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This preview was written by Brian Judson

Full Record of Spurs -v- West Ham United

Prem          Pl   W   D   L   For-Ag  Pts
Home           8   4   1   3    8 - 8   10
Away           7   2   1   4   11 -12    7
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Total (Prem)  15   6   2   7   19 -20   20
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Football Lge
Home (Div 1)  33  17   7   9   65- 51   47
Away (Div 1)  33   9   9  15   45- 54   29
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Total(Div 1)  66  26  16  24  110-105   76
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Football Lge
Home (Div 2)  10   4   4   2   18-13    12
Away (Div 2)  10   3   3   4   13-12     9
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Total(Div 2)  20   7   7   6   31-25    21
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Total (Prem)  15   6   2   7   19 -20   20
Total (Div 1) 66  26  16  24  110 -105  76
Total (Div 2) 20   7   7   6   31 -25   21
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Grand Total  101  39  25  37  160 -150 117
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This match will be the 102nd League clash between the two clubs since Spurs first met them for Football League points in season 1919-20. "The Hammers", as they are popularly known were originally founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks but reformed under their present name in 1900, having joined the Southern League at the start of season 1899-1900. Spurs first met West Ham United in the Southern League during 1900-01. Their record is:

Southern League
Home (Div 1)   8  4  2  2  11-  8  10
Away (Div 1)   8  4  2  2  11-  7  10
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Total(Div 1)  16  8  4  4  22- 15  20
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There could be no better time to play West Ham United at Upton Park! They will still be on cloud nine after beating Manchester United, at Old Trafford, 1-0, in their FA Cup 4th Round tie. Fabien Barthez made the sort of mistake one expects from a Spurs defence in not playing to the whistle, thus allowing Di Canio to score.

But Spurs will have to be watchful. West Ham will be no pushovers with Stuart Pearce and Nigel Winterburn at the heart of their defence. Pearce is like a vintage wine in that he is playing just as well, if not better, than at any other time in his long playing career that stretches back to the early 1980s. He may not be the marauding left back that he was at Nottingham Forest but he is still as deadly with his free-kicks, something the Spurs defence should bear in mind.

But for those of us who have missed the artistry of players like Hoddle, Ardiles, White and Harmer the Charmer, there will be plenty to enthuse about if Joe Cole or Di Canio hit form. It is clear that Cole is going to be a superstar. Under Bill Nicholson, Spurs would probably have broken the bank to sign Cole as Spurs were clearly the major team in the South during the 1960s and 1970s. But these days footballers are tempted to play abroad and I suspect that is where Cole will eventually go.

Spurs and West Ham have been renowned down the years for playing football the way it should be played. Both used to be famous for playing off the cuff football. West Ham still do so .... at home but have learned to defend their goal in depth when playing away. Spurs, as we sadly know, are only a very pale shadow of the force they once used to be. We have not got a single world class player on the books at present, just journeyman footballers, some of whom ought to be sued by the Trading Standards Officer for misrepresenting themselves as footballers.

The best match I ever saw between these two clubs was probably the 2-2 draw at Upton Park in October 1970. The game flowed from end to end and all four goals were brilliantly taken. Unhappily, there was also crowd trouble as people were letting fireworks off on the terracing. If I correctly recall, Tommy Taylor made his debut for West Ham that day and had a marvellous game. And, yes, it is the same Tommy Taylor, now sadly overweight, who manages Leyton Orient these days.

Unhappy memories are of a 4-0 thrashing in February 1964 when Budgie Byrne rang rings round us, of a 3-2 defeat in September 1964 and then hearing Dave Mackay had broken his leg in a reserve team match at White Hart Lane and the occasional bouts of fighting between the respective sets of thugs in the market place near the station and in the surrounding streets.

One of the happier memories is that of travelling home from Upton Park on the tube in May 1967 after Spurs had beaten West Ham to ensure qualification for Europe. We were all singing and stomping in the carriages as we travelled back to Mile End, where we had to change. The passengers who had no interest in football were totally bewildered by the stamping and singing! Happy days!

And now one last happy memory but this one does not include Spurs!!! The memory of one Trevor Brooking kneeling to head the ball behind Pat Jennings at Wembley in May 1980! Oh what a beautiful moment that was!!!!!

Looking to Wednesday night's match, we have had a break for almost two weeks so hopefully we may get Steve Carr back. All the minor knocks should have been cleared up. But we will have to live on our nerves and hope for a monumental slice of luck!!!!!!! My prediction is that we will either lose 1-0 or draw 1-1. But if Barthez were to play in goal for West Ham (on loan from Manchester United) - well, I can dream! - we might even win!!!!

COME ON YOU SPURS!

Cheers, Brian

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