry Clarke - 1923 27 1948-49
Ron Burgess - 1917 33 1938-39
Sonny Walters - 1924 26 1946-47
Eddie Baily - 1925 25 1946-47
Len Duquemin - 1924 26 1947-48
Les Bennett - 1918 32 1946-47
Les Medley - 1920 30 1946-47

So after their successive 2nd and 1st Division title wins at the turn of the decade, they finished 2nd to Manchester United in 51-52, were beaten FA Cup semi-finalists the following season but were only 10th in the League and the next year dropped to 16th. Age was catching up with many players - Les Medley had retired and returned to Canada at the end of the 52-53 season, Ron Burgess took up a player coaching role at Swansea in May 1954 where Arthur Willis joined him the following September. Les Bennett went to West Ham in December 54 (aged 36) and Bill Nicholson retired to take up a coaching role at Spurs.

By this time Arthur Rowe was suffering from ill-health and his assistant, Jimmy Anderson stepped up before replacing him permanently in the summer. Alf Ramsey retired that summer to manage Ipswich, leaving only Ditchburn, Clarke, Baily and Duquemin.

Ditchburn made his final appearance for Spurs in August 1958, two months before Bill Nicholson took over as manager with that amazing 10-4 win over Everton and we all know how successful, he proved to be.

An interesting book on the 1950-51 team was written by Kevin Palmer and covers the two Div 1 title wins -
Tottenham Hotspur - Champions of England 1950-51 & 1960-61

 

[buckley]

Do you not think that all the best sides have great managers I dont think I have to name names as we all know them .
I believe that the 51 team could have achieved so much more but Arthur Rowe unfortunately suffered from ill health I think it stemmed from the pressures of running spurs I could be wrong on that .
What I am not wrong about is Rowe had a great love of spurs and myself on seeing a documentary that included. a part where he talked about his feelings for spurs he broke down and cried with emotion which caused me to cry as well it has stayed with me and I feel all the real spurs followers have the same feelings for this great club .
Apart from family and friends they come next .

 

[Delboy75]

Having my first game at the lane in 1948 I was lucky to see Burgess, Ramsey, Nichloson, the "cheeky Chappie" Eddie Bailey as he was called, a smallish guy that loved an argument and played to the crowd. The "Duke" a really big old fashioned CF as was Bobby Smith 10 years later. I remember thinking standing down the front behind the goal what a giant our keeper Ted Ditchburn was.
When I look back it amazes me how we played such good football on pitches like treacle. It seems like there were so many goals 5-2's 4-4's 3-2's it always seemed exciting and each match couldn't come round quick enough. Even in those days we were a all out attack team and known for it but like today never able to capitalise and establish any long term success. I guess it's in our DNA.

I have to mention a player from those early years Tommy Harmer. He could be on his day the most exciting player you could ever wish to see. Short, very slight but a wizard with the ball, he could do anything with it. One game I particularly remember was against Sunderland Who had the great Len Shackelton playing for them. Shackelton got the ball in his own half beat 3 players in a great run flicked it over the head of (I think it was Nobby Clarke), took a shot the ball beat Ditchburn but hit the bar. Everybody applauded. 2 minutes later Tommy took the ball in his half went on an identical run flicked the ball over the defender shot and scored the crowd went wild. I don't get that excitement anymore. I loved the old White Hart Lane. I only lived a 10 minute walk away. "Take me back country roads......"

I guess you must be late 70s early 80s. I hope I can get to your age and tell my grandchildren misty eyed stories of Lamela foot rolls and Rabonas.

 

[wlhatwhl]

Do you not think that all the best sides have great managers I dont think I have to name names as we all know them .
I believe that the 51 team could have achieved so much more but Arthur Rowe unfortunately suffered from ill health I think it stemmed from the pressures of running spurs I could be wrong on that .
What I am not wrong about is Rowe had a great love of spurs and myself on seeing a documentary that included. a part where he talked about his feelings for spurs he broke down and cried with emotion which caused me to cry as well it has stayed with me and I feel all the real spurs followers have the same feelings for this great club .
Apart from family and friends they come next .

You're right about the pressure of managing Spurs being a cause of Arthur Rowe's ill-health. He was a good a manger and turned Tottenham around in one season, gaining promotion and then taking Spurs to their first Div 1 title. His players - Nicholson, Ramsey, Baily and Burgess followed his example and went on to coach and manage at a high level.

 

[ShelfWatcher]

Do you not think that all the best sides have great managers I dont think I have to name names as we all know them .
I believe that the 51 team could have achieved so much more but Arthur Rowe unfortunately suffered from ill health I think it stemmed from the pressures of running spurs I could be wrong on that .
What I am not wrong about is Rowe had a great love of spurs and myself on seeing a documentary that included. a part where he talked about his feelings for spurs he broke down and cried with emotion which caused me to cry as well it has stayed with me and I feel all the real spurs followers have the same feelings for this great club .
Apart from family and friends they come next .

