Talking of Spurs Legends.

TottenhamBlog Interviews Jimmy Greaves



by Dan Fitch
on June 10, 2010



I never had the privilege of watching Jimmy Greaves play, but earlier
today I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing the great man.
The word ‘legend’ is bandied around far too often these days, but
Jimmy falls into that category. Speak to any Spurs fan of a certain
vintage and they’ll tell you that he’s the greatest striker that they’ve
ever seen. Greaves scored 266 goals in 379 matches for Spurs and 44
goals in 57 games for England – truly deadly statistics.
Jimmy was of course a member of the 1966 World Cup squad and I asked
him how he thought the current team would fare in South Africa. Greaves
was cautious about England’s chances.
“We’re a fair side, we’re not a great side. There’s ten teams as good
as us and a lot depends on how the competition goes. I’m sure Capello
would like to start with the team that he thinks can win it and finish
with that same team. If you get a bit of luck and stay injury free, then
who knows?
“In a short competition like this, it’s not like the Premier League,
where there’s 38 games and things happen over a period of time and you
can deal with them. At the World Cup you have to deal with things as
they come along.
“England have got as good or as bad a chance as anyone else really,
it’s how you want to look at it.”
Jimmy was more decisive on the matter of whether it should be Peter
Crouch or Emile Heskey that starts up front alongside Wayne Rooney.
“Oh Crouch. I don’t see how anyone could be anti him with his goals
record.
“You’re talking about a guy who’s got a great goals ratio and surely
your front men are there to score goals?
“They talk of Heskey and him making Rooney a better player. I don’t
really hold with that or otherwise Alex Ferguson would have bought
Heskey a couple of years ago.
“Its every player’s responsibility to do his best and Rooney would
know that, whoever he plays with.”
Great goalscorers are normally part of a great strike partnership and
Greaves was no different. When I asked him who had been the best
forward he’d ever played alongside, Jimmy gave his answer without
hesitation.
“Alan Gilzean. I had a great partnership with Bobby Smith as well and
Les Allen really, because when I first joined Tottenham Les was centre
forward because Bobby was injured.
“People thought I took his place but I didn’t. Les went to centre
forward and I took the 10 shirt. Bob hardly played the first ten months,
but I had a good relationship with Smith, because of course we played
together with England as well.
“But Gillie was an absolutely phenomenal player. We just read each
others’ minds.”
Whilst Greaves has enjoyed the media spotlight after his retirement,
Gilzean has disappeared from public view. A sort of mythology has built
up about Gilzean’s whereabouts, but Greaves was keen to quash the
rumours that surround the former Scotland international.
“I know where Gillie lives. He’s fine and can’t understand what all
the fuss is all about.
“I was talking to Steve Perryman about three or four weeks ago and
Steve sees him quite regularly. He’s happy, Gillie. He just don’t want
to get involved in anything. He can’t understand this rumour about him
being a recluse. He’s not.”
Greaves played alongside the likes of Smith and Gilzean during
Tottenham’s glory days. Since then, there have been many success-starved
years at White Hart Lane, but he’s optimistic that Harry Redknapp can
continue to build on his initial success.
“Harry’s got a good team there at last. I don’t know what he’ll get
in terms of money to spend, but I’ll think they’ll have a good season
regardless.”
“I like the Croats he’s got. They’re good players and reliable. I can
see a good future for Tottenham now… first time I’ve been able to say
that for a while.”
When Greaves left White Hart Lane to join West Ham, he briefly played
alongside Redknapp. I asked him if Harry had initially struck him as
someone likely to go into management.
“No, not at all. The first time that I realised that he might was
when I was doing a job in Oxford and I met up with Bobby Moore, who was
then manager of Oxford City.
“Harry was there and was helping Bobby. He said that he really wanted
to be a manager and that you’ve got to start somewhere.
“He started there and he’s gone from strength to strength.”
Unlike Harry, Jimmy was never tempted at a crack at management.
“I never fancied getting into management, because I didn’t really see
my career in football after I retired.
“If I’d have known you could get millions for being absolutely crap
and getting the sack, I’d have been in like a shot.”
As a Spurs fan, it was an absolute honour to spend just a few minutes
with the greatest striker the club has ever had. If you’d like to do
likewise, then watch the video below, to find out how you could be in
with a chance to watch the World Cup final alongside Jimmy Greaves.
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.

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{ 11 comments… read
them below or add one }





1
oldhamyid June 10, 2010 at 8:42 pm


the greatest striker the mighty spurs ever had.one on one with the
goalie you would`ve backed him with your life.pure class!!!!!!!!!

Reply




2
shekh352 June 10, 2010 at 10:37 pm


Jimmy Greaves plus Alan Gilzean equals PERFECTION.

Reply




3
sheikh352 June 10, 2010 at 10:38 pm


That’s :sheikh” not “shekh”.

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4
Ray Kessler June 10, 2010 at 10:48 pm


Although i watched greavsie many times at spurs over the years, the
best goal i ever saw him score was against us for chelsie at stamford
bridge.
he was only 17 at the time. he picked up the ball in the middle of the
park and dribbled past what seemed the entire tottenham team before
slotting the ball into the net. The whole ground applauded, including
the spurs supporters. They didn’t have ends in those days.
Thanks god he eventually found his way to whl.

Reply




5
Dan Fitch June 11, 2010 at 9:57 am


In an age when every goal is recorded for posterity and can be found
on YouTube, it’s something of a tragedy that the majority of Greaves’
goals only live on in the memories of those that witnessed them.

Reply





6
col June
10, 2010 at 11:15 pm


I am just old enough to have seen him play for Tottenham,he was every
bit as good as everyone says.What price would you pay for him now if
idiots pay 30million for Berbatov or 40 million for Fabregas or 50
million for Ronaldo

Reply




7
brian June 11, 2010 at 12:15 am


The greatest english stricker ever.The spammers go on and on about
Hurst owing to the hatrick he scored in Englands only ever world cup
truimph.For Which he got a knight hood for.But as a player he was really
average unlike this team mates at West Ham Bobby Moore and martin
Peters.Who were just brilliant.As Ray Wilson said if Jimmy had played
against Germany they would not have neeeded extra time.And too be honest
at the tiume Portugal for me were the best fottballing side at that
tournament,(Creative wise and ability)England were more like efficent
and workman like.

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8
Wisey June 11, 2010 at 10:40 am


My Old man, a big Spurs fan man marked Greavsie when he played for
Barnet in the twighlight of his career. Greavsie was his favourite
player and apparently he marked him out of the game until the final
minutes when he beat three players to score the winner.
Geoff Hurst, said the other day that Greavsie was the best ever.
Hurst was just there at the right time and took his chance. Luckily in
1966 we had good players to come in. This time round we don’t have the
depth.

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9
jim June
11, 2010 at 12:59 pm


Possibly the best blog ive read. Fantastic. Think Grevsie’s views on
Englands chances are spot on. What happened to Sainty?

Reply




10
Kevin Field June 11, 2010 at 6:53 pm


The greatest forward there has ever been and a true legend. What
would he cost today? Slightly more than the £99,000 Billy Nick paid for
him.

Reply




11
Kevin Field June 11, 2010 at 6:54 pm


The greatest forward there has ever been and a true legend. What
would he cost today? Slightly more than the £99,999 Billy Nick paid for
him.