Spurs on this day - No 32 in an occasional series

By Dave P
January 29 2005

Its FA Cup time again and our opponents this weekend are Martin Jols old side West Bromwich Albion who have won the Cup 5 times. We have played them in this competition 9 times winning 5 of those games, most recently on 29th January 1983 when we won the home tie 2-1 with goals from Terry Gibson and Garth Crooks. Martin Jol was the number 7 for West Brom on that day.

There are two other ties I would like to consider. First of all on 17th February 1962 we played them at the Hawthorns in the fifth round winning 4-2 with two goals apiece from Bobby Smith and Jimmy Greaves. Going back to 1948 we played them in the fourth round on 24th January at White Hart Lane in front of 71,853 supporters. (The third highest at the Lane) They were treated to a 3-1 victory with goals scored by Freddie Cox and a pair from Len 'the Duke'Duquemin.

A word about Arthur James Frederick Cox. He spent 36 years in football as a player, coach, assistant manager and manager. Born in Reading in November 1920 he joined Spurs as an amateur in 1936 turning professional in August 1938 after a spell at our nursery club Northfleet. He scored on his senior debut against Swansea in November 1938 and went on to score 26 goals in 144 games in Spurs colours from his position on the right wing. Awarded the DFC during the war he left Spurs for Woolwich in September 1949. He left the Gooners in 1953 to become player coach of West Bromwich Albion later acting as Assistant Manager under the his former Spurs team mate Vic Buckingham. After leaving The Baggies he went on to manage Bournemouth (twice) Portsmouth and Gillingham before retiring in 1970. He then ran a newsagents in Bournemouth up until his death in August 1973.

Now lets have a quick look at our Cup winning years,

1901 and in what was then the second round and our opponents at home on 23rd February were Bury. We won this match 2-1 in front of 20,250 paying customers with Sandy Brown scoring both goals. In the Semi Final in 1901 we played West Brom at Villa Park on April 8th. We won this match 4-0 with Sandy Brown scoring all four goals, a record in the cup at the time not equalled until 1934 when Fred Tilson did the same for Manchester City in the Semi Final against Aston Villa.

1921 and another 2nd round game at White Hart Lane on the 29th January. The opponents were Bradford City. This was a game we won 4-0. with a Jimmy Seed hat-trick and a goal from Jimmy Banks.

1961 and our third Round opponents on 28th January were Crewe Alexandra. 63,721 were at the lane to see a 5-1 victory with five different scorers. Dave Mackay, Cliff Jones, Bobby Smith, Les Allen and Terry Dyson.

The following year (1962) we were drawn away to Plymouth Argyle on 27th January and another 5-1 win. Goals this time supplied by Terry Medwin, John White, two from Jimmy Greaves and one from Cliff Jones.

On to 18th February 1967 next and a home game against Portsmouth. 57,910 saw us win this one 3-1 with Greaves and Gizean (twice) getting on the scoresheet.

1981 and it was Hull Citys turn to be knocked out of the cup at White hart Lane by a team that won 2-0 with Steve Archibald and Garry Brooke finding the net.

On the 23rd January 1982 a crowd of 46,126 saw Garth Crooks score the only goal in the home tie against Leeds United

And the last time we won the cup 1991 our third round opponents (Once again at the Lane) were Oxford United. A game we did not have entirely our own way but we won in the end by the score 4-2. Goals on this occasion were provided by Gary Mabbutt, Gary Lineker and a brace for Gazza.

The year of the cockerel and 'possibly' a Brown in the side? Come on you Lillywhites.