Spurs

When I was a boy living in Pembrokeshire I ought to have supported Swansea, but they were in the 4th Division at the time, so I followed a friend and started supporting Tottenham Hotspur Football Club nicknamed "Spurs". Maybe I should have taken more time, bearing in mind the roller coaster ride since! Supporting a soccer team is a life long committment. I say "soccer" because in Wales this is distinguishes it from rugby football. Friends may come and go but most people stay with the same soccer team. It's difficult to explain to non supporters the attraction of soccer. Maybe it's a case of going through the lows to appreciate the highs.

Ossie Ardiles was just the tonic needed by Spurs to re-establish themselves in the top flight. His transfer with Argentinian compatriot Ricky Villa in 1978 following the World Cup was an unexpected delight for Spurs fans. Ossie's small size was deceptive. He became the midfield general behind Spurs FA Cup win in 1981. Unfortunately the Falklands War interrupted his Spurs career in it's prime, but he still came back to play a big role in the 1984 UEFA Cup win.

Paul "Gazza" Gascoigne has come in for a lot of criticism in recent years but before his horrific injury in the 1991 F.A. Cup final win he was brilliant for Spurs. His free kick goal against Arsenal in 1991 F.A. Cup semi final is still unbelievable, especially for David Seaman. My favourite Gazza goal was one he scored against Manchester City. During a powerful run he bamboozled the whole defence by raising both arms in the air while making a funny face, before finding the back of the net. I don't think the City players knew what had hit them!

The arrival of Jurgen Klinsmann had similarities to Ossie Aridles. A World Cup winner arriving out of the blue at White Hart Lane. Before his debut all the talk had been about Klinsmann's diving antics for Germany in the World Cup. What followed was a priceless moment - Klinsmann scored against Sheffield Wednesday and invented one of the most memorable goal scoring celebrations - "The Klinsmann Dive". My favorite Klinsmann goal was the one that put Liverpool out of the F.A. Cup in a quarter final match at Anfield. Like Ardiles, Klinsmann had two spells at Spurs. In the first he made a mediocre team very good. In the second he helped save the club from relegation. Remarkably he scored four goals in a 6-2 win at Wimbledon to clinch safety.

Buying David Ginola was the best thing former manager Gerry Francis did for Spurs. In an otherwise workmanlike team, Ginola was the wizard who provided the sparks. In the season 1998-99 he played a major role in the Worthington Cup win and produced some dazzling moments in the F.A. Cup run that took Spurs to the semi finals. His winning goal against Barnsley was brilliant. There were also spectacular Ginola goals in the matches with Wimbledon and Leeds.

So far Spurs have not won a trophy this century. The reasons probably stem back to the sharp rises in player wages and transfer fees over the last ten years. An astute businessman like ex chairman Alan Sugar was never going to pay over the odds without guarantees of success. Without top players Spurs haven't been able to win trophies, but the club avoided financial disaster unlike Leeds, and didn't need to be baled out by a rich benefactor like Chelsea. Other factors contributing to problems have been poor selections for manager. Spurs fans, accustomed to stylish play, were never going to be patient with George Graham, the master of the 1-0 shutout. Eventually new chairman Daniel Levy took the hint, but sacking Graham just before an F.A. Cup semi final was unfair and unnecessary. Glenn Hoddle brought in experienced players to steady the ship, but poor form and man management skills led to his demise in 2003. Jacques Santini was a surprise choice in 2004 following a lengthy caretaker spell from David Pleat, and looked literally like a fish out of water, surviving just a few weeks. Then almost by accident Spurs found potentially their best manager since Bill Nicholson, when promoting Martin Jol to the helm. In just under two seasons, Jol steered Spurs to 5th place in the Premiership, the team being within stomach bugs of the Holy Grail, otherwise known as the Champions League.

In 2006-07 Spurs haven't done so well in the Premiership, but have enjoyed good runs in three cup competitions. With players like Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe, Aaron Lennon, Michael Dawson, Paul Robinson, Jermaine Jenas, Didier Zokora, Pascal Chimbonda, and Steed Malbranque, the future is looking a lot brighter.

