In this new series we will be publishing interviews with former Glentoran players and managers where they talk about a photograph that means a lot to them. Some will be reproduced from a series written by Brian McClelland for the Glentoran Gazette in the mid-1990s with other, newer stories we will be writing over the next few weeks.
To kickstart the series with something special, Brian somehow managed to track down and get in touch with former Spurs captain Steve Perryman to talk about our centenary friendly in August 1981. I suspect Steve may have some photographs that mean even more to him than this one, but he was very happy to talk about his warm and vivid memories of that day nearly forty years ago. So we will start with:
1. Steve Perryman
Steve Perryman and the FA Cup at the Oval
“I do remember this photograph and our visit to Belfast. It’s a lovely, lovely image to see again, especially as tomorrow 23rd May is FA Cup final day! It was a big thrill for me to carry the FA Cup past the guard of honour of Glentoran players. This was the only time Spurs brought the Cup with them to any football ground. Our manager, Keith Burkinshaw was determined to bring it to Belfast.
We had won it in successive seasons, 1980/81 and 81/82. In the replay against Manchester City in May, 1981, Ricky Villa had scored that smashing goal after a mazy run. This photograph of me carrying the Cup appeared on the front cover of the Spurs programme for the first game of the season against West Ham. I absolutely love it.
The Glentoran captain, Rab somebody or other, McCreery, that’s it, was a bit combative I was told. As we squared up, sorry, met up, on the centre circle for the usual handshake and exchange of club pennants, I thought, this geezer’s about my height and build, in fact he trying to look a bit like me, so let’s get the gloves on and settle things right now!
Only having a bit of banter, Rab! We stayed well apart for he was right back, I think, and I was also playing right back that day. I was about thirty years old back then and didn’t have the legs any more for midfield capers. I did give a few nods in Rab’s direction during the game, actually, for some good play.
As for the game itself, I do recollect being pulled down inside the box (how did I get there?) and Glen Hoddle tucking away the penalty. Now Glen was some player, I have to say he was the most technically gifted player I ever saw.
The teams line out before kick off
The best player I ever played against was, without question, George Best. By the way, I’ve just read somewhere that today, 22nd May, is George’s birthday, he would have been 74. Jimmy Greaves is a mate of mine and was a great goal machine, but George, well, nobody could touch him. Some defenders would try to chop him down, but I would never do that to him because I had so much respect for his skill and bravery.
I remember on one occasion he went down the wing very fast and reached the bye line. I thought, I have him now and put my leg out to block his cross but to my amazement, without seeming to slow down, and in a contorted movement, he just turned inside and left me floundering. How did he do it? He was just so wiry, so supple.
I was in awe of him. I asked big Pat Jennings our ‘keeper who roomed with George on international trips to tell me about him. “He’s just a normal guy” drawled Pat in that deep voice of his, but I insisted he couldn’t be, he’s not normal on the field so how could he be normal off it was my reasoning?
After a particular international Pat told me there was one thing George did which was unusual – he never wore the same pair of socks twice, they would go straight into the bin after one wearing. Then it struck me, George could be compared to a virtuoso orchestra conductor, disposing of his immaculate white gloves after every performance.
Glens player portraits from the special Glentoran Gazette for the game
When I was an apprentice around 1967/8 or 68/68 we got a credible draw in a FA Cup away at Old Trafford. The replay was the next Wednesday at the Lane. The pitch was all muck and bullets and we apprentices had to help in clearing it up a bit. On the day of the game we were sitting round the pitch on stools and I wondered how on earth they could play on it.
I watched George Best receive the ball on the half-way line and glide effortlessly over the muck to bear down on Pat Jennings in our goals. There was a total silence, it was pure theatre, George against Pat. Pat came out to narrow the angle, George shot, and Pat got his finger tips to it to make the save. The Lane erupted. I have never heard noise like it. The crowd stood and cheered as one in tribute to two masters of the game.
I was in Belfast a while ago to see Rob Walker, a Spurs scout from Lisburn. He took me to that part of Belfast where Danny Blanchflower came from and showed me the house where he had lived. Three days later I was in London having a meal with my daughter who was at university. On the way back to my hotel the taxi driver pointed out a cemetery, and told me that was where Danny was buried! Talk about a coincidence!
Team sheet from the Gazette
Danny was a great motivator. Jimmy Greaves told me about the time in 1963 when Spurs were to play Atletico Madrid in the European Cup Winners’ final. In the changing room before the game manager Bill Nicholson was giving his players information on how great a team the Spanish were - really talking them up. You could see the boys’ heads dropping, according to Jimmy.
Then Danny, as captain, took over. He told his team mates that they were every bit as good as their opponents, who were next door worrying about Greavesie and how they could stop him scoring or how big Bobby Smith might knock them about a bit. Really motivational stuff. Jimmy said that Danny was the inspiration behind Spurs winning the trophy that day.
I guess I’m stalling now for my memory of the Glentoran game itself is quite dim – it was about forty years ago after all and I’ve played a lot of football. Looking at the team sheet we had a very strong side which included my big pal Ossie Ardiles, Ricky Villa, Glen Hoddle, Steve Archibald and Graham Roberts.
But nothing can cloud my memory of one of the proudest moments of my football career – carrying out the FA Cup to show Glentoran’s fans. What a cheer they gave me.
So Rab, maybe the next time I’m in Belfast when this nasty virus has gone, I’ll look you up and over a coffee or whatever, you can tell me about the time Glentoran held the mighty Spurs to a 3-3 draw”.
Addendum: to add some detail to the day, here’s Malcolm Brodie’s match report from the Ireland’s Saturday Night.
Glentoran 3 Tottenham Hotspur 3
Scorers: Kingon, Cleary (pen), Blackledge Hoddle (pen), Falco, Ardiles
‘A match of high drama, superb entertainment – a real battle of the Cockerels and the ‘Cock and Hens’. It ebbed and flowed in bewildering fashion. Glentoran led 1 – 0 at half-time. Terry Kingon scored after fifteen minutes when Johnny Jameson’s corner floated across for him send the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards. They were in front, too, not by luck but by sheer skill, tactical know-how and they more than measured up in pace and stamina as well. Then there was tragedy in the 50th minute when the Glens conceded a penalty by bringing down Steve Perryman and from the spot Glenn Hoddle scored.
Mark Falco made it 2 – 1 in the 64th minute and everyone felt the result would be the inevitable Spurs triumph – even an unconvincing one. But then Glentoran were awarded a penalty when Aleksic pushed a defender off the ball. Jim Cleary scored from the spot kick.
So, Glentoran were level once again. Would another glorious page in their history be written? Alas, within a minute, Argentinian international Ossie Ardiles raced upfield to prod home a Perryman cross. Now it was 3 – 2. But, with only three minutes remaining, striker Gary Blackledge, with a dipping shot from 25 yards, beat the keeper. Now it was 3 – 3. It seemed as if the referee’s whistle would never blow. The minutes were agonising. However, it all ended with Glentoran getting that deserved draw and earning for themselves considerable prestige in the process.’
The packed main stand during the match