Programme cover star Gary Lineker had joined Spurs in the summer from Barcelona at a cost of £1.1 Million in preference to overtures from Manchester United and he went on to finish the season as the First Division's top scorer with 24 goals. Overall Lineker scored 80 goals in 138 appearances for Tottenham before moving to Japan's J-League where he would play for Nagoya Grampus Eight
The first goal in the featured game came from a Paul Gascoigne free kick which was nodded home (majestically according to Brian Moore's commentary) by Paul Stewart. It remained 1-0 to Tottenham at the break but Luton were level within fifteen seconds of the restart with a goal lashed home virtually out of nothing by their striker Roy Wegerle. Wegerle was born in South Africa but opted to play for the USA having been granted American citizenship in 1991 and he would go on to make 41 appearances for the USA scoring 7 goals. At club level Wegerle started out in the NASL at Tampa Bay Rowdies and was eventually signed by Chelsea in 1986 before being transferred to Luton Town in 1988. He didn't finish season 1989/90 at Luton however as he was transferred to QPR for £1 Million. He joined Blackburn Rovers in 1992 and was part of their Second Division promotion side as Jack Walker's millions secured top flight possibilities for Rovers. Wegerle eventually lost his place at Blackburn following the signing of Alan Shearer. After another transfer, this time to Coventry City, Wegerle returned to the USA and saw out the remainder of his career playing in the MLS. As such Wegerle was one of only two players who had played in both the old NASL and the new MLS (the other was Mexican striker Hugo Sanchez). Interestingly Wegerle's profile has featured on a postage stamp: in 1994, in recognition of the USA94 World Cup, Nicaragua issued a set of eight stamps featuring an apparently random set of players including Wegerle. Featured in the set were Tony Meola (USA), Rai (Brazil), Francescoli (Uruguay), Thomas Dooley (USA), Franco Baresi (Italy), Freddy Rincon (Colombia) and Luis Garcia (Mexico). I suspect most of us could name a set of eight players at that World Cup who were more prominent than the ones selected?
Back to the featured match and it was clear that the next goal was going to be crucial. When it came, thankfully it went to Spurs. A long throw into the penalty area gave the Luton defence all sorts of problems and, when Lineker's shot was blocked, Paul Allen was on hand to fire the ball home. Allen who hadn't scored at all the previous season had not only notched a rare goal but it also proved to be a most valuable match winner.
1989/90 proved to be a pretty good one for Spurs who finished third behind Aston Villa and Champions Liverpool. Luton, who had jettisoned manager Ray Harford in January appointing Jim Ryan in his place, stayed up by the skin of their teeth in 17th place, level on points with Sheffield Wednesday but, crucially, with a marginally superior goal difference. Also relegated that season were Charlton Athletic and Millwall.
CRB Match No. 618
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