Triple Adventure

It was 31 years ago when John Fennelly joined Spurs fans on the road to Barnsley and witnessed an incredible scrap that set the scene for a campaign that few Tottenham fans will forget. However, one cup challenge almost ended before it begun as the Tykes provided one of our biggest tests of an intriguing season.

Season 1986-87 was one of drama, excitement and relentless pressure as we attacked all three domestic competitions with real optimism but ultimately ended up empty-handed after 57 games.

We were competitive on all fronts and looked good in Division One until our challenge tailed off in the final games as we finished third behind champions Everton and runners-up Liverpool.

Manager David Pleat’s innovative line-up, that saw Clive Allen at the spearhead as the lone striker in a wonderfully-balanced side, reached the FA Cup Final where, against all the odds, we crashed to Coventry City who beat us 3-2 here after extra time.

That followed our League Cup marathon to the semi-final stage when Arsenal beat us at White Hart Lane in a replay that saw Clive net in all three games.

Then known as the Littlewoods Challenge Cup, we had set off on that particular road by making the second round trip to Barnsley where more than 10,000 were at Oakwell to watch our 3-2 battling victory before we finished the job 5-3 at the Lane. And at no stage as the two sides shared those 13 goals could we relax as the Tykes refused to abandon the cause.