Spurs on this day no 36 - FA Cup 5th round

By Dave P
February 19 2005

It's FA Cup time again and our opponents here are of Course Nottingham Forest. We have not met them on this day but we have played them at this stage of the competition before,

It's FA Cup time again and our opponents here are of Course Nottingham Forest. We have not met them on this day but we have played them at this stage of the competition before, and not that long ago. In 1996 we travelled up to The City Ground on a cold monday night in February for a live televised fixture. As we parked up for the game a few flakes of snow started falling. Having made our way inside the ground we had a few beers and made our way to our seats and the snow was still falling but no problem, the game started. After ten minutes the referee called for an orange ball as the snow got heavier, and heavier, and turned into a blizzard. Seven minutes later it was obvious that the game could not continue and it was abandoned at 0-0. The Spurs fans made their way back to their cars to dig them out of about 6 inches of snow.3 hours later (if they were lucky) they had got as far as the M1. Seven Hours it took me to get home that night - A journey that usually took an hour and a half.

A week later (on the following wednesday) we all returned and witnessed a 2-2 draw with both Spurs goals scored by Chris Armstrong. The replay was arranged for the 6th round day on a saturday afternoon at the lane. After another draw (this time it was 1-1 after extra time) it went to a penalty shoot out which we we lost 3-1 so we owe them.

Whilst on the subject of abandoned games, on the 27th November 1948 we were playing Nottingham Forest in a Second Division game at White Hart Lane when it had to be abandoned at 0-0 after 17 minutes because of heavy fog. (We won the replayed game on 12th February 2-1). In the team that night was one Ron Burgess, the captain of the team that won the second division a year later and the championship the season after that and who passed away this week. Interestingly, Ron Burgess guested for Nottingham Forest during the second world war.

The previous encounter to the 1996 meeting in the cup was of course the 1991 Cup Final and we all know what happened there don't we. Year ending in 1 and all that.

In 1975 it was an away draw in the 3rd round and we drew the first game 1-1 (Chivers getting the goal) but once again Forest won the replay, this time 1-0

In 1971 we were drawn to play Nottingham Forest at home in the 5th round and this time we won the game 2-1 with goals from Alan Gilzean and Martin Chivers. Unfortunately we were then knocked out at the Quarter final stage 1-0 by Liverpool in a replay at White Hart Lane after we had held them to a 0-0 draw at Anfield.

In 1967 We played Nottingham Forest in the Semi Final at Hillsborough winning 2-1 with Jimmy Greaves and Frank Saul scoring the goals that secured a place in the final against Chelsea



Now for a run down of the Cup winning years,

1901 and in what was then the third round and our opponents away on 23rd March were Reading This was a 1-1 draw, Kiwan scoring and the replay was at White Hart Lane on the 28th March. We won this match 3-0 in front of 11,600 paying customers with Sandy Brown scoring twice and david Copeland getting the other one.

1921 and another 3rd round tie away, this time at Southend United. 11,600 fans at this game saw us win 4-1 with goals from Jimmy Banks, Jimmy Seed, Jimmy Cantrell and Bert Bliss. I wonder how many other times three different Jimmys have scored in one game?

1961 and our fifth round opponents on 18th February were Aston Villa at Villa Park. 65,474 witnessed this one as we beat them 2-1. Cliff Jones and a Neil og deciding it.

The following year (1962) we were drawn away again, this time to West Bromwich Albion on 17th February and a 4-2 win watched by a crowd of 53,539. Jimmy Greaves and Bobby Smith scoring twice each.

On to 11th March 1967 a home game against Bristol City. 54,610 saw us win this one 2-0 with Greaves getting both goals, one from the penalty spot.

1981, 14th February and it was Coventry Citys turn to be knocked out of the cup at White Hart Lane. Chris Hughton, Ossie Ardiles and Steve Archibald finding the net as we won 3-0.

On the 13th February 1982 a crowd of 43,419 saw Mark Falco score the only goal of the game as we knocked Aston Villa out in the fifth round again.

And finally to 1991 and the fifth round tie away to Portsmouth. The game where Terry Fenwick broke his ankle in the pre match warm up. Paul Gascoigne saw us through with both goals in our 2-1 victory.


And so to The year of the Cockerel and a fifth round tie against a midlands club. 1981 it was Coventry, this year its Nottingham Forest against whom, whenever we were drawn out of the bag first we have won 2-1. 1971 at home in the 5th round and 1967 in the Semi-final.

Come on you Lillywhites.