Today I'm going back 33 years to 1990 and Tottenham's home game against Manchester United in the First Division. There were 33,317 in attendance for this game played at the old White Hart Lane.
Today's programme cover star is, of course, Erik Thorstvedt, Tottenham's Norwegian goalkeeper who played for the club between 1988-1996 and made 173 League appearances. Known to the fans as "Erik the Viking", he was the subject of the song "I love Erik the Viking, Erik the Viking loves me" (to the tune of "Land of Hope and Glory"), a ditty that now is sung for Eric Dier, albeit that it's probably not sung with quite the same amount of gusto as was the case back in the early 1990's. These days, Erik (now aged 60) is a Norwegian TV presenter and is father to son Kristian Thorstvedt, an attacking midfielder who plays for Sassuolo in Italy's top flight.
The game presented Terry Venables Tottenham side with the rare opportunity to do the double over United with Spurs having won 1-0 at Old Trafford earlier in the season. Tottenham did secure that double as the game ended 2-1 in their favour. Two first half goals by Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker put Tottenham in the driving seat and what proved to be United's consolation goal came in the 68th minute from the penalty spot via Steve Bruce. For good measure Spurs also beat United 3-0 in the League Cup 3rd Round that same season.
Tottenham finished the season in 3rd place, sixteen points behind Champions Liverpool and seven behind runners-up Aston Villa. This was Liverpool's last top-flight title win for 30 years as United proceeded to dominate English football. However, in 1989/90, injury hit United, under manager Alex Ferguson who was enjoying his fourth season in charge, stuttered to their lowest top flight finish since relegation 15 years earlier and there were calls for Ferguson's head from many supporters at the midpoint of the season. Fortunately for Ferguson, the club and those fickle fans, United went on to win the FA Cup against Crystal Palace after a Replay, their first trophy in five years. We didn't know it at the time but that FA Cup win heralded the start of United's most successful era ever. It was certainly hard to imagine at White Hart Lane that day. The three sides relegated from the First Division that season were Sheffield Wednesday (on goal difference from Luton Town), Charlton Athletic and Millwall.
CRB Match No. 659
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