			My Favourite Football Team By David J. Grundy 14th March 2007




		When I was a boy living in Pembrokeshire I ought to have supported Swansea, but they were in the 4th Division at the time, so I followed a friend and started supporting Tottenham Hotspur Football Club nicknamed "Spurs". Maybe I should have taken more time, bearing in mind the roller coaster ride since! Supporting a soccer team is a life long committment. I say "soccer" because in Wales this is distinguishes it from rugby football. Friends may come and go but most people stay with the same soccer team. It's difficult to explain to non supporters the attraction of soccer. Maybe it's a case of going through the lows to appreciate the highs. The highs I can identify with Spurs are flair players, team style of play and cup winning triumphs. The lows have been poor league form, relegation to the 2nd Division in 1976 and struggling to beat Chelsea! My favorite Spurs flair players have been Jimmy Greaves, Pat Jennings, Ossie Ardiles, Glenn Hoddle, Paul Gascoigne, Jurgen Klinsmann and David Ginola. Jimmy Greaves didn't score goals from long distance, he didn't need to! His great skill was passing the ball into the net rather than blasting it. The Greaves goals I remember most are one he scored against Manchester United having dribbled through their whole defence, and a brace he scored against Newcastle United towards the end of his Spurs career, with dazzling runs from the half way line. Pat Jennings was an amazing goalkeeper. His big plus was use of the unorthodox. He didn't just save with his hands but with his feet as well. His performances kept Spurs in the 1st Divsion for a couple of seasons longer during the decline of the middle 70s. Ossie Ardiles was just the tonic needed by Spurs to re-establish themselves in the top flight. His transfer with Argentinian compatriot Ricky Villa in 1978 following the World Cup was an unexpected delight for Spurs fans. Ossie's small size was deceptive. He became the midfield general behind Spurs FA Cup win in 1981. Unfortunately the Falklands War interrupted his Spurs career in it's prime, but he still came back to play a big role in the 1984 UEFA Cup win. Glenn Hoddle was the master of the long ball, the opposite of Jimmy Greaves. Time and time again people marvelled at how he could place 40 yard passes onto a sixpence. Also scored some spectacular distance goals, none better than an early belter in a game with Nottingham Forest which ensured a 1-0 win. Paul "Gazza" Gascoigne has come in for a lot of criticism in recent years but before his horrific injury in the 1991 F.A. Cup final win he was brilliant for Spurs. His free kick goal against Arsenal in 1991 F.A. Cup semi final is still unbelievable, especially for David Seaman. My favourite Gazza goal was one he scored against Manchester City. During a powerful run he bamboozled the whole defence by raising both arms in the air while making a funny face, before finding the back of the net. I don't think the City players knew what had hit them! The arrival of Jurgen Klinsmann had similarities to Ossie Aridles. A World Cup winner arriving out of the blue at White Hart Lane. Before his debut all the talk had been about Klinsmann's diving antics for Germany in the World Cup. What followed was a priceless moment - Klinsmann scored against Sheffield Wednesday and invented one of the most memorable goal scoring celebrations - "The Klinsmann Dive". My favorite Klinsmann goal was the one that put Liverpool out of the F.A. Cup in a quarter final match at Anfield. Like Ardiles, Klinsmann had two spells at Spurs. In the first he made a mediocre team very good. In the second he helped save the club from relegation. Remarkably he scored four goals in a 6-2 win at Wimbledon to clinch safety. Buying David Ginola was the best thing former manager Gerry Francis did for Spurs. In an otherwise workmanlike team, Ginola was the wizard who provided the sparks. In the season 1998-99 he played a major role in the Worthington Cup win and produced some dazzling moments in the F.A. Cup run that took Spurs to the semi finals. His winning goal against Barnsley was brilliant. There were also spectacular Ginola goals in the matches with Wimbledon and Leeds. So far Spurs have not won a trophy this century. The reasons probably stem back to the sharp rises in player wages and transfer fees over the last ten years. An astute businessman like ex chairman Alan Sugar was never going to pay over the odds without guarantees of success. Without top players Spurs haven't been able to win trophies, but the club avoided financial disaster unlike Leeds, and didn't need to be baled out by a rich benefactor like Chelsea. Other factors contributing to problems have been poor selections for manager. Spurs fans, accustomed to stylish play, were never going to be patient with George Graham, the master of the 1-0 shutout. Eventually new chairman Daniel Levy took the hint, but sacking Graham just before an F.A. Cup semi final was unfair and unnecessary. Glenn Hoddle brought in experienced players to steady the ship, but poor form and man management skills led to his demise in 2003. Jacques Santini was a surprise choice in 2004 following a lengthy caretaker spell from David Pleat, and looked literally like a fish out of water, surviving just a few weeks. Then almost by accident Spurs found potentially their best manager since Bill Nicholson, when promoting Martin Jol to the helm. In just under two seasons, Jol steered Spurs to 5th place in the Premiership, the team being within stomach bugs of the Holy Grail, otherwise known as the Champions League. In 2006-07 Spurs haven't done so well in the Premiership, but have enjoyed good runs in three cup competitions. With players like Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe, Aaron Lennon, Michael Dawson, Paul Robinson, Jermaine Jenas, Didier Zokora, Pascal Chimbonda, and Steed Malbranque, the future is looking a lot brighter.