This preview was written by Brian Judson

Full Record of Tottenham Hotspur -v- Coventry City

Prem            Pl   W   D   L   For-Ag  Pts
Home             6   1   1   4     7-11   4
Away             7   3   1   3    10-10  10
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Total (Prem)    13   4   2   7    17-21  14
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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)    13   4   2   7    17-21  14
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     77  34  21  22   127-99 101
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Fresh from our victory over Wimbledon in the FA Cup, we now resume our quest for League points with a visit from Coventry City. Since their promotion to the old First Division at the end of the 1966-67 season, they have clung to their position in the top tier ever since, often by virtue of a shock victory over the opposition of the final day of the season. Memories are still fresh in our memories of their last day victory over us at the end of 1996-97 when they needed to beat us *and* rely on all the other fixtures involving clubs in the relegation battle losing. Somehow, fate and Lady Luck was kind to Coventry that day ....

Coventry City were elected to the Football League at the same AGM at which Tottenham were cynically relegated to Division 2 in the summer of 1919. Their first ever match in the League was at home to Tottenham on 30 August 1919. Coventry's team was : Lindon; Roberts, Chaplin, Allan, Hawley, Clarke, Sheldon, Mercer, Sambrooke, Lowes, Gibson. Tottenham's team was : Jacques; Clay, Pearson, Smith, Minter, Grimsdell, Walden, A Lindsey, Cantrell, Bliss, Chipperfield. Our scorers were : Bliss 2, Chipperfield 2, Grimsdell. The attendance was : 15,000.

In view of their history over the last 30 odd years, it will come as no surprise when I say that Coventry avoided relegation to the new Third Division by four points. Grimsby Town finished bottom and were the only Northern club in a league dominated by Southern clubs.

Coventry struggled in each of the following seasons and were finally relegated at the end of season 1924-25 to the Third Division (North). But in 1926-27 they switched to the Third Division (South). In their new surroundings they generally finished around the middle of the table but in 1933-34 they were runners-up to Norwich City, scoring 100 goals that season. But promotion was secured at the end of 1935-36 when they finished a point ahead of Luton Town. Coventry scored 102 goals that season.

Back in Division 2 during 1936-37, Coventry finished higher in the table than Tottenham. Our final position that season is the lowest we have ever finished in the Football League as we were 10th. We had still to re-adjust to our lower standing following the brutal shock of relegation at the end of 1934-35. Moreover, there was disharmony throughout the club with the Board interfering with decisions made by the manager.

In the remaining seasons prior to the outbreak of WW2, Coventry were consistently on the fringe for promotion without ever looking likely to go up. After the war, there was a slow decline until finally Coventry were relegated again at the end of season 1951-52. They never looked likely promotion challengers and at the end of 1957-58 were one of the founder-members of the Fourth Division.

Coventry's long journey to the top flight then began. They were promoted to the old Division 3 at the end of 1958-59 as runners-up to Port Vale. In 1963-64 Coventry City were promoted to the old Division 2 as Champions with Crystal Palace as runners-up. By now, Jimmy Hill was their manager, making many innovations. In 1966-67, Coventry City were promoted to the old Division 1 as Champions, with Wolves as the runners-up.

On the eve of their debut season in Division 1, Jimmy Hill suddenly walked out on the club to take up an appointment with London Weekend Television as co-presenter of The Big Match with Brian Moore.

Since their promotion, Coventry have generally successfully battled to avoid relegation. Coventry and Wimbledon remain the only clubs who can genuinely claim *NEVER* to have been relegated from top flight football. If a Gooner tries to make a case out for this particular honour, look at them pityingly and merely point him/her to the final table for 1912-13 and point to the name of the club occupying 20th position.

Apart from winning the Divisional titles over the years, Coventry have only won one major honour. I believe this occurred in 1987 but selective amnesia does not permit me to discuss the events that took place that year.

I think that we will win this match, 2-1. We should be winning matches against teams like Coventry if we are to climb into the top half of the table and stay there. The squad ought to be playing for their lives in the light of George Graham's announcement that he expects there to be a huge turnover in the staff in the next twelve months.

Enjoy the game!

Cheers, Brian

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