Tottenham On This Day: Graham Roberts Took Over In Goal Against Fulham
By Logan Holmes
Graham Roberts – the title says it all. [Photo: Logan Holmes]Tottenham On This Day
7th January, 1984
Fulham 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0 (FA Cup 3rd Round)
Team: Clemence (Crook*); Stevens, Bowen; Roberts, O’Reilly, Perryman; Brooke, Brazil, Falco, Hoddle, Hazard
[* Ian Crook was substitute for the injured Ray Clemence but Graham Roberts took over in goal]
A scoreless draw in a 3rd Round FA Cup tie against a 2nd Division side may seem rather dull but this was a hard fought contest where Spurs can thank their defender Graham Roberts for helping them to hold out for a replay. Goalkeeper Ray Clemence was seriously injured and in a situation that you rarely see nowadays, Roberts took over in goal and made some important saves.
Roberts took over in the 63rd minute and speaking afterwards, he said,
"I knew there was a chance I would have to take over. I wasn’t bothered when the time came because the atmosphere really spurred me on."
Roberts with Tony Parks and the UEFA Cup [Photo: Logan Holmes]Having secured the replay, Roberts then scored one of Spurs’ two goals in that game as Spurs progressed to the next round with a 2-0 win, Steve Archibald scoring the other goal.
A home tie against Norwich City awaited Tottenham in the next round.
The injury to Clemence kept him out for much of the remainder of the season, playing only four games and gave young reserve Tony Parks the opportunity to establish himself and to become an instant hero with his penalty saves in the UEFA Cup Final shoot-out against Anderlecht at the end of the season.