Classic matches I've been to: Spurs Score Five Against West Ham In the League Cup, February the 2nd 1987

Classic matches I've been to: Spurs Score Five Against West Ham In the League Cup, February the 2nd 1987

The season 1986/1987 was a mixed one for Spurs supporters. We promised so much and ended up with nothing (that does sound familiar, doesn't it?).

At the beginning of the season, Tottenham created a loyalty or membership card. To get the most members they could, they made a promise that if we should get to the final that season then all members that purchased the Spurs loyalty card would be able to go. Low and behold Tottenham got to the final of the FA Cup. I don't know the figures, but I wonder if they managed to keep their promise to all? Or was it first come first serve? I was one of them that purchased the card and went to the final (to be fair, card or no card I've always managed to go to a Spurs final). It wasn't for another couple of years before I became a season ticket holder. Before that, I always got my ticket at the gate and had no trouble getting away tickets.

As we are talking about February 1987, rather than the whole season (86/7) a bit of background to 1987. The top songs of that year were:-

1. Walk Like an Egyptian - Bangles

2. Alone - Heart

3. Shake You Down - Gregory Abbott

4. I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston

5. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship

6. C'est La Vie - Robbie Nevil

7. Here I Go Again - Whitesnake

8. The Way It Is - Bruce Hornsby and the Range

9. Shakedown - Bob Seger

10. Livin' On a Prayer - Bon Jovi

11. La Bamba - Los Lobos

12. Everybody Have Fun Tonight - Wang Chung

13. Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House

14. Always - Atlantic Starr

15. With or Without You - U2

16. Looking for a New Love - Jody Watley

17. Head to Toe - Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam

18. I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany

19. Mony Mony - Billy Idol

20. At This Moment - Billy Vera and The Beaters

Major stories of 1987 were; The Simpsons first episode was aired(if you can call that major?), Zeebrugge MS Herald of Free Enterprise Ferry Disaster, Work on the Channel Tunnel begins, First Criminal convicted using DNA Evidence, USS Stark a Frigate is attacked by an Iraq Air to Sea missile, In the UK 2 major transport disasters happen when A cross-channel ferry capsizes and an underground fire in Kings Cross Tube Station. England also suffers one of the worst storms in history when Hurricane-force winds hit much of the South of England. All this, I remember well. However, what was more significant and was closer to home was that Michael Robert Ryan killed 16 People in Hungerford, Berkshire.

The reason I say 'significant' was that I only lived a couple of miles down the road from those murders. I was working for a Waste disposal company at the time, and we heard about the lockdown in Hungerford, and as we had drivers doing their rounds in that town, we radioed them to get out. It wasn't until much later that we knew the full extent of what happened. If I remember rightly, it was August of that year that this tragedy occurred.

So those happenings give you a little flavour of what was going on 1987.

February the 2^nd was a Monday, if my memory serves me right. In those days, football was on particular days (Like Wednesday or Saturday). So it was unusual that this match should be on a Monday. As I was a manager at the time, I had to arrange to take half the day off (but my company was pretty flexible). Also and luckily for me, my job allowed me also to have free petrol (part of the perks).

I got up to Tottenham early (I know, same old story) and parked opposite the ground, next to the school; free parking in those days, that is if you could get there early, and early I always did.

I went into the Spurs shop (a poky little thing) and got my programme (no big oversized rip-off programmes then). I probably met some friends, went to either the pub or fish & chip shop (or even both!) to while away the time. Then we went and queued, paid and went in. Got something to eat (again) inside and then made our way to the West Stand. Even though I’ve stood and sat all over the stadium (and was a season ticket holder in the North Stand), the West stand has always been my preference. Currently, I am a season ticket holder in the West Stand.

This Littlewoods Cup replay against West Ham was required after the two sides had drawn 1 – 1 at Upton Park the previous week. Clive Allen had put Spurs ahead 7 minutes before the interval, but the home team drew level immediately after the break in the 48th minute.

The replay saw us produce a top-class performance with Ossie Ardiles and Glenn Hoddle in control, producing some very, and I mean very, attractive football. But then again, they were known for it!

After six minutes, Ardiles created the opening goal for Nico Claesen who had come into the team in place of Tony Galvin. From that point on, Spurs dominated the game, but it was not until the 71st minute that we increased our lead with a Hoddle shot from 20 yards. Two up and the excitement mounting. West Ham were no friends of ours, and any humiliation we could bestow on them would be an extra bonus.

In the last ten minutes, Clive Allen, who had a tremendous goalscoring season came into his own, completing a hat-trick in 9 minutes with a penalty after a foul on his cousin, Paul Allen. We jumped for joy and kept waving at the humiliated blower of bubbles. After the game, some West Ham fans waited for our fans outside (or was that the other way around?). But the incident was quickly dealt with by the waiting police.

We went home as happy as Larry.

“Clive Allen Hat-trick In League Cup Triumph” the headlines screamed out at you the next day.

Tottenham Hotspur 5 West Ham United 0 (League Cup 5th Round Replay)

Scorers: Allen, C. (3, 1 pen), Claesen, Hoddle

Team: Clemence; Thomas, D., Thomas, M.; Ardiles, Gough, Mabbutt; Allen, C., Allen, P., Waddle, Hoddle, Claesen

That is a game often remembered by those present as one of Spurs' best displays of the season and the success set up a two-leg semi-final clash with North London neighbours, Arsenal. Unfortunately, after three games, the Gooners triumphed. But that wasn’t the end of the story. 

In the FA Cup we faced Scunthorpe and beat them 3-2, this was followed by victories over Palace, Newcastle, Wimbledon and Watford. Beating Watford meant that we faced Coventry City in the FA Cup Final. A game we were expected to win, and win we would have if it weren’t for a Mabbutt own goals that gave us our first-ever F A Cup defeat. That game was also famous for the muddling up of the team kit (some had the Holsten logo on it, others didn’t; “I bet you could guess who was drinking Carling Black label?” As their arrivals embarrassingly used).

As I said at the beginning of this article, there was a lot of expectations, we nearly won everything, but ended up with nothing. Oh, well… we would have to wait… oh, we are still waiting to win the FA Cup, but two more League cups followed and… well, nothing else.

As from this date, we’ve got Levy and Mourinho; I wonder what they have installed for us? More nothing, or surprises galore? Answers on a postcard please to whomever it may concern.

Keep safe, and remember, you are not alone… we are all isolated, missing football and probably thoroughly pissed off. At least when football resumes, we will have a full complement, and hopefully, Mourinho can work his magic and fairy-tale us into a top-four place (well, there is nothing else for this season left!).

By Glenn Renshaw