Spurs on this day - Pre season vs European teams

By Dave P
August 6 2005

As we approach a new season full of the usual trepidation and expectations I started looking at facts and figures for what will be a new series of 'Spurs on this Day' articles where we look at days gone by.

Spurs History - Pre season against European Teams

As we approach a new season full of the usual trepidation and expectations I started looking at facts and figures for what will be a new series of 'Spurs on this Day' articles where we look at days gone by. Now for the 'on this day' articles last season I tried to find matches played 'on this day' or very close to the date where that was not possible. I will try and do the same this season but for today I thought I would have a look for some pre season games played around this time of the year concentrating on European opposition.

Now back in the good old days the season didn't start until late September or October so games in August in the early days are few and far between. So what was the first 'pre season' game against foreign opposition I asked myself? The answer to that is found in a game played on 14th August 1954 in France. Our opponents were Olympique Lille and Len Duquemin scored our goal in an honourable 1-1 draw.

It was to be a further three years before we again met a European team before the start of the season and this time we travelled to Germany for an encounter with VFB Stuttgart. This time it was Bobby Smith who got on the scoresheet twice as we drew 2-2.

The next Pre season Friendly against a European team came after our success in winning the Cup Winners Cup in 1963 and was not in fact until 8th August 1964 and this time we travelled to Holland to play Feyenoord. We were not to win this game but we did score three times with goals from Jimmy Greaves, Dave mackay and Terry Dyson. Unfortunately Feyenoord scored 4 times.

When did we win a European pre season game I began to wonder and the answer to that comes a year after the Feyenoord game and involved a trip to Spain when we played in the 'Costa Del Sol Tournament'. On 14th August 1965 we played Valencia and won 2-1 with goals from Edward Clayton and Cliff Jones. This was followed on the following day with a 1-0 victory over Standard Liege. Alan Mullery providing the goal on that occasion.

Now all these games were away so I wondered when we first played decent European opposition at home as a curtain opener and the answer to that took place on 16th August 1976 when our guests at the Lane were Royal Antwerp. Our Goal in the 1-1 on that day was scored by our new striker, Gerry Armstrong.

Be nice to see a new player get on the scoresheet today.