BILL NICHOLSON

Many thanks to my brother who alerted me to the video above, a tribute to the great Bill Nicholson OBE. Who? Come on, when I was 10, I noticed some outstanding results coming out of White Hart Lane (and from some away matches as well). Spurs went on to win the first League and Cup double of the 20th Century, as well as a Cup Final or two and some success in Europe.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10156180138023505
 He was born in Scarborough on January 26th 1919 and was a player, coach, manager and later a scout for the Spurs. He started his "career" working in a local laundry and was offered a trial having played for local side Northfleet FC at 17 years old. he joined the "groundstaff" (which in those days was how most players started their career) being paid £2 a week. He made a professional debut for Spurs against Blackburn Rovers on October 22nd 1938.

The Second World War got in the way but he developed a sporting knowledge through doing PE and by 1946 returned to Spurs, playing as a centre half back and then a right half for eight seasons.
He was very much part of the "push and run" Spurs team famed in the 1950s under Arthur Rowe, another legendary manager. He helped win the Second Division in 1949-50 and the First Division title in 1950-1.

He made an England debut in 1951 against Portugal and scored in 19 secs of the start of the game, but never played again.
He became first team coach in 1955 and then manager when his first match against Everton ended 10-4 to the Spurs. A memorable FA Cup tie win was against Crewe Alexandra 13-2. In the 1960-1 Double season Spurs scored 115 goals in 42 league games, having won the first 11 games in the division.

In 1962 Spurs won a consecutive FA Cup and got to a European Cup ("Championship") semi-final losing to Portugal's Benfica. There was a European Cup Winners Cup win in 1963 and an FA Cup win over Chelsea in 1967. League Cups in 1971, 1972 were won and a UEFA win in 1972. In 1974-5 Nicholson resigned. He had hoped for a double management appointment of Spurs captain Danny Blanchflower and Johnny Giles to succeed him, but the club committee didn't fancy that pairing. Nicholson left White Hart Lane with a "flea in his ear" and he eventually severed all ties with the club.

He returned under Keith Burkinshaw managership, as an advisor until 1991. In 1999, the approach to the ground was named Bill Nicholson Way.
There was eventually a testimonial match held at WHLane against Fiorentina, in 2001.
In 2003 he was inducted in the English Hall of Fame
Bill died in October 2004.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpdrFTAxS4E

and finally since it's Sunday....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0d2VT5md6c