50 YEARS ago, Torquay United famously held the mighty Tottenham Hotspur
to a thrilling 3-3 draw at Plainmoor.
We will now look back at that date and an occasion that has been
ingrained in Gulls’ folklore ever since.
Throughout their history, Torquay United have never managed
to defeat a top-flight side in the FA Cup. One of the few occasions they came close to doing so came in
the third round in 1965 when they drew 3-3 with Tottenham Hotspur at Plainmoor.
After knocking out Canterbury and Colchester United in the
first and second rounds respectively, United were drawn at home to the North
London Giants who had become the first team to the League and FA Cup ‘double’
in the 20th century four years earlier.
Managed by the legendary Bill Nicholson, Spurs featured a
number of household names in their line-up, including Jimmy Greaves, Alan
Mullery, Maurice Norman, Cliff Jones as well as future Gulls manager Cyril
Knowles.
A crowd of over 20,000 poured into Plainmoor to watch the
encounter and it looked at one stage as though they might be set to witness a
giant-killing act as Bill Atkinson gave United the lead from the penalty spot,
after Robin Stubbs had been felled by Knowles. Scotland international Alan Gilzean then headed home a cross
from skipper Ron Henry for an equaliser for Spurs before an effort from Norman
and a second goal for Gilzean gave the visitors a commanding 3-1 lead.
However, with five minutes remaining, Stubbs netted twice to
bring United level in the most dramatic of circumstances, and Tommy Northcott
rattled a header against the bar just before the final whistle, as the two
sides met again at White Hart Lane for the replay.
Unfortunately, there was to be no fairy tale ending for
United as Spurs resoundingly won 5-1 - with Jimmy Greaves scoring a hat-trick.
The original tie ultimately proved to be the last hurrah of
the long reign of United manager Eric Webber who replaced at the end of the
campaign, after 14 years in charge.
His replacement, Frank O’Farrell, led United to promotion in
his first full season in charge – the 1965-66 campaign – with many of the
players who had held Spurs to that famous draw being part of the side who
achieved it.
Line-ups:
United: Terry Adlington, Alan Smith, George Allen, John
Benson, Colin Bettany, Trevor Wolstenholme, Bill Atkinson, Geoff Cox, Robin
Stubbs, Tommy Northcott, George Somers
Spurs: Billy Brown, Cyril Knowles, Ron Henry, Alan Mullery, Maurice
Norman, Tony Marchi, Jimmy Robertson, Jimmy Greaves, Alan Gilzean, Cliff Jones,
Terry Dyson
