Today I'm going back 28 years to 18th July 1993 and a pre-season Friendly match between Drogheda United and Spurs played at United Park, Drogheda in the Republic of Ireland.
This was the first game in my one and only 365 day football season. It started in Drogheda on 18th July 1993 and ended in Los Angeles the following year on 17th July 1994. It's a debate that often takes place between serial football match attendees: when does your season start? For some, they like to pick a date such as 1st July which is their cut-off point for the end of the old season and the start of the new. For me, I like to see the completion of end of season competitions such as World Cups or European Championships before I regard that season as being over.
Those of you that know me well will know that I don't tend to attend pre-season Friendlies. I find them unsatisfactory. For a start there's the fitness levels of the respective teams. If one side has commenced their pre-season training a week or so earlier than the other it can lead to remarkable score lines. Then there's the players. Particularly at lower levels, Friendlies represent the chance to view a few trialists who are frequently referred to as "Trialist A" or "Trialist B". A case in point is today's Friendly between York City and Newcastle United. York are fielding former player Clayton Donaldson in their line up but, because he's still officially on the books of Bradford City, York are obliged to refer to him as "Don Trialist". Ridiculous! Friendlies also offer the opportunity for managers to try rolling substitutions, different sides in the first and second halves and occasionally three 30 minute thirds rather than two 45 minute halves. Sorry but I just don't like it and I'd rather wait for the serious stuff to begin.
Sometimes there's a Friendly that's attractive even to me however and today's game was one of those. Every summer I spent two weeks over in Ireland visiting my in laws and I sometimes had the chance to escape for the day and go and visit a new ground. To my delight, in 1993 I got to see Spurs play in Drogheda. This was Spurs under the management of Osvaldo Ardiles who is remembered for employing a rather gung ho attacking style whilst in charge which tended to mean that every game was rich in entertainment and goals whilst not always being successful for Spurs.
Teddy Sheringham got Tottenham's first goal after 31 minutes and he was also on hand to fire home the second only four minutes later. Seven minutes into the second half and Spurs had their third with a goal from Darren Anderton following good work by Nick Barmby. A string of substitutions for both sides then disrupted the flow of the game and Drogheda took the opportunity to fire in a shot that deflected off Gary Mabbutt and past substitute keeper Kevin Dearden to round off the scoring. It was an enjoyable game and fine value for an entrance fee of just £6.
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