Here is Brian Judson's preview of the game
Full Record of Spurs -v- West Ham United
Premier Pl W D L For-Ag Pts
Home 8 4 1 3 8- 8 13
Away 8 2 2 4 11- 12 8
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Total (Premier) 16 6 3 7 19- 20 21
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Football League
Home (Division 1) 33 17 7 9 65- 51 47
Away (Division 1) 33 9 9 15 45- 54 29
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Total (Division 1) 66 26 16 24 110-105 76
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Football League
Home (Division 2) 10 4 4 2 18- 13 12
Away (Division 2) 10 3 3 4 13- 12 9
======================= ======================
Total (Division 2) 20 7 7 6 31- 25 21
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Total (Premier) 16 6 3 7 19- 20 21
Total (Division 1) 66 26 16 24 110-105 76
Total (Division 2) 20 7 7 6 31- 25 21
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Grand Total) 102 39 26 37 160-150 118
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This match will be the 103rd 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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West Ham have made their usual poor start to the season but have improved
in recent weeks. There was considerable surprise when Harry Redknapp
resigned as their manager towards the end of last season and Glenn Roeder
was appointed as his successor. Redknapp apparently resigned on a matter
of principle over his transfer transactions, an area in which he has since
been criticised. Their player Paolo Di Canio has criticised West Ham in
the past for their apparent lack of ambition (where did Spurs fans hear
that from?) but Di Canio has so far stayed loyal to West Ham.
So far only Frank Lampard Jr has left West Ham but his move to Chelsea has
not been the success he must have hoped for. Chelsea have yet to impose
themselves in the League and have been eliminated from Europe. On paper,
West Ham have a promising squad with youngsters such as Michael Carrick
coming along and blending with the experienced Don Hutchison, who recently
returned to Upton Park from Sunderland. But their problems have been a
leaky defence as Rio Ferdinand has never been adequately replaced and up
front where far too much depends on Kanoute.
Over the years, Spurs -v- West Ham encounters have usually been close,
thrilling encounters. One of the exceptions was that when I made my first
visit to Upton Park back in August 1962. Spurs thrashed West Ham United
6-1, Greaves scoring twice, Medwin, White and Jones one apiece and a
certain John Lyall contributed an own goal to the rout. West Ham were
awful that day in the warm August sunshine.
The next visit I recall was in September 1964. It was the day that Dave
Mackay broke his leg a second time playing for the Reserves at Tottenham.
We lost 3-2 at Upton Park, mostly because of the brilliant play of one
'Budgie' Byrne. Greaves scored both Tottenham goals, one of which was a
penalty. I remember leaving Upton Park to hear the news of Mackay's latest
injury ....... We all thought he'd never come back from that!
A happier memory for me was the game we played at Upton Park on 9th May
1967. We were unbeaten in the League since January when we had lost 1-0 at
Old Trafford. We won 2-0 that night with goals from Greaves and Gilzean. I
remember travelling home on the tube with the carriages shaking to the
stomping and singing of the Spurs fans celebrating Tottenham's return to
Europe.
Spurs also won in September 1969 when Jimmy Pearce scored the only goal of
the match. Pearce had made his debut the previous season and was
developing into a tricky left winger. Unhappily for Pearce he was badly
injured a couple of seasons later and was forced to retire from the game.
The match at Upton Park in October 1970 was probably the best game I ever
saw at Upton Park. Tommy Taylor, then very boyishly slim, made his debut
after signing from Leyton Orient. The two teams put on a brilliant show of
football and no one denied the 2-2 draw was a fair result. Mullery and
England scored the Tottenham goals.
That was the last time I went to Upton Park for a very long time. As the
gates closed on a huge crowd, I managed to get a place on the North Bank
where some idiots were letting off bangers on the packed terraces, one of
which went off behind me. The police were kept busy that afternoon,
frequently ejecting people from both ends of the ground. It was such a
shame that idiots detracted from the publicity of a brilliant game of
football.
Both Spurs and West Ham have a good reputation for trying to play football
that is pleasant to watch. They have had their hard men, notably Julian
Dicks for West Ham and Dave Mackay for Tottenham but, in the main, both
played in the spirit of the Laws of the Game. Both clubs have tried to
avoid playing defensive type football. Both have tried to choose managers
who reflected their ethos and both try to promote from within.
It is difficult to predict the outcome of Saturday's match but I feel that
Tottenham have a more settled outlook about time than West Ham have. I
take Spurs to win 2-1, with goals coming late in the match.
COME ON YOU SPURS!
Cheers, Brian
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