Tottenham On This Day – Spurs Defeat Glasgow Rangers In ECWC

John White heads the first goal against Rangers [Photo: Logan Holmes]

Tottenham On This Day

31st October, 1962

1st Round (1st Leg) v Glasgow Rangers (h) Won 5 – 2 Norman, Allen, White (2), Opp. o.g.

Jimmy Greaves scores against Rangers [Photo: Logan Holmes]

For this first leg match in the European Cup Winners’ Cup which had been built up as the ‘Battle of Britain’ only Bobby Smith was absent from the Tottenham side which had successfully retained the FA Cup a few months earlier. Les Allen was the automatic replacement and he showed his value to the team by scoring Spurs’ third goal. There was great rivalry ahead of the game with Spurs having three Scots in their team – Bill Brown, Dave Mackay and John White who had been so pivotal in Spurs’ success of the previous two seasons.

John White was the star of the night in a hard fought match which was all about pride. He headed Spurs first goal after four minutes from a Jimmy Greaves corner but Rangers equalised five minutes later. Another Greaves corner enabled White to head his second before Les Allen made it three. The Rangers defence were under pressure and conceded an own goal for 4-1 but almost immediately Rangers managed to score a second. Ten minutes from time another Greaves’ corner saw Maurice Norman score the fifth and final goal. This result gave Spurs a comfortable lead to take to the second leg at Ibrox Park.