A Memorable Tottenham Debut – Colin Lee

Colin Lee’s Tottenham debut was as unexpected as it was memorable but he made the headlines as he scored four goals in a 9 – 0 success over Bristol Rovers.

Colin lee scored his first Tottenham goal. [Photo: Logan Holmes]Following relegation to the 2nd Division at the end of the 1976-77 season Spurs set about righting that situation in a positive way. The Directors had shown confidence in manager, Keith Burkinshaw and the players led by captain, Steve Perryman were determined to win promotion at the first attempt and restore the club to its rightful in the top division of English football.

1977-78 Season

Tottenham had started the season well and the fans, whose support never wavered, were enjoying the experience of visiting new grounds up and down the country. Having won all five home games, Spurs’ first defeats had been in their previous two away games at Hull City and Charlton Athletic. The reverse in the London derby had seen Spurs give a poor performance, losing 1-4, the first time the clubs had met competitively in league football for twenty years.

Spurs wanted to show that they could recover from this set-back and what a way to do it.

22nd October, 1977

Tottenham Hotspur 9  Bristol Rovers 0  (2nd Division)

Scorers: Lee (4), Moores (3), Taylor, Hoddle

Keith Burkinshaw with Colin Lee [Photo: Logan Holmes]This was the first time that the clubs had met in League competition and what a memorable game and what a debut for Colin Lee. The game got top billing on ‘Match of the Day’and showed Spurs at their very best.

Colin Lee had joined Spurs from Torquay United, a 4th Division club, for £60,000 two days earlier. He was 21 years of age and was seen as a player for the future.

Injuries to John Duncan and Chris Jones meant that Lee made his debut two days sooner than anyone had expected. He opened the scoring after twenty minutes and headed his second four minutes later. Peter Taylor scored before half-time and in the second half Lee scored two more. His strike partner, Ian Moores scored a hat-trick and the rout was completed with a goal from Glenn Hoddle who had created so many chances throughout the game.

This is Spurs’ record Football League winning margin and what an important result it proved to be come the end of the season when Spurs won the final promotion place on goal difference from Brighton, exactly nine goals better than the south coast club.

Team: Daines, Naylor, Holmes, Hoddle, McAllister, Perryman, Pratt, McNab, Moores, Lee, Taylor

It was a dream start to life at White Hart Lane for Colin Lee and he played regularly that season making 25 League appearances and scoring 11 goals. He found it more difficult as a striker when Spurs returned to the 1st division the following season, scoring just 7 goals in 26 appearances. He scored a hat-trick that season in an FA Cup 3rd Round replay with Altrincham which spared Spurs blushes after a draw in the first game at White Hart Lane. By the end of the season, however, he had reverted to playing at right back, a position he had filled earlier in his career with Bristol City and Torquay. After a period out of the team, he returned to play the final four matches in that position. His versatility was useful to the manager but he never held down a regular position in the team and was transferred to Chelsea in January, 1980 having made only 71 League and Cupo appearances for Spurs, scoring 21 goals.

While Colin Lee’s time with Spurs was short, and never reached the heights suggested by his debut, those four goals were an important part of Spurs history as the club returned to the top flight in May, 1978, a position they have retained ever since.