"It was Twenty Years ago today!"
article published December, 2017, but first written in 1997 by the late Brian Judson

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Full Record of Tottenham Hotspur -v- Coventry City

Prem            Pl   W   D   L   For-Ag  Pts
Home             5   1   0   4     6-10   3
Away             5   3   0   2     9-5    9
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Total (Prem)    10   4   0   6    15-15  12
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Football Lge
Home (Div 1)    24  14   6   4    50-30  39
Away (Div 1)    24   8  10   6    33-30  29
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Total (Div 1)   48  22  16  10    83-60  68
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Football Lge
Home (Div 2)     8   6   2   0    18-5   14
Away (Div 2)     8   2   1   5     9-13   5
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Total (Div 2)   16   8   3   5    27-18  19
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Total (Prem)    10   4   0   6    15-15  12
Total (Div 1)   48  22  16  10    83-60  68
Total (Div 2)   16   8   3   5    27-18  19
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Grand Total     74  34  19  21   125-93  99
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Coventry and Tottenham matches have rarely produced a fixture as vital as this one could prove to be ultimately. Last season, the match at Tottenham *was* vital for Coventry as they snatched a crucial win by scoring goals through Dublin and Williams before McVeigh scored what proved to be the final goal of the season.

The only other crucial match at the end of the season is one we all prefer to wish had ended after Clive Allen had scored in the 3rd minute! There should be no need to remind readers of that particular fixture. That was, of course, the match where half the team were wearing a shirt that did not display the sponsor's name thanks to a cock-up by the-then kit manager.

Until 1967-68, all matches between Spurs and Coventry had been at Division 2 level. At the end of 1966-67, Coventry City, captained by George Curtis, and managed by Jimmy Hill, had won the championship of the old Division 2. On the eve of their debut in the old Division 1, Jimmy Hill walked out on Coventry for a career as a TV pundit.

I remember the first game I saw Spurs and Coventry played in Division 1. We won 4-2 but at one stage we were 4-0 up. Mackay scored what proved to be the last goal he scored for Tottenham with Greaves (2) and Jones scoring for Spurs. Earlier that season, we had beaten Coventry, 3-2, at Highfield Road.

The following season, Spurs again did the double over Coventry. We won 2-1 up there (Chivers and Gilzean) and 2-0 at Tottenham (Neil Johnson and Jimmy Pearce). Johnson was nothing special as a player but did work very hard, unlike some of his more expensive colleagues. Pearce was a good find and would have gone to the top had not his career been shattered by injury, like another Tottenham player of that time, Roger Morgan. (In passing, I might add that the foul committed on Roger Morgan by a Sheffield United defender was as bad a foul as the one committed by Vinnie Jones on Gary Stevens.)

In 1969-70, it was obvious that some rebuilding was necessary. In December 1969, we lost 3-2 at Coventry (England, Gilzean) and in March 1970, we lost at home 1-2. This was our third consecutive defeat. We had lost against Everton at home and away and now crashed against Coventry. Making his debut that day for Tottenham was Martin Peters, who scored on his debut with a typical blind side run. I may be wrong in saying so but I never felt Peters was fully appreciated by some Tottenham fans. In my opinion, Peters was one of the very best signings Bill Nicholson ever made.

I'll now jump forward a few seasons to relate a cup story. We were on our way to Wembley in 1981. Coventry were proving to be very hard to break down and we were slightly off song. But everything changed when Paul Dyson made a hash of a pass back to his 'keeper (who I believe was a very young Les Sealey). After that we never looked back and Hughton, Ardiles and Archibald scored the goals we needed.

Over the years, Coventry have struggled more than most clubs but always seem to come right at the vital moment. This is something Spurs need to do in what is potentially a six point match. If we lose the match, we will be that much deeper in trouble. Huckerby, if he plays, is sure to provide us with problems. It looks as though we will be playing Scales and Campbell, both of whom are carrying injuries. With Vega unavailable from suspension, I don't think Tottenham have any alternative. Neither Calderwood, who was never the quality defender we needed, nor Mabbutt, who is long past his best, are up to the job of trying to subdue the lively Huckerby.

Over the last few years, we had different players sent off for stupid reasons at Coventry. Gazza, of course, was one because he could not resist making stupid comments to the match officials, who seem to be really tender at Highfield Road for some reason. We cannot afford any more dismissals or suspensions if we are to survive.

I hope we win but we need to be completely focussed to do so.

Cheers, Brian

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