Bill 'Nick' The BEST Spurs Manager????

But what do you know about Tottenham Hotspur?

The club was formed in 1882 by young men and teenagers from a local grammar school and Hotspur cricket club and was known as the Hotpsur Club. Records show that the name Hotspur was associated with Sir Henry Percy aka Sir Harry Hotspur, who lived locally in the 14th Century. Because there was another local team called London Hotspur, Hotspur Club then became Tottenham Hotspur.

After a succession of ground moves in and around the North London area, Tottenham Hotspur finally settled at their present home of White Hart Lane in 1899. The site of the ground was formerly a market garden which was situated behind a public house in nearby High Road. In Tottenham's first year at White Hart Lane, 1900, they won the Southern League title and in the following year 1901 became the only non-league club to win the FA Cup, after the formation of the Football League in 1888. Hence the 'spooky' happenings of Tottenham winning trophies, FA Cups in pariticular, when the year ends in One.

Tottenham's first FA Cup success as a non-league side was against Sheffield United. After a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace in front of a crowd of 114,815, Spurs won the replay at Bolton's Old Ground, Burnden Park, 3-1 in front of just 20,740.

When you look at it there have been various managers that have had success with guiding Tottenham to glory: Terry Venables FA Cup winner 1990-91, George Graham won the League Cup in 1998/99 prior to that Tottenham appointed Christian Gross as manager and in his first game in charge at home, Tottenham lost at home to CHELSEA 6-1. What a debut. (Ed. YOU just had to get that in, didn't you. Me, who Me?).

In 1981 and 1982 under Keith Burkinshaw Tottenham won the FA Cup, firstly beating Man City with Ricardo Villa scoring 'that' goal and then the following season retaining the cup, beating QPR. Under Burkinshaw, Tottenham won the UEFA Cup in 1984.

But of all the managers that Tottenham Hotspur have had, no-one has had more success than the legendary Bill Nicholson. 'Nick' joined Spurs in 1936 as an apprentice and stayed with the club for 68 years in capacities from boot room boy to President and in between guiding Tottenham throught their most successful period in their history to date.

Under 'Nick's tenureship, Tottenham won the 'double' in 1961, retained the FA Cup in 1962 and won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1963. Players included in the 'Nick' era were Danny Blanchflower, John White, Dave Mackay and Jimmy Greaves.

In 1967 in the first all London FA Cup final Tottenham beat Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley.