NOVEMBER NIGHTS TO REMEMBER!

Throughout the years, European nights in November have been kind to us. From victory in Rotterdam over Feyenoord in our very first Euro fixture in the month during 1961, to our win over tonight’s opponents three weeks ago, we have won 28 of our 41 European fixtures in November. Here are just some of the highlights…

1 NOVEMBER 1961

European Cup 1st Round, 1st Leg

FEYENOORD 1 SPURS 3

Having demolished Polish side Gornik Zabrze 10-5 on aggregate in our first-ever European tie, it was Dutch giants Feyenoord that stood in our way in the next round.

Our first-ever November fixture in European competition saw us travel to Rotterdam and we went on to record our first away win in continental football. Gornik had beaten us 4-2 in Poland and by all accounts, it was another below-par performance from Bill Nicholson’s side in the Netherlands, but this time we came through with the win.

It was 18-year-old Frank Saul who stole the show, scoring twice to reward the 1,000 Spurs supporters who had made the trip across the North Sea to Rotterdam. We were put under the cosh by the home side in the early stages but took the lead against the run of play shortly before half-time through Terry Dyson.

Saul scored his first goal three minutes into the second period, heading home a John White cross, and showed great composure in the 71st minute to finish from Cliff Jones’ pass.

Feyenoord had made it 2-1 through Reiner Kreijermaat’s 35-yard drive just past the hour mark and then Rinus Bennaers twice hit the bar as we clung on to victory. We drew 1-1 in the N17 return two weeks later in another November fixture, to ensure a 4-2 aggregate win.

2 NOVEMBER 1971

UEFA Cup 2nd Round, 2nd Leg

SPURS 1 NANTES 0

En route to UEFA Cup glory in 1972, we endured a nervy November night against Nantes at White Hart Lane.