Articles first written in 1999 by the late Brian Judson

Full Record of Spurs -v- Barnsley

Prem           Pl   W   D   L   For-Ag  Pts
Home            1   1   0   0     3-0    3
Away            1   0   1   0     1-1    1
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Total (Prem)    2   1   1   0     4-1    4
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Football Lge
Home (Div 1)    0   0   0   0     0-0    0
Away (Div 1)    0   0   0   0     0-0    0
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Total (Div 1)   0   0   0   0     0-0    0
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Football Lge
Home (Div 2)   13  11   1   1    36-10  23
Away (Div 2)   13   2   3   8    11-24   7
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Total (Div 2)  26  13   4   9    47-34  30
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Total (Prem)    2   1   1   0     4-1    4
Total (Div 1)   0   0   0   0     0-0    0
Total (Div 2)  26  13   4   9    47-34  30
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Grand Total    28  14   5   9    51-35  34
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Cup Ties :
FA Cup :

1997-98 FAC4 H 1-1 Campbell
       FAC4R A 1-3 Ginola

Football League Cup :

1986-87 FLC2/1 A 3-2 C Allen, Roberts, Waddle
        FLC2/2 H 5-3 Hoddle 2, Close, Galvin, C Allen

The memory of last season's clash with Barnsley is still close. No one connected with Tottenham will forget the sense of injustice when Clemence was dismissed by the referee and Spurs crashed to a defeat at the feet of a team destined for relegation from the Premier League.

During the summer Danny Wilson left Barnsley and was succeeded by John Hendrie, a much travelled journeyman footballer. It took much of the autumn before Barnsley came to terms with their demotion, something that afflicts most relegated teams. Even Bolton have had their share of this affliction this season, although they are now in contention for automatic promotion again. Hendrie has steadied the ship but too late to force themselves into reckoning for even the play-offs. Perhaps this is best for Barnsley as they have limited reserves, both playing and financially.

As Spurs have again little in playing history in cup ties with Barnsley, I am again looking at the wider issues of the Sixth Round of the Cup within my own recollection.

The first Sixth Round tie that I can remember is that against Sunderland in season 1960-61. Spurs took an early lead through Cliff Jones but Sunderland equalised with a late goal that set the Rokerite fans into a delirious ecstasy. The replay the following Wednesday saw Spurs in deadly form. Dyson scored twice, Mackay, Bobby Smith and Les Allen adding one each in a 5-0 thrashing of the North East side.

A year later, Spurs beat Aston Villa, 2-0, at Tottenham, on a very muddy pitch. Blanchflower and Jones scored the goals that clearly demoralised Villa who gave up without a fight.

Spurs did not have another Sixth Round tie until April 1967. For the third time in a decade they were Wembley bound. This time, they drew 0-0 at Birmingham City in a dreadful, ill-tempered game in which Knowles feuded with Hockey until a stinging backhander from Dave Mackay forced Knowles to abandon the feud and concentrate on playing football. Surprisingly, considering Birmingham were at home, they seemed content to play for a draw. Spurs had their chances to win the match but wasted the lot.

The replay was a vastly different match. Venables needed only ninety seconds to put Spurs ahead after Greaves put him through. After twenty minutes, Venables added a second from a Knowles free kick. Gilzean added a third from a Robertson centre. Greaves added a fourth four minutes after the break. With fifteen minutes left, Greaves added a fifth and Saul scored the sixth three minutes from the end. The team that played those two games was the Cup Final side.

I still cannot believe we failed to beat Manchester City at Maine Road in our Sixth Round tie in March 1969. We threw everything at them and somehow their goal bore a charmed life. Yet when they attacked, they had all the luck in the world as I think, Young, didn't connect with the ball properly and the ball bobbled over the line. Had the ball been struck properly, Jennings would certainly have saved it.

Two seasons later, we drew 0-0 at Anfield and lost 0-1 at Tottenham to Liverpool. Heighway scored the goal that beat us in the replay. But Clemence was the busier of the two 'keepers whilst Jennings was largely a spectator for most of the match.

A year later, we lost at Leeds when Pratt gave Spurs the lead, courtesy of a Sprake error but Spurs then gave away two goals that Spurs ought to have stopped, particularly the winner by Charlton, who was totally unmarked at a corner kick.

Spurs did not have another 6th Round tie until 1978-79. That was our first season back in the old First Division after a year downstairs. We drew at home to Manchester United, 1-1, thanks to an Ardiles goal but lost the replay at Old Trafford, 2-0.

A year later, we were at home to Liverpool but lost 0-1 when McDermott scored a goal that was later voted Goal of the Season.

In 1980-81, it was the year of the Cockerel and Spurs were on their way to Wembley to fulfill Ossie's Dream. But Exeter City gave them a fright at the Lane in the 6th Round. They were very stubborn and very difficult to break down until key player Ian Pearson was injured midway through the second half. The Grecians had to reshuffle and Spurs took full advantage of that with Roberts heading them ahead and Miller killing the tie soon after.

