COCKERELS AND THE FOXES-WHO CAME FIRST WITH TOTAL FOOTBALL?

In 1914 Tottenham Hotspur played Leicester Fosse (the original club name for City) in an FA Cup tie on 10th January and they played out an entertaining 5-5 draw. Claude Stoodley scored a hat trick for the Fosse and Bert Bliss notched two for Spurs. Five days later, Spurs won the replay 2-0 with Bliss scoring again. Arthur Grimsdell appeared for the Spurs.

The next three FA Cup ties between the clubs were on:-
18th February 1928 3-0: 14 years on Grimsdell is still playing.
7th February 1948 5-2: Bill Nicholson played for Spurs and Len Duquemin scored 3.
5th January 1957 2-0 to Spurs.
4th January 1958 4-0 with Bobby Smith in the side.
You may remember that thing about Spurs winning the FA Cup when the year ended in "1". Well it sort of worked.

The "8 date" pattern  changed on the 6th May 1961, when Bill Nicholson's Double winning team won the FA Cup final 2-0, beating Leicester City and Frank McLintock 2-0 at Wembley. McLintock was an apprentice at Leicester and was painting the floodlight pylons at the ground, dropping paint on the first team as ther were preparing for the Final. Within days, he was whisked off to Wembley to play in the defeat.

Matches in the Cup between the two sides continued in one in January 1974 when Spurs lost 0-1 (Shilton and Jennings were opposing goalies) and then 3rd April 1982, a 2-0 win (Lineker v Hoddle), followed by the 8th January 2006, which resulted in a 2-3 loss and then the 24th January 2015, there was a 1-2 defeat.

As it was, today's game at White Hart Lane, was pulsating, I thought and Spurs did not make the most of their possession, but the Tinkerman, tinkered and nearly cause an upset. It is fascinating to read that Leicester City were partly responsible for the development of TOTAL FOOTBALL, which emerged in the Leicester side (known then as the Ice Kings) of 1963 under Matt Gillies. But more of that tomorrow.