This preview was written by Brian Judson
Full Record of Spurs -v- West Ham United
Prem Pl W D L For-Ag Pts
Home 5 3 0 2 6 - 6 6
Away 5 2 1 2 10 - 9 7
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Total (Prem) 10 5 1 4 16 -15 16
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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) 10 5 1 4 16 -15 16
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 96 38 24 34 157 -145 113
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"I'm forever blowing bubbles
Pretty little bubbles in the air
They fly so high
They nearly reach the sky-yyy-yyyy
Then, like West Ham,
They fade and die ..........
I'm forever blowing bubbles
Pretty little bubbles in the air"
Once, West Ham had Trevor Brooking in their ranks, floating like a
butterfly, but going AWOL when the going got tough. But if the players
were fragile, their supporters certainly were not, as anyone who ever
became caught up in one of the Firm's rucks know to their cost.
Once, West Ham were a team you could guarantee to beat home and away
with scarcely any effort, even when they fielded that immortal trio of
Moore, Hurst and, um, er, Peters, him of that description of being a
player some ten years before his time.
Once, Upton Park was a nice small ground that exuded warmth and
friendship to all and sundry. But I think this began to die the day
Manchester United came to town on 6 May 1967 and the Stretford Enders
wrecked the local market.
I remember going to West Ham a few times in the 1960s. I can remember
Spurs thrashing West Ham 6-1 at Upton Park, with that very good 'keeper,
Lawrie Leslie in goal. I can remember another visit when Budgie Byrne
ran rings round us and we lost 3-2. That was the Saturday when Dave
Mackay was playing for Spurs Reserves and broke his leg again, playing
against Shrewsbury Town Reserves. Greaves scored quite a few goals
against West Ham in those days.
Although not relevant as it was our first ever League Cup tie, I must
recall our visit there in September 1966. I remember the ball ran out of
play and the linesman flagged for a throw in to the Hammers. Gilzean
swore at the linesman as he was sure it had been a West Ham player (yes
it was!) who had last touched the ball. The linesman waved the flag
again and the referee came over. The linesman told him what Gilzean had
said and Gilzean swore at him again, calling into question his parentage
and describing the colour of his guts as being yellow. The referee
promptly sent him off. Gilzean always expressed himself in no uncertain
manner!
Happier memories are recalled of our visit there in May 1967 when our
2-0 win there confirmed we were back in Europe, not withstanding what
happened at Wembley against Chelsea. I remember we were all singing and
stomping in the tube trains travelling back to Central London. Happy
days!
But for me the best game I ever saw at Upton Park was the 2-2 draw there
on 17 October 1970. It was a real humdinger, end to end football, and I
think everyone felt they'd seen a very good game. Mullery and England
scored for us and I believe Tommy Taylor made his debut for West Ham
that day.
I never went back to West Ham after that, mostly because of the rise of
the Inter City firm, so I have no later recollections to make of our
games there. Suffice to say that the games were friendly but well-fought
and they were matches connoisseurs always looked forward to watching.
I think Spurs are capable of getting a draw there. We have some players
out injured whilst West Ham have a stronger squad at the moment. Perhaps
we will see a 2-2 draw?
Cheers, Brian
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