A year later, Spurs played Chelsea at the Bridge. I have described this tie before. It was, in my opinion, *the* Cup Final of 1982. Fillery gave Chelsea the lead before half-time. Then, in a fifteen minute period after half-time, Spurs produced some of their finest football for over twenty years. The terraces sung "We'll take more care of you, Archie, Archie, ARCHI-BALD!" as the Scot dashed in to score from the rebound as Francis failed to hold a long range shot from Hoddle. I can still see Archibald dancing and waving to the fans at the Britannia end of the ground. Then some brilliant inter-passing between Archibald, Hazard and Hoddle saw Hoddle drive the ball home through a forest of legs to put Spurs 2-1 ahead. "GLENN HODDLE IS MAGIC!" sang our fans. Hazard drove the fans to higher crescendos as he drove the ball home from the edge of the area. But Mayes hit back to make the score 3-2 with only minutes left. It was a truly great game and no one who saw that game will ever forget it.

Spurs did not have another 6th Round tie until March 1987 when they were Wembley bound again. This time it was Wimbledon at Plough Lane. Spurs had no problems in disposing of the Dons thanks to goals by Waddle and Hoddle.

It was not until March 1991 when Spurs next played a Sixth Round tie. This was against Notts County at Tottenham. Gazza was in action at both ends of the pitch. Nayim and Gazza scored the goals that saw Tottenham through to the Semi-Final but it was Gazza's error that led to Notts County opening the scoring through a goal by O'Riordan.

Two years later, Spurs travelled to Maine Road. The game was televised and memories are clear of Nayim's sensational hat-trick. If I recall correctly, Nayim only had four shots at their goal and scored from three of them. Sedgley scored the other goal. The game was marred by the opposing fans who tried to provoke the Tottenham fans into invading the pitch and starting a fight. The sight of mounted policemen on a football pitch remains one of my saddest memories in football.

In 1994-95, Spurs won 2-1 at Liverpool. No one will ever forget Klinsmann's vital goal two minutes from the end which really stunned Liverpool. Sheringham scored the other Tottenham goal cancelling out an early Fowler goal on the brink of half-time. It was the zenith of a season that eventually ended on a very sour note and Klinsmann's dramatic exit.

Spurs have not figured in the Sixth Round since then.

And the outcome of the tie? Hopefully we will win first time. Some of the players are becoming noticeably tired so we need to avoid unnecessary extra matches if the team is to remain on top line. But we should be capable of beating Barnsley and I tip us to do so, 3-0.

Cheers, Brian

The match was postponed (due to snow in the North of England) on March 6th, so Brian wrote the following additional comments:-

I thought I would devote some space in this (supplementary) preview to matches in which I am aware a game was either postponed or abandoned, whether League fixture or Cup tie.

The classic case in which a tie was either postponed or abandoned occurred as long ago as February 1904 when Spurs were hosts to Aston Villa in a Third Round cup tie. Villa were in the upper reaches of the First Division whilst Spurs were still in the Southern League. Spurs were able to boast that since the formation of the Football League in September 1888 they had been the only non-League club to have won the FA Cup (they still are!) and the only team south of Birmingham to have taken the cup back to London. (Indeed they remained the only club who could make that boast, having won it twice until Arsenal won the Cup in 1930!) Spurs were in fact destined to finish runners-up in the Southern League and win the Western League that season.

On the day of the match, 32,000 spectators crammed into the ground. It has to be borne in mind that there was little more than what is now the lower terracing existing at that time. Photos exist to show the terracing was solidly packed behind one goal and alongside one wing. Spurs placed seating around the perimeter of the pitch.

During the first half, Villa snatched the lead and went in at half-time 1-0 ahead. The patrons of the seating around the pitch strolled on to the pitch and were joined by others from the terraces. When the teams emerged for the start of the second half, the spectators refused to leave the pitch. The referee had no option but to abandon the game and reported Spurs to the Football Association. This may have been the first incident in which the crowd deliberately set out to get a match abandoned. Spurs were fined 350 ukp, a considerable sum in those days, and ordered to replay the game at Villa Park. Spurs won that game, 1-0, which was, perhaps, rather unjust on Aston Villa. Perhaps a more appropriate punishment might have been to have awarded the game to Aston Villa?

Over the years, of course, there were matches postponed due to the weather. In Southern and Western League days, there were a number of matches abandoned due to heavy rain. Spurs' first Football League match to be abandoned because of the weather was on 23 October 1909 when their Division One match at Preston was abandoned after 50 minutes due to heavy rain with the score 0-0. (It was subsequently rearranged for 22 November 1909 and Spurs lost 1-4, Bobby Steel scoring Spurs' only goal.)

The following season, Spurs' home game against Oldham Athletic, on 28 January 1911, was abandoned at half-time, due to fog, with the score 1-1, Bob Crompton having scored our goal. (The Division One match was replayed on 27 March 1911. We won 2-0, Billy Minter and Bobby Steel scoring our goals.)

