Opposition View

Manchester United legends Denis Law and Bryan Robson talk to Andy Greeves about their memories of visiting White Hart Lane with the Red Devils over the years.

Our first meeting with today’s opponents, then known as Newton Heath, took place at our former Northumberland Park ground back on January 28, 1899. In the years and decades that have followed, Tottenham Hotspur versus Manchester United has become one of the standout fixtures of the English football calendar.

We’ve met the Red Devils on 159 previous occasions in the league with 185 games overall, including ties in the League Cup, FA Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup and the 1967 Charity Shield. With so much history between us and countless classic encounters, Manchester United seem somewhat fitting as our opponents for our final match here at White Hart Lane.

“Even though I was a United player, Tottenham were always one of the clubs I most admired,” comments Denis Law, who managed an incredible 15 goals in 19 appearances against us for the Red Devils between 1962 and 1973. “It was always great playing at White Hart Lane. It wasn’t quite Wembley but it wasn’t far off. Like Old Trafford, there was always a packed crowd and a magnificent atmosphere there. The people flocked to the ground in those days to see their team playing some of the most incredible football imaginable.”

Having moved from Italian side Torino to Manchester United, Law scored just seven minutes into his debut for them in a 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion on August 18, 1962. His first trip to the Lane with Sir MattBusby’s team came on October 24, 1962, as we ran out 6-2 victors. Jimmy Greaves, who once described Law as his “favourite footballer, pure and simple”, scored a hat-trick for us that afternoon.