Spurs 1 R.S.C. Anderlecht 1 (2-2 on aggregate 4-3 to Spurs on penalties).

This is my eighth classic game I’ve been to: Spurs 1 R.S.C. Anderlecht 1 (2-2 on aggregate 4-3 to Spurs on penalties).

It was a night to remember. The match was played on the 23 May 1984 (the first leg was on the 9 May). Anderlecht – from Belgium – where the defending champions. After two home and away draws the match went into extra time and then a penalty shootout. In the process making Tony Parks the hero on the night.

“It’s a night for strong nerves,” said Bryan Moore (commentator on ITV) as kick-off approached in the second leg of the 1984 UEFA Cup final. The tie was provocatively balanced as we had secured a 1-1 draw in the away leg in Brussels. 

Over 46,000 fans were crammed into our ground to witness history in the making (I was one of them). We were all willing our team on. That night we claimed our third European Trophy (and sadly our last… well, from this date, but hopefully the future is going to be a lot brighter with Mourinho in charge).

Our goalkeeper Tony Parks had very little to do in the first leg in Brussels, with us creating the best openings. Paul Miller gave us the lead just before the hour, but Parks was unable to hold an Arnesen drive with five minutes to go, their Olsen tapped in for a crucial equaliser. Sadly, I didn’t go to this match, but I did watch it on T.V.

There was a feeling of disappointment after the away leg. We had missed some great chances; Steve Perryman, our Captain, had picked up a booking and would be suspended for the second leg. I remember screaming at the screen “oh, shit, Stevie won’t be around for the second leg… deep, deep shit!”

The second leg

On that day, I was supposed to go with a friend – an Everton supporter – but for whatever reason, he ended up being unable to make it. So I went by myself. I remember leaving early and spending part of the day going around the West end. Probably about 4ish I made my way to Seven Sisters and then walked to White Hart Lane. Got some fish and chips at the local fish shop near the ground and then ended up in the pub with friends for a pint or four.

The second leg we were going to be without Clemence, Perryman, and Glenn Hoddle (yes, no Hoddle). Which put the fear of God in us. It wasn’t going to be easy, and some thought near impossible. At the beginning of the match we started off slowly, but the second half was a different kettle of fish. Suddenly, after the interval, the game shot into life. The Belgium team took the lead on the hour through Alex Czerniatinski and, even though we laid siege to the opposition goal, it looked as if Anderlecht would hold on to their trophy. We fired shot after shot, but nothing phased them. Our hearts were in our mouths. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a few wet puddles on the floor. Saying that, when I did eventually leave the ground, I had to manoeuvre around various dubious puddles. Anyway, let us not jump the gun.

Even though we were clutching whatever we were clutching (and thinking this isn’t looking good), Graham Roberts had other thoughts. After Ossie Ardiles somehow struck the bar from a few yards out, the replacement skipper slotted home calmly to send the match into extra time. With no further goals, the feared lottery of the penalty shootout was becoming a reality.

After a very short interval, the players, made their way to the centre circle, the goalkeepers got into position, and we, the spectators just stood their shitting ourselves.

Roberts took Tottenham’s opening penalty and scored. We screamed with delight, jumped up and down as if we were being attacked by frenzied ants. All this put pressure on their Olsen as he stepped up for Anderlecht in front of 46,000 fans. You could smell the fear and see beads of sweat dripping from his brow (or at least we imagined that being the case).

He shot, Parks saved. “Oh, my God!” we yelled. “oh, my god!” One more time for luck. Somebody whacked me in the back, and I almost fell down like a sack of shit. “Bastard,” I yelled. But when I got up and turned around, nobody was looking at me. Just as well… it probably wouldn’t be a good time to have blood on the terraces.

Five for each side, better not get too excited.

The next six penalties were all scored, putting Tottenham 4-3 up and on the brink of victory. When we scored, we cheered every goal that went in. Every time they stepped up to take theirs, we booed. It was like a booing and hurraying chorus.

Finally, it was Danny Thomas turn to step up to the mark. All he needed to do was just roll his penalty home, and we would have won our third European trophy in our history. We waited, holding our breath. It felt like time was standing still, we were all motionless like dummies. Then he moved, struck the ball… and… and… missed. It was over I could hear some cry. There was no way they were going to miss their next shots.

As Thomas slowly made his way back to the halfway line, we sang “There is only one Danny Thomas”. That sound ricocheted around the stadium. However, I did hear a lone voice shout out “you wanker”. Nonetheless, our chorus/ support – Danny -  could be heard from many miles away. But all was not lost (at least the more optimistic ones in the crowd thought). We were still 4-3 up.

