Last minute joy - Tottenham 1987 and Rocky remembered

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
24 Jan	8:00 PM	LC	Tottenham Hotspur (A)	2	2	Draw

This week resonates for a number of reasons. The last minute defeat of United is immensely pleasurable. Any defeat of our principle rivals over that last 10 years is truly brilliant, but supplement this joy with the added zest of a last-minute winner, and it is oh so much better.

The winter sun is brighter, the flowers smell better, the birds sing sweeter, and the girls (or boys) look more sexy.

The warmth of a last-minute win is like an electric blanket of warmth, when it is against the Auld Enemy of Manchester United, it is like a Hot Toddy as well.

The last minute win is more-than-commensurate than a straightforward win. The game is played for a set period – 90 minutes PLUS time added on. Yet a goal scored in the last minute is an unbelievable boost of adrenaline and joy. It is worth far more to any supporter than a goal scored in the 1st, 15th or 33rd minute, yet it is worth exactly the same!

The 2-1 win against Spurs in the Littlewoods Cup (1987) is important for so many reasons. Firstly the radical change of fortunes that it caused the two clubs. Arsenal were a club coming out nearly a Decade of under-achieving dross. Gorgeous George had made a couple of signings, and dropped a couple of the most excessive "stars". Mostly he had cajoled the rest, and added hungry youngsters and starving journeymen to a team in decline. Then you add-in the smugness of the Spurs club, and ferment with the over-achievement and excessive expectations of the Glory-Glory Club, and just stand back and soak it up.

Twenty years after that League Cup semi-final, I still bask in the joy of those 2 nights. Not just the joy of winning, but the excessive joy of winning late in the match.

In some ways the match is very low in importance, the second Cup competition is a trifle. Yet, in 1987, it presented a genuine opportunity for glory. Then, like now, there was a huge dominant force in the English game. Liverpool won the Championship every year, and most years would either win, or at east contest, the FA Cup Final. For a short period in the late Eighties, another club rose to challenge them. Unfortunately, for those not from Merseyside, those rivals were from the SAME city! Everton briefly battled for supremacy with their Stanley Park neighbours, and in 1985, and again in 1987 would fleetingly become champions of England (and the City of Liverpool).

After Heysel (May 1985) the European avenues were closed to all of the English clubs, so we had only three things to play for, and of those: Liverpool were so far ahead of the rest, we could only play for crumbs.

Supporting Arsenal in the 1980's was like supporting Middlesbrough now. I make the comparison advisedly, because McClaren now, was similar in influence to Don Howe then.

The England number 2 coach was Don Howe. He had risen to the top at Highbury by sticking around when various managers had gone. He was now given a chance to prove he could cope as the main man, not just an excellent coach. He used his England influence to persuade a number of England internationals to come to Highbury, and as we ended the eighties, we could regularly play BOTH England full-backs (Sansom and Anderson), and both England forwards (Woodcock and Mariner), as well as a host of English youngsters that Don Howe himself had coached though a jealously regarded youth system. On paper Arsenal had a formidable team. On grass they looked far less than formidable.

Unfortunately we had signed those England internationals on top wages, at the end of their careers. They were also England internationals at a time of genuine national weakness. So, as England underperformed, they underperformed for their country, and they failed to do anything for Arsenal.

George's revolution had taken hold this season, and youngsters (Thomas, Rocastle, Quinn) had been set loose with the mercurial Davis, the peerless Adams, the under-estimated Steve Williams and the aforementioned journeymen (Atkinson, Groves). All of whom shared the desire, and the commitment. Some had talent (Rocky and Davis), but all played for the shirt.

Meanwhile Spurs were the darlings of the media. While Liverpool hoovered up the silverware, the Spurs team were the match of anyone on their day. Although they would eventually end with no glory, they were everyone's second favourite team (within reason!). While they were no threat to the hegemony of Liverpool and Everton, they oozed talent, particularly in midfield, where the England reject Hoddle, was at the height of his powers, and for once, Spurs had signed, in a £1 million Arsenal reject, a player who would score virtually a goal per game. Clive Allen was in the middle of probably the most productive goal-scoring season since Greaves had retired. In a formation designed to maximise the goalscoring potential of a single player, while giving head to the most creative collection of midfield players ever to grace White Hart Lane.

In David Pleat was a creative coach who inherited a fantastic bunch of players, but having said that, they were the same players who had got Peter Shreeves the sack, the previous season. Pleat added ingenuity, and a system that harnessed those disparate but brilliant players. For several years, Pleat had learned his craft at Luton Town, where his tactical nous, and creative coaching had enabled the Hertfordshire club a brief period of success, and they had punched above their weight.

