Obituary: Bill Nicholson
An enduring inspiration at White Hart Lane
Bill Nicholson served Tottenham Hotspur FC for more than 60 years as a player, coach, manager and scout.
In his 16 years at the helm of the team, they became the first of the century to win the League and FA Cup double.
It was one of a string of triumphs for one of the most successful managers in the history of English football.
Nicholson was born in Scarborough, the eighth in a family of nine children.
After working briefly in a laundry, he joined the Spurs ground staff at 16, and played as an inside forward before joining the Army in World War II.
He returned to White Hart Lane to play as a half-back, making almost 400 appearances.
He won championship medals in the Second and First Divisions in successive seasons, 1950 and '51.
He turned out for England only once, against Portugal, scoring 30 seconds after coming on as a substitute.
When his playing days ended, he stayed on with the club as coach, and took over as manager in 1958.
Few team bosses had such a dramatic start to their careers. In his first match, Spurs beat Everton 10-4 at home.
Nicholson built his team around established stars, including Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay, Jimmy Greaves and Martin Peters.
He kept on top by bringing in players like Terry Venables, Pat Jennings, Alan Mullery, Mike England and Martin Chivers.
His shrewd policy paid huge dividends. He steered the team to the elusive Double in 1961 as part of a run of five Wembley cup final victories, including three FA Cups and two League Cups.
A quiet, shy man, Nicholson cared little for the trappings of fame.
Even as manager of one of the country's biggest clubs, he chose to live in a small house just round the corner from White Hart Lane.
His aim was not just to win, but to win in style.
Nicholson took Spurs on to win the European Cup Winner's Cup in Rotterdam in 1963, the first European trophy to be won by a British team.
Eleven years later, at another European final, Nicholson would have cause for concern at the reputation English fans were beginning to earn for themselves on the continent.
Before the match at the Feyenoord stadium in Rotterdam, Tottenham fans ran amok in the city, fighting with Dutch spectators and police, causing more than 200 injuries.
The violence continued inside the stadium during the first half of the game. Nicholson was compelled to act, calling for calm on the public address system.
The anger and disgust he felt led to his famous comment, "You people make me feel ashamed to be an Englishman." Later that year, 1974, Nicholson resigned as Tottenham manager.
He returned to the team as chief scout in 1976. In April, 1999, a road leading to White Hart Lane was officially named Bill Nicholson Way.
Other accolades included his appointment as club president in 1991 and a bronze bust of him was erected in the main stand.
Bill Nicholson dedicated more than 60 years of his life to Tottenham Hotspur and his legend will live on at the Lane.
Spurs legend passes away
Reply With Quote
Re: Spurs legend passes away
Originally Posted by zapiy
Social Networking Bookmarks