When Tottenham won the League and FA Cup double in 1961, they became the first side in the 20th century to achieve this incredible feat; but to find out just where this magnificent journey began you need to go back to a managerial appointment that would change the face of the North London club forever.
Following the resignation of Jimmy Anderson in October 1958 Bill Nicholson was handed the role of Spurs manager in what would be a pivotal moment for the club not to mention something which would have a profound effect on everyone at White Hart Lane, even to today.
Born on January 26 1919, in Scarborough, Nicholson was the eighth of nine children who worked in a local laundry to make ends meet while turning out for local football teams in the area plying his trade as an exciting inside forward.
His natural skill and ability soon caught the eye of a number of top clubs and it wasn’t long before he joined Tottenham as a trialist in 1936; becoming a full-time professional at the age of 18 and playing for the first team before he joined the Durham Light Infantry at the outbreak of war in 1939.
In the years following the Second World War Nicholson returned to White Hart Lane, making a name for himself at the heart of the Tottenham defence before moving to a more advanced right half position. The more attacking role suited him down to the ground and he played a significant role in the legendary “push and run” side of 1950 which won the league title in style.
When Nicholson eventually took over as manager at Spurs in 1958 the team were struggling but in his first game in charge they thrashed Everton 10-4 in what was a sign of things to come and a result remains the club’s record goal haul in one game to this day.
Very much an advocate of quick passing football that was the trademark of his playing days, “Bill Nich,” as he became known, wanted his players to embrace his own philosophy, though their slightly cavalier approach meant they often conceded as many goals as they scored; resulting in something of a battle to avoid relegation in his first season at the club.
But just a year and a half after taking the reins at Spurs Nicholson’s side had become the first to win the League and FA Cup double since Aston Villa in 1897 having only fielded 17 players throughout the entire season and playing a style of football that was attractive and effective in equal measure.
The double-winning season would prove to be just the beginning of undoubtedly Tottenham’s greatest ever period of success as Nicholson built around the leadership of Danny Blanchflower, the strength of Dave Mackay, the vision of John White and the incredible goal scoring ability of Jimmy Greaves who had joined from AC Milan in 1962 for £99,999.
They defended the FA Cup in 1962 and only lost-out narrowly to Benfica, the eventual winners, in the semi-final of that year’s European Cup. The following season they bounced back to lift the European Cup Winners' Cup after hammering Atletico Madrid 5-1 in the final; becoming the first British side to win a European trophy in the process.
Like all great managers Nicholson was able to rebuild once again as the heroes of 1961 began to age, this time bringing in the likes of Pat Jennings, Martin Peters, Alan Mullery, and Martin Chivers.
Further success soon followed in the form of the FA Cup in 1967; two League Cups in 1971 and 1973; as well as another European triumph when they lifted the UEFA Cup in 1972 after victory over Wolves.
In 1974 they reached the final again, this time against Dutch side Feyenoord who eventually triumphed 4-2 over the two-legs, but the game was marred by crowd trouble with Nicholson himself even being asked to address the rioting fans over the PA system during half-time.
Perhaps disillusioned with the game after the disturbing scenes at the UEFA Cup final, which left 200 supporters injured, not to mention the greater professionalism and higher demands of players following the abolishment of the maximum wage; Nicholson stunned the world of football when he announced his resignation in September, 1974.
After leaving Spurs, he went on to work as a scout for West Ham before returning as a consultant in 1976 and was eventually made club president in 1991 at the club where he had made such an impact. Even an approach road to the stadium was named in his honour just a few years before his death in 2004 at the age of 85.
Bill Nicholson will always be remembered as a father figure at Tottenham, a man who arrived at the club as a young apprentice and would go on to become a legend whose name is as synonymous with Spurs now as it was 40 years ago thanks to his achievements as a player and his ability to get the very best out of his side as a manager.
And for all of his achievements in the game it will surely be that double-winning side of 1961 for which Bill Nicholson will be best remembered. A side which caught the imagination of many around the country regardless of the team they supported thanks to their attractive style of football and attacking intent; meaning that to this day long-standing Tottenham fans are still able reel off the names of all the players from one-to-eleven.
