Tottenham Win The 1962 FA Cup Final Against Burnley
By Logan Holmes
Tottenham defeated Burnley in the 1962 FA Cup final at Wembley to retain the trophy for a second successive year. Jimmy Greaves set them on their way with a goal inside three minutes as Spurs lifted the FA Cup for the 4th time.
On This Day
5th May, 1962
Tottenham Hotspur 3 Burnley 1 F.A.CUP FINAL at Wembley
Scorers: Greaves, Smith, Blanchflower (pen) Robson
Team: Brown; Baker, Henry; Blanchflower (Captain), Norman, Mackay; Medwin, White, Smith, Greaves, Jones.
Danny Blanchflower scores Tottenham’s third from the penalty spot [Photo: Logan Holmes]My first memory of Tottenham Hotspur is, as a young boy, watching the game on the television in a furniture shop. What a way to start, although it was a couple of years before I would become devoted to the club and the fanatic that I have been for the past almost fifty years.
Burnley had finished second in the League, ahead of Spurs who had the perfect start when Greaves scored, as he had predicted, in the opening minutes. They secured victory, after Burnley had equalised early in the second half, with further goals from Bobby Smith and a penalty from Danny Blanchflower.
Spurs had retained the F.A.Cup and secured a place in Europe which was to bring further success the following year.
‘Glory Glory Hallelujah
Spurs go marching on.’
SPURS SUPREME
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Tottenham’s ambitions at the start of the season had been to win the ‘Treble’ adding the European Cup to their ‘Double’ success of the previous year. They had missed out in the League finishing third, four points behind Ipswich. They lost in controversial circumstances to Benfica at the semi-final stage of the European Cup and now faced Burnley who had finished second in the League in the FA Cup Final.
Tottenham and Burnley were regarded as the two best footballing sides in the country and there were high expectations ahead of the game. To add further pressure before the Final Jimmy Greaves had predicted that he would score an early goal which he duly delivered after three minutes. Bill Brown’s kick was flicked on by Bobby Smith and Greaves was on his way towards goal. He seemed to have lost the ball but recovered to beat his defender and slot the ball past the Burnley goalkeeper. It was the prefect start for Spurs and had Burnley playing catch-up for the rest of the afternoon.
Down but not out, Burnley set about retrieving the situation and played some lovely passing football without really troubling the Spurs defence, although when they did create any chances, Bill Brown was equal to the task. As the half wore on Greaves saw Adam Blacklaw save a powerful drive and the goalkeeper had to be alert to a dangerous cross from John White which he clawed out from under the bar.
Burnley finished the half on the attack but without reward. In the early moments after the interval they continued to press and equalised after 50 minutes when Bobby Robson poked the ball past Brown from a cross on the right. Burnley thought they were back in the game but within thirty seconds Smith had cut their celebrations short. From the kick-off White took the ball down the left and centred towards Smith who got to the ball ahead of the defender, turned and hammered a shot into the net.
Burnley were deflated and try as they might they couldn’t get back into the game. Eight minutes from time, Spurs earned a penalty when Terry Medwin’s shot was handled and the coolest man in Wembley stepped up to ensure he would lift the FA Cup for a second time – captain, Danny Blanchflower sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Spurs had retained the F.A.Cup, only the second club to do so since the beginning of the 20th century.
A great period to be supporting Tottenham.
Over to You!
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#knowyourtottenhamhistory 4th May, 1963 Jimmy Greaves Sets a New Tottenham Goal scoring Record