Today I'm going back 27 years to 1995 and Tottenham's home Premier League fixture against Leeds United played at the old White Hart Lane in front of an official attendance of 30,034.
Leeds United's manager that day was Howard Wilkinson. I always felt Wilkinson was rather underrated within the British game despite his achievements. Wilkinson had an unremarkable career as a player featuring for Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton & Hove Albion in the Football League before finishing his playing days with over 200 games at Non-League Boston United where he won two Northern Premier League titles. Wilkinson's football career really took off as a manager however with spells at Notts County and then Sheffield Wednesday who gained promotion from the Second Division in Wilkinson's first season followed by four top flight seasons where he steered Wednesday to 5th place in 1986. In October 1988 Wilkinson took over at Leeds United and achieved promotion the following season with a squad that included Gordon Strachan, Vinnie Jones, Mel Sterland and Lee Chapman. Promotion was followed by a 4th place finish the next season and, after further squad strengthening with Rod Wallace, Tony Dorigo, Steve Hodge and Eric Cantona all arriving, Leeds became the last Champions of the old First Division in 1991/92. That title, to date, remains the last time an English manager would win the top division. Wilkinson left Leeds in 1996 and arrived at the Football Association four months later to work as Technical Director. His time at the FA included a spell acting as caretaker manager for the national side. Wilkinson's final role in domestic football came as manager of Sunderland in 2002/03 but it was an unhappy spell and it was followed by a series of minor appointments in football before his retirement in 2011.
Today's programme cover star is Tottenham full-back Euclid Aklana (Clive) Wilson who came to the club in 1995, signed by manager Gerry Francis. I always liked Wilson's performances for Spurs although he would only make 70 Premier League appearances for Spurs before his departure from the club in 1999. Wilson began his career at Manchester City and made over 100 appearances for the club before his transfer to Chelsea in 1987 following City's relegation. Wilson remained at Chelsea until 1990 when he was transferred to QPR and it was there, under Gerry Francis, that Wilson played the best part of his career, making 173 League appearances for the R's (scoring 12 goals, all bar one being penalties).
In the featured game, Tottenham struck first from a corner with a routine that surely came straight from the training ground. Anderton played the ball to David Howells who was lurking unmarked just on the edge of the penalty area and his powerful header from fully 17 yards sped past Leeds goalkeeper John Lukic, beating him at his near post. The next goal came in the 52nd minute and was scored by Tony Yeboah who also headed home powerfully, this time from a lovely flighted cross by Carlton Palmer. You have to say that Tottenham's defending which contributed to the Leeds goal was dreadful. 1-1 and the next goal was going to be crucial. It also proved to be the match winner and was yet another header, this time scored by Tottenham's Teddy Sheringham in the 66th minute following an excellent Chris Armstrong cross.
Ghanaian striker Tony Yeboah came to Leeds United in January 1995 from German club Eintracht Frankfurt where he had twice won the Bundesliga's golden boot. Yeboah became an instant cult hero at Leeds and his time at the club was characterised by a series of spectacular goals. He won Goal of the Season in 1995/96 and was the first player to win BBC's Goal of the Month competition in consecutive months. After 66 appearances for Leeds (32 goals), Yeboah left for Hamburger SV in September 1997 following a clash of personalities with new manager George Graham. Yeboah earned 59 caps for Ghana's national side scoring 29 goals.
Spurs ended this particular season in 8th place, missing European qualification by just two points. Leeds finished further down the table in 13th position. Manchester United won the title with Manchester City, QPR and Bolton Wanderers being relegated.
CRB Match No. 985
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