HARRY KANE AND ANTIBIOTICS

Yes, I watched Spurs take on the might of the serial Bulgarian champions, PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (The Eagles), last night and was relieved to see the Spurs get through their third Europa League tie with a positive result, although the game did involve the usual "scare", as the Spurs let their opposition sneak a goal bringing the game back to 1-2 after 50 minutes. So, played 3 Won 2.

The Ludogorets club was founded in 1945 by several rural clubs merging. It has only been in the top Bulgarian top tier since 2011-12. Founded in 1945 the club started in the Third Division, 1961 Second Division, 1997 MERGED with FC Antibiotic (seriously) but was defunct by 2005. In 2009 the club was reformed and bought coincidently, by a pharmaceutical entrepreneur, whose money took the club to the top! "Lud" means mad or wild and "gora" forest, the region where the club was formed in Razgrad, a region of karst (limestone) topgraphy, which creates a very distinct landscape. The regional sport is "oil wrestling", which you may have seen during a tourist visit by some TV programme company.

After the history, the real news is that Harry Kane scored his 200th goal in his 300th appearance; a clever header supplied by Moura from the corner kick after 13 minutes. Moura then scored after 32 minutes, a low cross supplied by Kane and all looked plain sailing until the Bulgarians nicked one back. Jose appeared concerned but Celso made it safe after 62 minutes and when Son had been introduced he gave Spurs a bit of a lift. Spurs top their group just above Royal Antwerp on goal difference, the team that, beat them last week.

Kane's first goal came 9 years ago when he was 18 against Shamrock Rovers. He was on loan to Millwall, Norwich before Leicester City in 2013-14 when he scored three Premier League goals. He has scored 15 goals against The Foxes, more than any other club and 10 against Arsenal.

Jimmy Greaves 266 (1961-70) and Bobby Smith 208 (1955-64) goals are second and third in the Spurs' goal scoring table. The other with over 100 goals is Martin Chivers ( 174 goals). Greaves, I met first in the Guildford, WH Smith, when I bought his book at a signing event and later outside the Houses of Parliament on a sports' promotion. Smith I saw play against Horsham for Hastings Utd, at the end of his career, in an FA Cup tie (he was not in good shape) and Chivers played in a "charity" game against a Charterhouse XI, in Godalming, a while back! 

If you happen to be a Spurs person, then Cliff Jones (1958-68), Jermain Defoe (2004-14), George Hunt (1930-7), Len Duquemin (1947-7), Alan Gilzean (1964-74) and Teddy Sheringham (1992-2003) follow behind Chivers in a list of highest goal scorers for the Spurs.

George Hunt started his career at Chesterfield, having been playing local football near his birthplace Mexborough. He went to Spurs (185 apps, 125 goals), then Arsenal briefly, Bolton W, Sheffield Wed,-this part of his career affected by the War and played 3 times for England, his first cap at Hampden in front of over 136,000 when the Scots won 2-1 but Hunt did score.

Dixie Dean, of Everton, mentioned recently in a previous blog, has scored the most for one club, 383 goals and Ian Rush is a little behind with 346 for Liverpool. Those who have scored most goals before the age of 28 are: Rooney 159, Kane 149, Shearer 139, Fowler 135 and Henry 138. Well you might need that fact one day?