SPURS AND BILL

May 15th, 1963, Tottenham Hotspur, helped Britain to join Europe in football, by becoming the first British club to WIN a major European Trophy, when the Spurs beat favourites, Atletico Madrid 5-1 in the European Cup Winners Cup. It was contested between Tottenham Hotspur of England and the defending champions, Atlético Madrid of Spain. The match was held at Feijenoord Stadion in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Tottenham won the match, 5–1 thanks to goals by Jimmy Greaves (2), John White and Terry Dyson (2). 

The Spurs of course, had won the FA Cup at Wembley on May 5th, beating Burnley 3-1,  in front of a full Stadium (100,000 folks). Just thought I would mention this bit of Spurs' history, bless them! and then get back to today...well it is MAY! 

This was the beginning of a Spurs' "hey day"??(day??) MAYBE a period when under manager, Bill Nicholson, the Spurs would go on to win more trophies for a decade (or so) under his guidance.

Bill Nicholson, Mr Tottenham (January 26 1919 – October 23 2004). Player! and more.....he said,

"It is better to fail aiming high than to succeed aiming low. And we of Spurs have set our sights very high, so high in fact that even failure will have in it an echo of glory."

Born on this day in 1919, Bill Nicholson’s contribution to the history of Tottenham Hotspur will surely never be surpassed.

Joining the Club as a teenage member of the ground staff in 1936, Bill went on to serve Spurs in almost every capacity – as a player, coach, assistant manager and manager – across a remarkable 38-year period. During that time, he was part of Arthur Rowe’s famous ‘push and run’ team that lifted our first Division One title in 1950/51 and then, as manager, led the team to eight major honors.

As a player, Bill made his professional debut in October 1938 and went on to make 341 appearances for the Club. He was a key figure in the back-to-back title successes of 1949/50 and 1950/51, helping Spurs win the Division Two championship followed by the Club’s first ever First Division title.

He missed just one league match during the 1950/51 title-winning season and earned an England cap in May 1951, scoring with his first touch against Portugal.

Always interested in coaching and development, Bill was appointed coach in 1955 before taking over as manager in October 1958. What followed was the most successful period in the Club’s history.

Under Bill’s leadership, Tottenham Hotspur became the first Club in the 20th century to win the League and FA Cup Double in 1960/61. Further honours followed, with FA Cup wins in 1962 and 1967, the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963 – making Spurs the first British Club to win a European trophy and the UEFA Cup in 1972 and Football League Cup triumphs in 1971 and 1973.

During this era, Bill assembled a team that played with style, confidence and attacking intent. After stepping away from his managerial role in 1974, Bill returned to the Club in 1976, working behind the scenes in a scouting and advisory capacity, for a further 21 years.

Bill lived close to White Hart Lane for much of his life and passed away on October 23, 2004, aged 85.

Never forgotten, Bill Nicholson.

William Edward Nicholson OBE (26 January 1919 – 23 October 2004)