This match nearly never took place at all. The previous summer, Spurs had been unceremoniously thrown out of the forthcoming season's FA Cup by the Football Association for financial irregularities committed by a previous regime in the 1980's. That ban remained in place until December when it was rescinded following new Chairman Alan Sugar's legal challenge in the courts. Tottenham's restoration and the fact that they had programme cover star and German striker Jurgen Klinsmann left many people feeling that Tottenham's name was already on the Cup. A home tie against Non-League Altrincham was a potential banana skin however. The famed giant killers Altrincham had visited White Hart Lane before in the FA Cup in 1979 where they had managed a draw enabling them to proudly boast that they'd never been beaten at White Hart Lane.
Spurs, now managed by Gerry Francis following the departure of Ossie Ardiles earlier in the season, managed to avoid any slip ups and were ahead after just 9 minutes when Teddy Sheringham tapped home from close range from a Ronny Rosenthal cross. With 34 minutes gone, Spurs had their second goal which was scored from a corner when that man Rosenthal fired home. Late on Spurs made it three with a goal neatly headed home by Stuart Nethercott. It was to be his only goal for the club.
Despite being many people's favourites, Spurs never did make it to Wembley that season. Following a march to the Semi-Finals that saw the beating of Sunderland, Southampton and Liverpool (at Anfield), Spurs came up against Everton at Elland Road and were well beaten by 4-1. Sadly, the talismanic Klinsmann was never to taste FA Cup glory.
CRB Match No. 940
Comments
Post a Comment