In his first season, Pleat had forged the extremely talented, but perhaps previously fragile playing staff into a system that suited their abilities. Some say he created the 4-5-1. Certainly his system finally managed to form Spurs into a consistent level of performance. That season they finished a good third in the league, while reaching semis of Littlewoods Cup, and reaching Wembley in the FA Cup (where the mighty Coventry City would await them).

The league position was the main achievement, and in a period when you had to be from Liverpool to finish in the top two positions, the London press were purring about the first London bid at the Championship since Charlie George was in his pomp.

Back to White Hart Lane. A second leg of a supposed dead rubber.

Clive Allen had scored the only goal on the 8th of February at Highbury. Clive scored a good (but offside) goal that was typical of his season after only a handful of minutes. Arsenal huffed and puffed, but in truth Spurs were the more like scorers of a second goal, as they hit both posts and the bar in a display that owed much to complacency and a reluctance to lose the lead that they had so easily secured. They treated the match like a European tie, and failed to press home the advantage that their stronger team, more adventurous play, and more skilful players should have done. George gave a debut to a young Michael Thomas. A promising full-back who had just returned from loan. Even the substitution showed the difference between the clubs. One, a team full of creative individuals, all capable of match-winning, defence-splitting creativity. The other, a group of admirable young professionals, committed but sadly limited.

Poor ITV had secured the rights to the competition, and the semi-final was a damp squib. A two-legged affair, promising so much, was dead after just a few minutes. Played on a Sunday afternoon, in the days when live coverage was still a rarity, the event fell flat. ITV failed to show any interest in the second leg, three weeks later at the Lane. That would just be a procession, wouldn't it? Better not show too much football, and sate the public's demand before the final on 5th April when Liverpool would inevitably beat the new pretenders – Spurs – in an attractive, and classic North vs South final.

The second leg was over after 38 minutes. Yet again it was that swine Clive Allen. In that time-honoured ex-player comes back to haunt you kind of way, Allen slipped in to make it 2-0 to Spurs, at their ground, and with only a quarter of the tie left to play. Game Over.

Now, I had already indicated the complacency that ran through the Spurs club. They had soundly beaten Arsenal home and away, all through the decade. They were top Cockerels, and were now lording it over their poorer, less-illustrious neighbours on a national stage. The man-of-the match then stepped in: The Tannoy announcer at White Hart Lane vied with Clive Allen for the man of the match champagne, ultimately, the tannoy announcer had the bigger impact, and turned the match.

There is no way of knowing how effective George's half time talk was. He probably lost patience with his midfield, who had failed to achieve any sort of control in 135 minutes. He probably expressed his rage at the young defence – who had been run ragged by the pace, and clever running of Clive Allen. The final quarter of the match would be about damage-limitation. Anyway George could just sit back, and listen. In the stadium: we were horrified by the tannoy announcer, who spent the interval going through the various ways that Spurs supporters could get their Wembley tickets.

He prefaced the odd sentence with the words "If Tottenham are victorious, today", but the implication was clear, and his delivery was filled with sarcasm and bathos for the defeated rivals. In the stadium we were humiliated, and angry. The Spuds were beating us, stuffing us, and rubbing our noses in it, in a most humiliating, open way. Six years of underachievement (ever since 12th May 1979 when Alan Sunderland had popped up in a last-minute victory) ended there in a public display of humiliation, degradation, complete dishonour and humbling patronisation.

Below us, in the recesses of the White Hart dressing rooms, the players heard the announcement, and finally stirred. Some say it was a turning point of the Gorgeous George era. It certainly felt that way at the time. The players came out for the second half with greater belief, more fulsome commitment. The years of European football had created a false impression. There was no "away" goals in this competition, we were 0-1 on the night, 0-2 overall, and we had 45 minutes to get 2 goals. Difficult but not as decisive as if it had been a UEFA tie.

The last vestige of Don Howe's era: Viv Anderson scored the first, and we were finally in a game. Viv was a marauding right-back who was at his best when providing leadership to the youngsters. He was similarly embroiled a year later in the first battle of Old Trafford, when he had been racially insulted, but failed to prevent Rocky from rising to the bait, and watched Rocky get the red card, and Manchester United end our unbeaten run. Viv didn't have much football left in his legs, but he still had enormous heart.

The clock ran down, and although level on the night, we were going out – but at least we were going out fighting. What a bloody waste those first two hours of football had been.

