Lasting Memories: Chelsea 0-3 Spurs, 1963
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
By Richard Porter / @Lubimets
The first match I recall attending was not actually at White Hart Lane, but at Stamford Bridge on 21 September 1963. It was Chelsea v Spurs in the old First Division. Chelsea had been promoted that season and they had a lot of up and coming players including Terry Venables, John Hollins, Peter Bonetti and Bobby Tambling. I was very excited about watching Spurs play away, mainly because the team consisted of the fabulous double side, including my heroes: Jimmy Greaves, Cliff Jones and John White. I was always enthralled by Spurs' exciting attacking play which was in evidence on the day – with the flying wingers tearing down the flanks at great pace and sending in accurate and fast crosses. It was such a feature of Spurs at that time to watch: pace, flair, exciting wing play and attack, attack, attack!
There was a huge crowd packed into Stamford Bridge that afternoon. I stood with my two friends, tightly packed behind the metal rail that we could lean on, on the terrace facing the pitch nearly opposite the penalty spot. One of my friends was a Chelsea fan (a shame, but he was a good friend so I could forgive him!). Spurs passed the ball well and were totally dominant in the first half. The game seemed to go by in a bit of a blur. I think it was the excitement and the non-stop action that kept me entertained throughout.
I cannot remember all the scorers but Spurs went 0-3 up and Jimmy Greaves poached one of the goals. Chelsea responded well and I have many memories of this game even now because what captivated me was just how good Spurs' defence was. That will forever live long in my memory. Chelsea produced wave upon wave of attacks and had many corners. But Spurs held firm, clearing and tackling well. Bill Brown in goal showed what a good shot stopper he was.
However, it was big Maurice Norman at centre-half who stood out. He flung his head in the way of corners and cleared majestically. I remember him heading away shots from under the bar. It seemed that Spurs were impregnable that day. I was so surprised to see Spurs defend that well, as I had really only appreciated them as an attacking force. But, Norman, Brown, Baker and Henry showed just how skillful they were at defending. And there always seemed to be an out ball, too, with John White invariably available for defenders to pass or clear to.
Looking back now, I could see in their play the Bill Nicholson maxim of 'THE PLAYER WITHOUT THE BALL MAKES THE PLAY'. The Spurs players of that team who had won the double in 1960-61 and the FA Cup in 1961-62 were always finding space for each other and the speed of movement of the wingers was an amazing feature of the side's play. The finding of space started in defence and worked all over the pitch so that there was always a man to pass to and another one available to run into space.
It was a wonderful all-round performance by Spurs – of attack and defence.
The match finished 0-3 to Spurs. We won and played well. My Chelsea-supporting friend didn't speak to me for a while after that, but he did say that Spurs had such a good defence. – something that even I had not seen before this match.
This entry was written by Richard Porter, posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2013
By Richard Porter / @Lubimets
The first match I recall attending was not actually at White Hart Lane, but at Stamford Bridge on 21 September 1963. It was Chelsea v Spurs in the old First Division. Chelsea had been promoted that season and they had a lot of up and coming players including Terry Venables, John Hollins, Peter Bonetti and Bobby Tambling. I was very excited about watching Spurs play away, mainly because the team consisted of the fabulous double side, including my heroes: Jimmy Greaves, Cliff Jones and John White. I was always enthralled by Spurs' exciting attacking play which was in evidence on the day – with the flying wingers tearing down the flanks at great pace and sending in accurate and fast crosses. It was such a feature of Spurs at that time to watch: pace, flair, exciting wing play and attack, attack, attack!
There was a huge crowd packed into Stamford Bridge that afternoon. I stood with my two friends, tightly packed behind the metal rail that we could lean on, on the terrace facing the pitch nearly opposite the penalty spot. One of my friends was a Chelsea fan (a shame, but he was a good friend so I could forgive him!). Spurs passed the ball well and were totally dominant in the first half. The game seemed to go by in a bit of a blur. I think it was the excitement and the non-stop action that kept me entertained throughout.
I cannot remember all the scorers but Spurs went 0-3 up and Jimmy Greaves poached one of the goals. Chelsea responded well and I have many memories of this game even now because what captivated me was just how good Spurs' defence was. That will forever live long in my memory. Chelsea produced wave upon wave of attacks and had many corners. But Spurs held firm, clearing and tackling well. Bill Brown in goal showed what a good shot stopper he was.
However, it was big Maurice Norman at centre-half who stood out. He flung his head in the way of corners and cleared majestically. I remember him heading away shots from under the bar. It seemed that Spurs were impregnable that day. I was so surprised to see Spurs defend that well, as I had really only appreciated them as an attacking force. But, Norman, Brown, Baker and Henry showed just how skillful they were at defending. And there always seemed to be an out ball, too, with John White invariably available for defenders to pass or clear to.
Looking back now, I could see in their play the Bill Nicholson maxim of 'THE PLAYER WITHOUT THE BALL MAKES THE PLAY'. The Spurs players of that team who had won the double in 1960-61 and the FA Cup in 1961-62 were always finding space for each other and the speed of movement of the wingers was an amazing feature of the side's play. The finding of space started in defence and worked all over the pitch so that there was always a man to pass to and another one available to run into space.
It was a wonderful all-round performance by Spurs – of attack and defence.
The match finished 0-3 to Spurs. We won and played well. My Chelsea-supporting friend didn't speak to me for a while after that, but he did say that Spurs had such a good defence. – something that even I had not seen before this match.
This entry was written by Richard Porter, posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2013
