The Scottish Connections of Tottenham Hotspur

[THFC6061]

Scotland play Brazil on Sunday 27th March 2011 at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and it's a sign of the way modern football has developed that Tottenham Hotspur now have more players in the Brazilian squad (Heurelho Gomes and Sandro) than in the Scottish squad (Alan Hutton).

Spurs have always had more than their fair share of Scots in the team (and managing the club).

Our earliest success came in the 1901 FA Cup when we were still in the Southern League and had a Scottish player-manager - John Cameron and Alex 'Sandy' Brown set an FA Cup goalscoring record which still stands today some 110 years later.

In fact, there were no less than five Scotsmen in that FA Cup winning team including full-back Harry Erentz.

Our second FA Cup win in 1921 was also under a Scottish manager, Peter McWilliam.

It was well into the 1930s before Spurs fielded a first team line-up without a single Scot in the team.

Our legendary team in the early to mid-60s contained Dave Mackay, John White, Bill Brown and Alan Gilzean - all outstanding Scottish internationals.

Since then, we've featured players like Graeme Souness, Neil McNab, Alfie Conn, John Duncan, Gordon Smith, Willie Young, Steve Archibald, Alan Brazil, Richard Gough, Colin Calderwood, Gordon Durie, Neil Sullivan and Alan Hutton.

Our Scottish managers have included John Cameron (1899-1907), Peter McWilliam (1913-27 & 1938-42) and George Graham (1998-2001).

Spurs have played two Scottish clubs in European competition - Rangers in the 1962-63 Cup Winners' Cup (won 8-4 on aggregate) and Aberdeen in the 1973-74 UEFA Cup (won 5-2 on aggregate).

In the 1956-57 season, Spurs participated in the Anglo-Scottish Floodlit Tournament, playing Hibernian, Partick Thistle and Heart of Midlothian.

We played a combined Glasgow XI in the Glasgow Charity Cup at Hampden Park in 1964 (lost 2-4).

The Texaco Cup in 1970-71 saw Spurs up against Dunfermline Athletic and Motherwell.

During the 1960s, Spurs regularly used to play a pre-season friendly against Rangers at Ibrox Park.

More recently, Spurs met Celtic in the Wembley Tournament.

[HenryMonk]

How many Brazilian Spurs players are likely to play for Brazil today tho! And we'll have Hutton playing for Scotland, we also have an assistant manager who is Scottish at spurs.

[Wembley67]

How many Brazilian players are likely to play for Brazil today tho! And we'll have Hutton playing for Scotland, we also have an assistant manager who is Scottish at spurs.

Pretty sure the team will be full of Brazilians :wink:

[HenryMonk]

Pretty sure the team will be full of Brazilians :wink:

lol i better edit that faux pa

[HibeeMcGinn1]

My mates grandad played for Spurs in the late 50's early 60's (John White). Played for Alloa, Falkirk then was signed for Tottenham by Bill Nicholson for around £20k. Played over 180 times for Spurs and had 22 caps for Scotland. Tradgicly he died after being struck by lightning on Crews Hill golf course in July 64 aged just 27. A year later a Scotland 11 played a Spurs 11 at white hart lane for Johns testimonial. His grandson and great grandson still regulary travel down to white hart lane and are huge Spurs fans.

[CapitalHibs]

IMO losing John White in that tragic way, effectively destroyed what was the best Scottish side I have ever seen. Vastly underrated by the majority of the tartan army because of his quiet demeanor and style of play, John was the lynchpin that allowed players like Dennis Law, Ian St, John, Dave Mackay and the rest to be so effective. Turned on by Rankers supporters because he singlehandly destroyed the huns over two games in the European Cup Winners Cup, John would have been an automatic Scottish team choice for years had not fate intervened,

[wpj]

My mates grandad played for Spurs in the late 50's early 60's (John White). Played for Alloa, Falkirk then was signed for Tottenham by Bill Nicholson for around £20k. Played over 180 times for Spurs and had 22 caps for Scotland. Tradgicly he died after being struck by lightning on Crews Hill golf course in July 64 aged just 27. A year later a Scotland 11 played a Spurs 11 at white hart lane for Johns testimonial. His grandson and great grandson still regulary travel down to white hart lane and are huge Spurs fans.


There's a book about him
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghost-White-Hart-Lane-Football/dp/022408299X

[Phil D. Rolls]

My mates grandad played for Spurs in the late 50's early 60's (John White). Played for Alloa, Falkirk then was signed for Tottenham by Bill Nicholson for around £20k. Played over 180 times for Spurs and had 22 caps for Scotland. Tradgicly he died after being struck by lightning on Crews Hill golf course in July 64 aged just 27. A year later a Scotland 11 played a Spurs 11 at white hart lane for Johns testimonial. His grandson and great grandson still regulary travel down to white hart lane and are huge Spurs fans.

Knowing people who grew up with him in Fisherrow, the abiding memory was the fact he always had a ball at his feet. If it wasn't a football it was a tennis ball.

Does anyone know if the still contest the John White memorial trophy at Musselburgh Festival week? It used to be a great pre season outing, and Hibs, Rangers and Hearts used to always send a decent first team contigent. Blackpool also sent a team as his brother, Tom, used to be on the board there, and was eventually chairman.

[ScottB]

Lots of big English clubs have histories involving lots of Scottish players though, it's only now starting to kick in again in terms of Scots popping up in the premiership, it stopped because we stopped producing good players for years.

Would be great to see lots of Scots in the big sides again in the years to come though!

[bournehibby]

IMO losing John White in that tragic way, effectively destroyed what was the best Scottish side I have ever seen. Vastly underrated by the majority of the tartan army because of his quiet demeanor and style of play, John was the lynchpin that allowed players like Dennis Law, Ian St, John, Dave Mackay and the rest to be so effective. Turned on by Rankers supporters because he singlehandly destroyed the huns over two games in the European Cup Winners Cup, John would have been an automatic Scottish team choice for years had not fate intervened,

:agree:

bh

[Dashing Bob S]

Once went out with the niece of a former Spurs player.








Excellent ride.







And the niece was pretty decent too.

[Rougier45]

Hibs beat spurs in the semi final of the coronation cup

[THFC6061]

Hibs beat spurs in the semi final of the coronation cup

Indeed.

The first match at Ibrox Park on 11th May 1953 finished in a 1-1 draw in front of 43,000 spectators.

There was a replay the following day (!) at the same venue which Hibs won 2-1 but only 13,000 bothered to turn-up.

[frazeHFC]

Like Spurs, especially recently. Would love a friendly against them in the Summer.

[basehibby]

Hibs beat spurs in the semi final of the coronation cup

They also had a fairly regular friendly fixture around that time when both sides were enjoying successful spells -

1949 - Spurs 2 Hibs 5
1950 - Spurs 0 Hibs 1
1952 - Spurs 1 Hibs 2
1956 - Hibs 1 Spurs 5
1957 - Hibs 5 Spurs 2

Sauce - an ancient Hibs Quiz book