Tottenham On This Day: Two Spurs Wins At Anfield 73 Years Apart
By Logan Holmes
Garth Crooks v Arsenal [Photo: Logan Holmes]Tottenham’s away record against Liverpool was linked with the sinking of the ‘Titanic’ for over seventy years. It had been in 1912 that they last recorded a victory at Anfield until a goal from Garth Crooks in 1985 brought them success.
Tottenham on this Day
16th March, 1912 and 1985
Victory at Anfield
1912 – Liverpool 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Scorers: Newman, Mason
Team: Lunn; Collins, Brittan; Darnell, Steel, D., Lightfoot; McTavish, Newman, Minter, Mason, Middlemiss
In the three months from December, Tottenham had only won twice since a 5 – 0 success over Woolwich Arsenal at White Hart Lane on Christmas Day.
Spurs won 2 – 1 in the 1st Division game at Anfield in 1912 through goals from Ernie Newman and Thomas Mason, two players who don’t rank highly in Spurs history making only 39 appearances between them and this was the only goal scored by Mason.
1912 was the year of the sinking of the ‘Titanic’.
1985 – Liverpool 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Scorer: Crooks
Team: Clemence; Thomas, D., Hughton; Roberts, Miller, Perryman; Chiedozie (Hazard), Falco, Crooks, Hoddle, Galvin
Events over the next 73 years, however, brought greater significance to their feat that day in 1912 because in that time no Spurs team won at Anfield. Many great Tottenham players and managers had tried but none had achieved success at Liverpool’s famous ground.
It was Peter Shreeves and his team who were to end that unwanted record. Amazingly, they achieved it on the exact same date in 1985. Spurs unexpectedly returning to London having won 1 – 0, thanks to a goal from Garth Crooks. It was a well deserved victory and at last Spurs supporters didn’t have to listen to comments about their record at Anfield being linked with the sinking of the ‘Titanic’.
Going into the Anfield game, Tottenham were second in the 1st Division, 2 points behind leaders, Everton, but had lost in midweek at home to Manchester United. It was actually their away record which was keeping them in the title race and they were undefeated in their previous 10 away League games with six victories. Garth Crooks’ goal with twenty minutes remaining earned them the three points.
Spurs finished the season in third place, level on points with second-placed Liverpool.
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Tottenham’s record at Anfield – Read more