When Burnley and Spurs were the best

[ClaretTony]

Just seen this on the Spurs website - worth a read and a look at the pics - even thought they have got Ray Pointer's name incorrect.


https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2 ... ley-1960s/

[ecc]

Fair play to Spurs. My Dad used to talk about our rivalry with them.

Absolutely no disrespect for Danny Blanchflower but I've always wondered whether had he and Jimmy McIlroy had played for the other clubs whether Blanchflower would have been the most famous.

[distortiondave]

That last pic of Smith, Blanchflower and Greaves is great, because not one of them look like footballers as we'd picture them today.

[claretblue]

always makes me cross when our players names are referred to incorrectly…Ray Harkin was mentioned recently on Match of The Day and now Ray Pointer (my all time favourite player).
Wonder what reaction would be if Burnley did an article on our previous battles with Spurs and mentioned their England striker Jimmy Groves?

[ecc]

TBH the day our OS manages to write a single article without any spelling mistakes we'll be CL winners.

[CoolClaret]

Superb article.

[Westleigh]

Happy days coming back from 4-1 down to draw 4-4 ,winning 3–0 on a snow covered afternoon at WHL,beating them 7-2 on the Turf and Sammy Todd making his debut,beating them at WHL in the league cup ( I think the day Miller resigned) ,taking them to extra time after being 3 goals down in the League Cup,Jimmy Mc nutmegging hard man Dave McKay on the Turf.

[ClaretTony]

These two clubs were right up there when I started watching football - some unbelievable footballers

[steve1264b]

Grandad and dad always said if we had McDonald in the nets we would have won more.

I think the last chapter in Greaves autobiography says they were in the away dressing room at turf after a draw when they all just said how much they had enjoyed the game so much.

[Tricky Trevor]

Good find, CT.
Surprised you missed their other typo. Wolves were runners-up in 59-60, Ipswich weren’t even in Div.1.

[claretblue]

These two clubs were right up there when I started watching football - some unbelievable footballers

indeed!
two very talented sides…wonderful period for Burnley being a town club on average attendance of 25000 (considered low then)
I thought being runner-up of both league and FA cup in ‘62 was a great achievement and we didn’t receive the acclaim deserved!

[claret59]

When Burnley beat Spurs at WHL the season after losing the Cup Final to them I recall that Spurs reverted to rough house tactics. Cannot recall any sending's off or names taken but there was quite a lot of adverse publicity for Tottenham.

[Suratclaret]

Some great games and wonderful memories of games between these two great clubs. Westleigh mentions Jimmy Mac nutmegging Dave McKay and I can remember Bobby Smith attempting to shoulder charge Adam Blacklaw and obviously coming of worst but picking himself up with a huge grin on his face…nowadays he would be rolling around in pretend agony hoping not to be penalised for touching the goalkeeper.

[Westleigh]

When Burnley beat Spurs at WHL the season after losing the Cup Final to them I recall that Spurs reverted to rough house tactics. Cannot recall any sending's off or names taken but there was quite a lot of adverse publicity for Tottenham.

Blacklaw would have got sent off if he could have gotten hold of Terry Dyson.

[CleggHall]

Willie Irvine hat trick in 4-3 defeat at White Hart Lane was hard to take, Alan Gilzean got hat trick too but nevertheless one of the greatest games I’ve ever seen.

[Sozturf7]

Willie Irvine hat trick in 4-3 defeat at White Hart Lane was hard to take, Alan Gilzean got hat trick too but nevertheless one of the greatest games I’ve ever seen.

I was at that game and although I have seen some wonderful games against Spurs that one always stands out. As you say great game.

[boatshed bill]

When Burnley beat Spurs at WHL the season after losing the Cup Final to them I recall that Spurs reverted to rough house tactics. Cannot recall any sending's off or names taken but there was quite a lot of adverse publicity for Tottenham.

I saw that game recently, did someone put the link on here?
Spurs did indeed try to rough it up a bit, no idea why they would do that.

[Since62]

My first game Burnley v Spurs, March 17 1962. 2-2 draw. Still got the programme!

[South West Claret.]

Willie Irvine hat trick in 4-3 defeat at White Hart Lane was hard to take, Alan Gilzean got hat trick too but nevertheless one of the greatest games I’ve ever seen.

I agree probably one of the best games I’ve ever seen.

[DingleDangle]

Really wish I could have watched the Mighty Clarets live back in those days.

Also makes me wonder what we were like back in the 1920/21 championship winning season.