Yes I vividly remember that documentary, it was made by the BBC to celebrate 100 years of Spurs. It was so fantastic and I made so much noise that my girlfriend of the time came running out of the bath to see what was happening. Not being a football fan, she was more than a little puzzled. But in those days there wasn't easy access to early footage like there is now.
On that note I can highly recommend a guy on You Tube called the heavy roller who has put up loads of highlights from Spurs games in the early 60s, it's wonderful stuff
Includes a classic goal from Greavesie that I'd never seen before in a cup tie v West Brom
The crowds and emotions for cup ties in those days. The FA Cup was every bit as big as the League, crowds were actually bigger for cup ties
55000 jammed into the Hawthorns for a 4th round cup tie, probably could have got 70000 in, indeed knowing the way crowds were counted in those days, probably was 60000 in the ground with thousands locked out
This was at a time when they probably averaged less than 35000 for lge games in the top division

 

[SPURSLIFE]

I guess you must be late 70s early 80s. I hope I can get to your age and tell my grandchildren misty eyed stories of Lamela foot rolls and Rabonas.

Yes I'm 82 and seen some great games and players over the years. It's just sad that things aren't all that good at the moment but it will change it always does and you will be able to tell your Grand children great new stories, we all have them what ever the period in time.

 

[SPURSLIFE]

Harmer the charmer as my old dad used to say was what they called him.

Yes they did and he certainly was.

 

[Namron]

I know lots about 61 double team but very little about this team apart from Arthur Rowe and push and run football. It was about 20 years before I was born and I don’t come from a Spurs family so no parents or grandparents to pass down stories. Any stories insight of that season be great. Most key players ? Pivotal games style of play ? Did Arthur Rowe really invent a new style of football?

I know lots about 61 double team but very little about this team apart from Arthur Rowe and push and run football. It was about 20 years before I was born and I don’t come from a Spurs family so no parents or grandparents to pass down stories. Any stories insight of that season be great. Most key players ? Pivotal games style of play ? Did Arthur Rowe really invent a new style of football?

As the author of the first biography of the great Arthur Rowe I was very interested to find how many of the SpursCommunity were interested in Rowe's contribution to Tottenham Hotspur -- he is rarely creditted with being the first man to ever manage Spurs to the League Championship and since he took Spurs out of the Second Division in 1949 the club has only spent one year outside of the top flight. It was Rowe's push-and-run style (and purchase of Danny Blanchflower) which his 'pupil' Bill Nicholson utilised (with the addition of generous transfer funds previously denied to Rowe). Thus was born the never-to-be-forgotten 'Double' side. Furthermore (aside from Blanchflower) Peter Baker, Ron Henry, Tony Marchi and Terry Dyson were all signed as professionals by Rowe, and he had been negotiating for Maurice Norman (and monitoring Bobby Smith) when failing health led to his departure from the Club. My book aims to put the record straight. To put it mildly, Rowe deserves as much (if not more) credit than Nicholson for Spurs' glory days.

 

[wlhatwhl]

As the author of the first biography of the great Arthur Rowe I was very interested to find how many of the SpursCommunity were interested in Rowe's contribution to Tottenham Hotspur -- he is rarely creditted with being the first man to ever manage Spurs to the League Championship and since he took Spurs out of the Second Division in 1949 the club has only spent one year outside of the top flight. It was Rowe's push-and-run style (and purchase of Danny Blanchflower) which his 'pupil' Bill Nicholson utilised (with the addition of generous transfer funds previously denied to Rowe). Thus was born the never-to-be-forgotten 'Double' side. Furthermore (aside from Blanchflower) Peter Baker, Ron Henry, Tony Marchi and Terry Dyson were all signed as professionals by Rowe, and he had been negotiating for Maurice Norman (and monitoring Bobby Smith) when failing health led to his departure from the Club. My book aims to put the record straight. To put it mildly, Rowe deserves as much (if not more) credit than Nicholson for Spurs' glory days.

Spurs had been trying to get out of the 2nd Division since the resumption of football after the war but without success. The arrival of Arthur Rowe changed all that and in one season he produced a team that won promotion and saw Tottenham claim successive title wins, including their first Div. 1 success. Rowe, the former player, in a short time as manager, had a tremendous impact on the club, laying down the foundations for future success and influencing his players who went on to coach and manage, including Bill Nicholson and Alf Ramsey.

What is the title of your book on Arthur Rowe? Is it available to buy?

 

[Namron]

Spurs had been trying to get out of the 2nd Division since the resumption of football after the war but without success. The arrival of Arthur Rowe changed all that and in one season he produced a team that won promotion and saw Tottenham claim successive title wins, including their first Div. 1 success. Rowe, the former player, in a short time as manager, had a tremendous impact on the club, laying down the foundations for future success and influencing his players who went on to coach and manage, including Bill Nicholson and Alf Ramsey.