Rocky kept going. We fell in love with Rocky that night - as he snarled into tackles and drove the team forwards - he built the relationship with the fans during 45 minutes of football which can last an all-too-short lifetime. It was in the last few minutes and Rocky raced forward for the umpteenth time, and delivered the cross that big Niall squeezed home for the most unlikely of results – the draw! So, 0-1 down became 2-1 up.

The match went to a replay. The venue to be decided by a referee's coin. Pleat won the toss, and the re-match would be at WHL just three days later. George lost the toss, but won the psychological battle, as he smiled at the Spurs management, and declared that he would have chosen WHL had he won the toss. After all, following that day he considered WHL a "lucky" ground.

The replay is stuff of legend. Again Mr Allen secured a deserved lead for Spurs. Again very early, and again Spurs played better than us, but failed to add to the 1-0 lead. As time drifted away, we began to think that the moment had passed, but still George's young tyros surged forward. We had pace, and we had height (Niall was eight foot two in those early days), so there was always hope of something scrappy.

In truth, that's what happened, we won with late goals from Ian Allinson and Rocky Rocastle. We went into the 83rd minute trialling, but came out on 90 minutes with the most unlikely of 2-1 victories. Sounds familiar? In those days it was not even on TV! Complacency was rife in ITV, as it was in the Spurs management!

On the night, as Rocky slipped the ball under Clemence for the winner, I thought he had got lucky. That he had snatched at the late opportunity and with so little time to think, had just succumbed to the atmosphere and scrambled it home. Twenty years later, and I am unsure. Knowing Rocky now, I think he was more than lucky, and from the distance of two decades – I just thank the creator that it fell to him. Just as 26th May 1989, the same type of opportunity fell to Mickey. Right time, right place, right player. He deserved the glory, and he won the place in our hearts – just next to Ray, Charlie, Liam, Sundy, Michael and Dennis.

We had twice trailed 0-1 at the home of Spurs until the bitter end, only to come out victorious through guts, commitment, and sheer bloody-mindedness. The chant, the magazine "One-nil down, 2-1 up" was born – if only to annoy our neighbours!

Whatever: Rocky won our hearts, and got us a shot at the title. It would be against Liverpool and Ian Rush (The only man allowed to call Clive Allen, "profligate") so we were bound to lose. Anyway, a new era of the Arsenal was born, and the WHL tannoy announcer took his place in Arsenal history. What a guy!

There is a ruling in UEFA that away goals count double. I think that last minute goals are worth far more. Last minute winners are even better. Win us an important match, against a mighty foe, in the final minute, and will sing your name for ever.

So, while you toast Thierry for his header yesterday, keep one eye on WHL on this coming Wednesday and raise your glass to Rocky, (and the very useful assist by the stadium announcer).

User Comments

Simon F

Posted on 24 Jan, 2007 at 12:22 PM - Reply

Fantastic Article, proud to be an Arsenal supported but even more honoured to have had the opportunity to see Rocky who is a true Arsenal legend,

Being a Gunner

Posted on 24 Jan, 2007 at 07:07 AM - Reply

Who did better to take 6 pts off Man Utd? It is.....ARSENAL!!!

ashburrn

Posted on 23 Jan, 2007 at 09:52 PM - Reply

Wonderful write-up Phil.

PhilLloyd14

Posted on 23 Jan, 2007 at 04:29 PM - Reply

Definitely Clemence

Donaldo

Posted on 23 Jan, 2007 at 04:28 PM - Reply

No it was Ray Clemence in goal.Who can ever forget the PA Annoucment of the sale of cup final tickets for Spud fans.Hilarious

Phil

Posted on 23 Jan, 2007 at 03:42 PM - Reply

I believe it was Clemence, and Arsenal.con agrees. But who cares?

highburied

Posted on 23 Jan, 2007 at 11:21 AM - Reply

Great article, fond memories. But wasn't it Tony Parkes who let Rocky's shoty slip under his body?

Jersey

Posted on 23 Jan, 2007 at 10:28 AM - Reply

Brings back some great memories. Having watched the team for over 35 years, that night at WHL still ranks as one the best ever.
God bless you Rocky!

Jersey

Posted on 23 Jan, 2007 at 09:26 AM - Reply

Superb, brought back some great memories. Over 35 years watching these boys and that still rates as one of the greatest nights. God Bless you Rocky.

hitendra

Posted on 23 Jan, 2007 at 09:24 AM - Reply

Fantastic stuff - I have been a supporter of Arsenal only for last few years, so something like this which was something like 20 years ago really makes exciting reading

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