On January 6th 1912, the away game at WBA was abandoned after 57 minutes due to fog with the score 0-0. Spurs lost the re-arranged game on 13 March 1912, 0-2.

On 12 October 1912, the home game with Notts County was abandoned after 80 minutes with Spurs, losing 1-3, Charlie Rance scoring our goal. The rearranged match took place on 4 November 1912 but Spurs lost 0-3.

Spurs did not lose another game to the weather in peace time football until 27 November 1948. The Second Division home game with Nottingham Forest was abandoned after 17 minutes with the score 0-0 due to fog. The game was replayed on 12 February 1949 (Spurs and Forest were out of the Cup) and Spurs won 2-1 thanks to goals by Duquemin and Bennett. (There were, of course several matches lost to the weather conditions because of heavy snowfalls in February 1947 but in none of these games did the game actually start.)

We now come within the range of my own personal memories. There were, of course, many games postponed in January and February 1963 during which this country was suffering from extremely cold weather. Apart from one cup tie, two League matches and two friendlies, Spurs did not play a match between 26 December 1962 (following the home game with Ipswich) and March 2 (when we played the home game with WBA). The two League games were on 19 January 1963 (Blackpool home, won 2-0, Greaves 2) and 23 February 1963 (Arsenal away, won 3-2, Marchi, Bobby Smith, Jones).

I can remember travelling to Tottenham for the home leg of the European Cup Winners Cup tie on 27 November 1963. It was four days after President Kennedy's assassination in Dallas. I stood on the higher level of the covered terraces at the Park Lane end of the ground. (This was before they were converted to seating.) Manchester United came out from the tunnel from the dressing rooms followed by Tottenham at 7.25pm. As the Tottenham team disappeared in the direction of the Paxton Road end, a very thick fog suddenly engulfed the ground. There was no option but to abandon the game before a ball was kicked. (A week later, on 3 December 1963, the game was played, and Spurs won 2-0. They lost the second leg, 1-4, and Dave Mackay, who broke his left leg.)

A year later, the John White Memorial Match was arranged for November 10th 1964 but was called off because of fog. The game was played the following evening and Spurs lost 6-2 to a Scottish international XI. This was our first sighting of Alan Gilzean, who signed for us a month later.

In 1968-69, I remember travelling to Tottenham for a home game against QPR on 30 November 1968. I got to the ground at 2.00pm with the signs up saying the game had been postponed. Bear in mind that in those days I only lived two and a half miles from the ground. As far as I can recall now, after 31 years, there was a sudden blizzard of snow from the North Sea, although my memory may be faulty. But the game was, of course, postponed for some reason. (It was subsequently played on 29 January 1969, a game we should all remember because it was the occasion on which Phil Beal, playing at right back (Kinnear was injured with a broken leg) scored his one and only goal for Spurs in a 3-2 win. Gilzean and the incredibly hapless former Gooner David Jenkins scored the other goals.)

I have described the series of disasters that befell us during 1969-70 when we attempted to play Spurs -v- Everton before. Originally scheduled for 29 November 1969, the game fell victim to the weather, being called off as late as 2.20pm, if I recall correctly. It was rearranged for 17 December 1969. The game actually started but was abandoned after 29 minutes because of floodlight failure. The game was re-arranged for several other dates but was postponed until it was eventually played on 11 March 1970, when Everton won 1-0.

I have a feeling that our Cup ties with Wrexham and Oldham during February 1979 were weather affected. Certainly our home tie with Wrexham was played long after the due date for the Fourth Round. A quick check of the appropriate Rothman's Yearbook indicates that Wrexham's Third Round tie with Stockport did not take place until 1 February 1979. Thus we had three cup ties in swift succession with our drawing 3-3 at home to Wrexham on 12 February 1979, winning the replay 3-0 on 21 February 1979 thanks to a hat-trick (fx swoons!) by Chris Jones of all people and our Fifth Round tie with Oldham on 28 February 1979. If I recall correctly, the latter tie was played on a bone hard Boundary Park pitch and Stevie Perryman scored the only goal of the match.

Offhand, I cannot recall any other weather affected matches until we were due to play Nottingham Forest in a match covered by Sky on 19 February 1996. The match at the City Ground started with hardly any snow falling after the pitch had been passed fit after earlier snowfalls and the lines had been painted in blue. But soon after the game started, just as Tottenham began to get on top, a further blizzard whistled in and it was impossible to play in the conditions. The referee had no alternative but to abandon the game after 15 minutes with the score 0-0. (The replayed tie on 28 February 1996 saw us draw 2-2 thanks to two goals by Chris Armstrong and the replay saw us lose 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw after extra time. Sheringham scored in normal time and Fox was our only scorer in the penalty shoot-out.)

Barnsley, no doubt, will have most of their injured players back for the re-arranged tie. Spurs should be more or less at full strength and, hopefully, in the right frame of mind for the match, bearing in mind the venue for the next match after this one. Providing Spurs play with 100 per cent commitment, they should overcome Barnsley and set up a Semi-Final tie with Newcastle at Old Trafford.

Cheers, Brian

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