What is the title of your book on Arthur Rowe? Is it available to buy?

My working title is 'ARTHUR ROWE: CREATOR OF ENGLAND'S FINEST FOOTBALL'. I have had a complete manuscript for a while but the reaction from publishers to date is that it was way too long, so I am in the final stages of cutting it back and about to return it to those who previously regarded it as too long AND approach more publishers and agents. It is quite a hard sell as Arthur is ancient history for young publishers and agents. I have had the benefit of access to Rowe's own memorabilia, press-cuttings, photos, etc. It is frustrating how Bill Nicholson's success, built on Rowe's methods, so quickly seemed to erase Rowe's extraordinary achievement of two Championships (Second and First Divisions) in his first two years in charge.

 

[wlhatwhl]

My working title is 'ARTHUR ROWE: CREATOR OF ENGLAND'S FINEST FOOTBALL'. I have had a complete manuscript for a while but the reaction from publishers to date is that it was way too long, so I am in the final stages of cutting it back and about to return it to those who previously regarded it as too long AND approach more publishers and agents. It is quite a hard sell as Arthur is ancient history for young publishers and agents. I have had the benefit of access to Rowe's own memorabilia, press-cuttings, photos, etc. It is frustrating how Bill Nicholson's success, built on Rowe's methods, so quickly seemed to erase Rowe's extraordinary achievement of two Championships (Second and First Divisions) in his first two years in charge.

Thanks. Hope you find a publisher - for so any now, football only started with the Premier League. There is certainly a story to be told about Arthur Rowe and I hope you get the chance to tell it - I'd be very interested in reading it. Have you approached Pitch Publishing? All the best with the project.

 

[phil]

My father, a gooner, took me to see the Push and Run side in 1951 when I was four. I don't remember a lot of that match but have supported Spurs ever since. My favourite player from that era was George Robb, a left-winger. For much of his Spurs career he played as an amateur combining football with his job as a teacher. He played regularly for the England amateur team but his sole appearance for the professional England team was in the famous 6-3 defeat to Hungary in 1953. He was a great player who would have won more caps if it weren't for Tom Finney.

 

[spud]

A reason for the 1950-51 team not having a long period of success, was the age of the players. Most of that team had the early years of their careers interrupted by the 2nd World War. Burgess and Nicholson had made their Tottenham debut prior to the war, Ditchburn, Willis and Walters had played for the club during the war years while others were appearing as 'guests' for clubs around the country and all were fulfilling their duties in the armed forces.

Looking at the age of the players at the start of the title winning season, shows that any of the team were entering the twilight years of their careers. There were no young players in the team.

Ted Ditchburn - born 1921 Age 29 FL debut for Spurs - 1946-47
Alf Ramsey - 1920 30 1949-50 (Signed from Southampton)
Arthur Willis - 1920 30 1946-47
Bill Nicholson - 1919 31 1938-39
Harry Clarke - 1923 27 1948-49
Ron Burgess - 1917 33 1938-39
Sonny Walters - 1924 26 1946-47
Eddie Baily - 1925 25 1946-47
Len Duquemin - 1924 26 1947-48
Les Bennett - 1918 32 1946-47
Les Medley - 1920 30 1946-47

So after their successive 2nd and 1st Division title wins at the turn of the decade, they finished 2nd to Manchester United in 51-52, were beaten FA Cup semi-finalists the following season but were only 10th in the League and the next year dropped to 16th. Age was catching up with many players - Les Medley had retired and returned to Canada at the end of the 52-53 season, Ron Burgess took up a player coaching role at Swansea in May 1954 where Arthur Willis joined him the following September. Les Bennett went to West Ham in December 54 (aged 36) and Bill Nicholson retired to take up a coaching role at Spurs.

By this time Arthur Rowe was suffering from ill-health and his assistant, Jimmy Anderson stepped up before replacing him permanently in the summer. Alf Ramsey retired that summer to manage Ipswich, leaving only Ditchburn, Clarke, Baily and Duquemin.

Ditchburn made his final appearance for Spurs in August 1958, two months before Bill Nicholson took over as manager with that amazing 10-4 win over Everton and we all know how successful, he proved to be.

An interesting book on the 1950-51 team was written by Kevin Palmer and covers to two Div title wins -
Tottenham Hotspur - Champions of England 1950-51 & 1960-61

I recall seeing an interview of (Sir) Bill Nick - probably the BBC centenary season piece that has been referenced above. In it he said that while 'push and run' was very simple in principle, it required very good players to execute.

As you have said, the 1950-51 team were approaching the ends of their careers with the obvious decline that that entails. Combine this with the fact that the replacement players weren't as good and the decline in Artur Rowe's health, and it was perhaps inevitable that the team's success was short-lived.