Gudjohnsen placed the ball on the centre spot, walked back to his mark, looked at the ball and then up at our goalkeeper, suddenly and quickly made a quick run-up to the ball and hit it to Parks’ right. We just froze, but Parks… oh, my god! He saved, we went berserk, the players raced towards him and engulfed him. The whole stadium erupted. I got pushed again, collapsed on the floor while others, behind me, fell on top. Almost crippling me. God, I ached for days to come. But we celebrated for ages, or it seemed for ages.

Tony Parks said later. “I could see in his eyes where it was going. With the next three, I just guessed and got it wrong. On the last, I changed my mind and went the other way and got it right.” And thank God he did. From that night he became a Tottenham legend.

Watching the replay the next day and that final moment came “And he’s saved it,” screamed the commentator, Moore as Parks sprinted off in celebration. “Spurs have won it. Tony Parks is the hero.” Reseeing the repercussion of the Parks save; him being swamped by jubilant teammates, was no less an enjoyment to behold, Parks had delivered the perfect going away present to Burkinshaw – and earned himself a new two-year deal.

“At the start of the season I wasn’t even sure I had a future here,” said Parks afterwards. “I did not think they would be keeping me on, so it’s fantastic for something like this to happen.” He stayed at Spurs until 1988 without ever establishing himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, but he will always be remembered for that night on 23 May 1984. Parks was a hero, even if it was just for one day.

Because it was an evening kick-off, I got home very late, but very excitable.

Years later, it emerged that Anderlecht's passage to the final had involved the club's chairman paying a bribe totalling £27,000 to the referee for the semi-final against Nottingham Forest. A dubious penalty was awarded to Anderlecht, whilst a Forest goal was controversially disallowed

            1983–84 UEFA Cup

R.S.C. Anderlecht 2            Tottenham Hotspur 2 on aggregate.

Tottenham Hotspur won 4–3 on penalties

First leg

R.S.C. Anderlecht 1-1Tottenham Hotspur

Date   9 May 1984

Venue            Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Brussels

Referee         Bruno Galler (Switzerland)

Attendance  38,000

Second leg

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 R.S.C. Anderlecht

After extra time

Date   23 May 1984

Venue            White Hart Lane, London

Referee         Volker Roth (West Germany)

Attendance  46,258

 

That season we finished 8^th.  We were knocked out of the F.A. Cup by Norwich and Arsenal knocked us out of the Milk Cup (League Cup).

After eight years in charge, Burkinshaw bowed out. After a disagreement with the board, he thought enough was enough. Burkinshaw was also supposed to have said, as he left the ground; "There used to be a football club over there". Actually, these comments came from journalist Ken Jones who mentioned to Burkinshaw as he was leaving the club the Frank Sinatra's song "There Used to Be a Ballpark",  Burkinshaw just nodded his head as if he was in agreement with the journalist.

Also, notably, on the 17 November 1983, Channel four broadcast Those Glory Glory Days. Written by Spurs fan and journalist Julie Welch. I recorded it on the night, but as videos became obsolete Stacha, my daughter bought it for me – many years later - on DVD.

For those that don’t know anything about the film, here goes: Those Glory Glory Days is a 1983 British made-for-television film about Spurs at the time of their double year. It starred Zoë Nathenson, Sara Sugarman and Cathy Murphy.  The film was motivated by Welch's childhood love of Spurs.

A quick plotline: This excellent film was about a group of young girls growing up in 1960–61 North London. The girls got the Tottenham bug. One of the girls is trying to make a career as a journalist in football and is offered a lift home by her hero Danny Blanchflower. She, along with her friends, go on an adventure; trying to get tickets for the F.A. Cup final and also they sneak into White Hart Lane at that monumental time in Spurs history. Guessed appearance by the great Danny Blanchflower. If you haven’t seen it… go forth and watch it.

Those great matches that I’ve seen and reported here are etched in my memory and will be there until doomsday. That is if I reach doomsday. But whatever I each, I will leave this earth with some great memories of following Spurs. The travels abroad, away and of course at our excellent White Hart Lane. A period squatting on Wembley’s plastic seats, followed by being transported into Alice’s Wonderland of a magnificent stadium. Next up, hopefully, will be more glory, glory days and nights, trophies galore… well, providing Levy pulls his finger out and makes time and money for our squad… that is amongst the list of treasures that he wants to promote at the stadium.

Stay safe, keep well and remember, we will soon be back in our stadium cheering our team along.

Glenn Renshaw