Today I'm going back 43 years to 1978 and Tottenham's away fixture against Leeds United at Elland Road. At the time I was living in Wetherby and was not yet old enough to have permission to travel beyond the local area to watch football. Tottenham's visit to Leeds that day therefore became my first ever chance to watch Spurs live although I had followed their results since I was about 7 years old.
If you have time, take a look at the 3-minute highlights video attached to my blog. There you will hear the unmistakeable tones of commentator Martin Tyler who has clearly been in the commentary business forever and is still going strong even to this day (he's currently 76). For me, two pieces of his commentary stand out. One was his cry of "Agueroooooooooooo" as Manchester City won the Premier League in the final seconds of the 2011/12 season. The other was his commentary on a goal scored at Elland Road by programme cover star Tony Currie who "milks the applause that is so deserved".
In front of an attendance of 36,062, first blood that day went to Tottenham as Peter Taylor stole the ball from Brian Flynn in the middle of the park, left Paul Hart for dead and then, one on one with Leeds goal keeper David Harvey, stroked it into the corner of the net. It remained 0-1 until half time. Very early in the second half Leeds almost had an equaliser when Flynn put in a lovely cross which Lorimer could only head onto the crossbar with Barry Daines, Tottenham's goalie, well beaten. Two minutes into the second half and Leeds did have their leveller however as Arthur Graham rifled the ball home from beyond the far post. It was all Leeds and one wondered how many they would go on to score. However, Spurs hung on and then, on the counter, an Ardiles pile driver was parried by Harvey straight into the path of Colin Lee who could hardly believe his luck and gleefully tucked away Tottenham's second goal and what proved to be the winner.
Jock Stein was the Leeds manager that day as part of his 44 day stint in charge following the summer sacking of Jimmy Armfield. Stein had been tempted to return to Scotland to manage the national side. His 44 days in charge at Leeds was not a unique situation however as Brian Clough had served exactly the same number of days before being sacked. Of course the rancour that accompanied Clough's dismissal wasn't replicated with Stein's departure and Stein ended his short spell at Leeds having enjoyed 10 games, 4 wins and 3 defeats. Jimmy Adamson took over the hot seat on October 25th.
It ended up being a fairly good season for Leeds who finished in fifth place in the First Division and thereby qualified for a place in the following season's UEFA Cup. Tottenham, back in the top flight after one season on loan to the Second Division the previous season would have been content with their top half of the table finish (11th)
CRB Match No. 18
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