Tottenham On This Day: Jimmy Greaves Scored 300th League Goal
By Logan Holmes
Jimmy Greaves scored his 300th league goal in Tottenham’s 5-goal win over Burnley at White Hart Lane.
30th March, 1968
Tottenham Hotspur 5 Burnley 0 (1st Division)
Scorers: England, Greaves (2), Venables, Jones
Team: Jennings; Beal, Knowles; Mullery, Englabd, Mackay; Gilzean, Greaves, Chivers, Venables, Jones
Spurs went into this game after three League games undefeated, two scoreless draws followed by a 3 – 0 win at Stoke City.
The 5-goal win over Burnley brought an end to the wait for the 300th league goal of Jimmy Greaves’ career. Goals from Mike England, Jimmy Greaves (2), Terry Venables, Cliff Jones gave Spurs this very comfortable win.
Jimmy Greaves [Photo: Logan Holmes]After 33 days of waiting to reach the landmark goal, Jimmy Greaves achieved it with his first goal against Burnley and added a second for good measure. Burnley provided little opposition and Greaves reached the 300 mark with a header, a rarity among his 300 league goals.
It was a rugged game and England put Spurs ahead with a thunderous shot from 20 yards. Jones added a second before the interval with Greaves getting his first early in the second half. Venables made it four before Greaves scored his 301st goal to make it 5 – 0 being set-up by Martin Chivers who had also created his first.
The following Saturday, Spurs entertained Southampton at White Hart Lane and won 6 – 1 (Mullery, Greaves(2, 1p), Chivers, Jones, opp.og.)
The good form continued on Good Friday with a 2 – 1 home win over Leeds United. Greaves and Chivers being the scorers.
The six match unbeaten run, including four consecutive wins, came to end the next day as Spurs lost to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.