Tottenham’s Record at Newcastle on Opening Day of Season

Tottenham and Newcastle United have met on three occasions on the first day of the season. All three games have been played at St. James’ Park and Spurs’ record shows two wins and a draw. Spurs’ new coach, Andre Villas-Boas will be hoping that they can maintain their undefeated record on Saturday evening, as he looks to start his Tottenham managerial career with a victory after the disappointment of his time with Chelsea last year.

On the last occasion that Spurs visited Newcastle at the start of a season, they also had a new manager who had a point to prove. It was in August, 1993 and Ossie Ardiles had been appointed the previous July to replace Terry Venables who had been sacked by Alan Sugar. This caused much acrimony and Ardiles’ appointment was seen as an attempt to appease the supporters who were unhappy at the dismissal of Venables. Ardiles had been manager at Newcastle but had been sacked so he had two reasons to want a victory on that opening day.

Tottenham were the better team and won 1 – 0 against newly promoted Newcastle. Teddy Sheringham scored the goal just before half-time and Spurs should have added to the score in the second half.

In September, 1988 two Newcastle heroes were returning to their former club. Chris Waddle had joined Spurs in 1985 but Paul Gascoigne had signed for Tottenham that summer for a British record fee of £2 million and was making his Spurs’ debut at St. James’ Park. This match shouldn’t have been Spurs’ opening fixture but the previous home fixture against Coventry City had to be postponed at the last moment as building work on the East Stand had not been completed and the authorities wouldn’t issue the necessary safety certificate.

The match ended in a 2 – 2 draw with both Tottenham goals being scored by players from the north-east. Gascoigne didn’t score but Waddle did as did Terry Fenwick who was born in County Durham. Paul Gascoigne was the centre of attention for both the media and fans. Gascoigne recalling that match in his book, Glorious, My World, Football and Me writes,

‘I guess it was inevitable that I would make my competitive debut for Spurs against Newcastle. I think the Geordie faithful were pleased I hadn’t gone across to Manchester but they were still pretty miffed that I had left and weren’t shy in demonstrating it. Just as I was about to take a corner someone threw a frozen Mars bar at us. Cheeky xxxxxxxx. It was funny mind.’

Venables had persuaded Gascoigne to join Tottenham rather than Manchester United, something which still irks Sir Alex Ferguson who thought he had agreed a deal  with the player. In his book, Managing My Life, Sir Alex wrote,

"“I was determined to bring Paul to United ever since he had tortured us with a devastating performance for Newcastle……….The fact that he never wore the red shirt was his mistake, not ours.as far as i was concerned, I had a solid promise that he would sign for me and I think that his change of mind hurt both of us.”"

Gascoigne, in his own words was given a ‘mixed reception’ by Newcastle fans and didn’t have the best of debuts, being substituted before the end. Newcastle had lost their opening match by four goals at Everton but were two up at half-time against Tottenham. Waddle pulled a goal back straight from the kick-off and Fenwick’s equaliser earned Spurs a point.

Team: Mimms; Statham, Hughton; Fenwick, Fairclough, Mabbutt; Walsh (Moran), Gascoigne (Howells), Waddle, Thomas, M., Allen, P.

Watch highlights on the HotspurHQ Hub: here

Leaving the Best to Last!

The first occasion that Tottenham started the season at Newcastle was in August, 1959. Bill Nicholson was starting his first full season as manager and the match gave an insight of what was to come from Spurs over the next few seasons. Tottenham won 5 – 1 with goals from Johnny Brooks (2) and Cliff Jones (3).

It was the easiest of victories for Tottenham. Newcastle offered little resistance affording Spurs the freedom of St. James’ Park. The home team started the better and could have had the match won in the opening ten minutes. From then on, it was all Tottenham as Tommy Harmer controlled the match for Spurs although they were only one up at the interval. Newcastle gifting Spurs the opening goal after 28 minutes when Jones hit a shot from twenty yards and the goalkeeper let it slip through his hands.

In the second half Jones increased the lead after 53 minutes when he headed in a Harmer corner. Newcastle responded with a goal from George Eastham but Brooks replied quickly with a fierce angled shot. Jones completed his hat-trick and another goal from Brooks added to Newcastle’s misery and Tottenham’s elation with further goals.

Team: Brown; Baker, Hopkins; Blanchflower, Norman, Mackay; Medwin, Harmer, Smith, Brooks, Jones.

Tottenham were strongly placed to win the 1st Division title the following April. At the start of the month they headed the table only for Burnley and Wolves to overtake them as Spurs faltered in the closing games.

First at White Hart Lane

Newcastle have often been the first visitors of the season to White Hart Lane but it has never been for the opening match of the season. The last time in August, 1999 when Spurs won 3 -1 with Steffen Iversen, Les Ferdinand and Tim Sherwood scoring.

Tottenham have also been the first visitors to Newcastle on occasions having started the season with a home fixture. In August, 2004, new manager Jacques Santini, achieved the first win of his short Tottenham career with a win at St James’ Park following an opening day home draw with Liverpool. In a great team performance, it was a stunning strike from Thimothee Atoube early in the second half which sealed the victory for Spurs.

Andre Villas-Boas will want a similar performance and effort from the team on Saturday, especially with the eyes of the nation watching the televised match and waiting to find fault.

Will Tottenham create another piece of history at St James’ Park to set the season of on the right tune?