[Mondsley]

Heady days! 2 games I particularly remember are:
The 2 1 win in 1962. My Dad and I caught the Ribble from Littleborough and were in our seats (my Dad shelled out 10 shilling, 50p to you young uns, for seats in the wing stand) by 2pm. The ground was so full they let people in to sit behind the goal at the Beehole end. Greaves scored for Spure but we got 2 in the second half. The late, great John White played for Spurs.
The other game was when Frank Saul headbutted Dave Merrington and Adam Bkacklaw chased him off the pitch before the ref sent him off!
Trying to delete the 4 3 loss in the cup at WHL from my memory. One of only 2 times I have cried after a defeat.

[ClaretTony]

I was just thinking about these two teams and the potential of putting the two together to make the best of them, I think I'd have gone.

Adam Blacklaw
John Angus
Alex Elder
Danny Blanchflower
Maurice Norman
Dave Mackay
John Connelly
Jimmy McIlroy
Ray Pointer
Jimmy Greaves
Cliff Jones

So sadly, only Elder and Jones of that team remain with us.

[Buxtonclaret]

Not sure what the knee of a bee looks like but, as a kid, this was the fixture was it.
COME ON UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU CLARETS!!

[AfloatinClaret]

Have I missed something... Has there been some point in history when Burnley weren't the best team in the world?

[Suratclaret]

I was just thinking about these two teams and the potential of putting the two together to make the best of them, I think I'd have gone.

Adam Blacklaw
John Angus
Alex Elder
Danny Blanchflower
Maurice Norman
Dave Mackay
John Connelly
Jimmy McIlroy
Ray Pointer
Jimmy Greaves
Cliff Jones

So sadly, only Elder and Jones of that team remain with us.

Some half back line…Blanchflower, Norman and Mackay! Jones and Connelly as wingers…can’t imagine how many goals Pointer and Greaves would have scored. Another Spurs winger, the Welshman Terry Medwin was a very good footballer.

[beeholeclaret]

Remember going to my first ever game in September 1067 (I was 8 years old) with a couple of school pals whose dad took us to the Turf. Spurs were the current FA Cup holders and were on a 25 game unbeaten run. We stood at the front of the Longside leaning over the concrete wall at the front (on a line just outside of the penalty area at Cricket field end.

I can’t remember much of the game, just the noise of the crowd. We stood next to a little woman with a hook nose who muttered “come on Burnley” incessantly for the full match. Her son looked identical to her with same nose.

There were some fantastic players on view that day.

From memory I think Greaves, Gilzean, Venables, England, Jennings played for Spurs.

Burnley had Morgan, Coates, Lochhead and I think these three were amongst the scorers.

Happy days.

[Westleigh]

Remember going to my first ever game in September 1067 (I was 8 years old) with a couple of school pals whose dad took us to the Turf. Spurs were the current FA Cup holders and were on a 25 game unbeaten run. We stood at the front of the Longside leaning over the concrete wall at the front (on a line just outside of the penalty area at Cricket field end.

I can’t remember much of the game, just the noise of the crowd. We stood next to a little woman with a hook nose who muttered “come on Burnley” incessantly for the full match. Her son looked identical to her with same nose.

There were some fantastic players on view that day.

From memory I think Greaves, Gilzean, Venables, England, Jennings played for Spurs.

Burnley had Morgan, Coates, Lochhead and I think these three were amongst the scorers.

Happy days.

Bloody hell Beehole how old are you ,you were 8 in 1087 .

[Claret Till I Die]

Remember going to my first ever game in September 1067 (I was 8 years old) with a couple of school pals whose dad took us to the Turf. Spurs were the current FA Cup holders and were on a 25 game unbeaten run. We stood at the front of the Longside leaning over the concrete wall at the front (on a line just outside of the penalty area at Cricket field end.

I can’t remember much of the game, just the noise of the crowd. We stood next to a little woman with a hook nose who muttered “come on Burnley” incessantly for the full match. Her son looked identical to her with same nose.

There were some fantastic players on view that day.

From memory I think Greaves, Gilzean, Venables, England, Jennings played for Spurs.

Burnley had Morgan, Coates, Lochhead and I think these three were amongst the scorers.

Happy days.

What were your parents take on William the Conqueror?

[beeholeclaret]

What were your parents take on William the Conqueror?

Ha ha - just spotted my typo. You can’t edit these bloody things either! Don’t think there’s a connection with Spurs although London rivals Chelsea have had many battles at Stamford Bridge! I believe King Harold fought there in a battle just preceding Hastings.

[beeholeclaret]

Bloody hell Beehole how old are you ,you were 8 in 1087 .

I’m feeling old after the games I’ve attended at Turf this season!

[mikeS]

Match report in todays iPaper by Jon West.

"Burnley made five changes from last weekends battling defeat at Aston Villa, a strong indication that lifting the FACup for the first time since 1962 was not a high priority for the Premier Leagues second bottom club.

Mr West must live in a parallel multiverse.

[Quicknick]

What were your parents take on William the Conqueror?

I'm still laughing.