Danny Blanchflower and Co

Nearly half a century after being tipped to win football’s greatest club prize, Tottenham embark in only their second season in the Champions League or European Cup.


Shake down: José Águas (left), the Benfica captain, shakes hands with Danny Blanchflower,
his Tottenham Hotspur counterpart, ahead of their European Cup semi-final at White Hart Lane
Photo: GETTY IMAGES


In their previous campaign, in 1962, Bill Nicholson’s Spurs reached the semi-finals, but it was to be one of the biggest disappointments in their history when, after a 3-1 defeat by champions Benfica in Lisbon, they could only win 2-1 at White Hart Lane.
The coach of the Portuguese side, Bela Guttmann, said of the second leg: “It was the hardest game of my life. I thought Spurs would equalise in the last 10 minutes. They can win the European Cup soon.”

In the first leg, Bobby Smith had a goal disallowed, but in the return, on April 5, Spurs went behind in the 15th minute, when Jose Aguas made it 4-1 on aggregate. Smith reduced the arrears to 4-2 and captain Danny Blanchflower converted from the spot for 4-3 on aggregate, in front of a crowd of 64,448.
Benfica went on to beat Real Madrid 5-3 in the final in Amsterdam, with two goals from the great Eusebio.
Tottenham (v Benfica, April 5,1962): Bill Brown; Peter Baker, Ron Henry; Danny Blanchflower, Maurice Norman, Dave Mackay; Terry Medwin, John White, Bobby Smith, Jimmy Greaves, Cliff Jones.
100
The average wage at White Hart Lane in 1962 was £100 a week, a year after the maximum wage had been abolished.
21
Spurs scored 21 goals in their first European campaign, the 1961-62 European Cup, including an 8-1 thrashing of Gornik Zabrze, of Poland.
131
Tottenham have played 131 games in Europe, winning 76 and scoring 271 goals.
17
This is Tottenham’s 17th season in a major European competition.
5
Harry Redknapp is aiming to become only the fifth English manager to win the European Cup or Champions League, and the first since Joe Fagan with Liverpool in 1984. Bob Paisley, Brian Clough and Tony Barton are the only other Englishmen who have won the trophy.

It was great to see so many of the double winners on the pitch at half time on Saturday. So many brilliant memories.

Its good to see you posting seebee !

@ Max's siggy

I was there for that game Max, with my Dad and Benfica were so lucky to hold on. We kept hitting them with everything and you felt sure that we were going to get that last goal. I honestly believe if we had got that goal we would have won the final. They played so well that year in Europe and were the best side in the tournament.

Mikey M

Mikey remember as well Greaves had 2 disallowed (offside) goals and Dave Mackay hit the bar in the last few minutes

We could have won by 4 or 5 clear goals. It was probably one of the greatest nights at WHL. Although we lost the excitement was at times unbearable.

Mikey M

My dad went to that game too and he's a gooner lol ....He reckons the Spurs team was a joy to watch and often would go to see them when the goons wernt playing at home ....