Today marks the 82nd birthday of the great Cliff Jones, the legendary Flying Welsh Winger.
Cliff of course was part of our great double winning team back in 1961.
He was not only fast and tricky, he also was a great header of the ball and used to get amazing jumping height considering he was only 5ft 7in tall.
^
Considered the best left winger in the World at the time he played 318 games for Spurs and scored 135 goals, which for a winger is pretty good.
He also represented Wales 59 times, in a time when there were many less internationals and you didn't get a cap just because you had a week on holiday in Wales.
I did have the pleasure of playing against Cliff in 1971 when he was at Kings Lynn before he retired from the game. He still had glimpses of class and he was also a lovely and gracious opponent.
Many happy returns Cliff🎂🥂
Happy Birthday Cliff
posted on 7/2/17
Sadly, Cliff and that great team that he was an important part of pre-date my time as a fan but I have heard a lot about them over the years.
Happy birthday Cliff
posted on 7/2/17
Also owned a butchers shop in white hart Lane, it was at a time when footballers were ordinary members of the community and didn't earn fortunes
posted on 7/2/17
Video of Cliff
https://youtu.be/ZhbVEcHvbcE
posted on 7/2/17
comment by Ioavirgo (U10470)
posted 0 seconds ago
Video of Cliff
https://youtu.be/ZhbVEcHvbcE
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other footage https://youtu.be/2WvbLU_fHCI
posted on 7/2/17
Also owned a butchers shop in white hart Lane, it was at a time when footballers were ordinary members of the community and didn't earn fortunes
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Completely different times of course, players not only travelled to games on the same local bus or in some cases walked to the ground.
They also drank in the local pub with fans as well.
Never had any complaints about playing more than a game a week, and this was on heavy muddy pitches too.
People often say that these players would have struggled in the modern game, which is absolutely rubbish.
If they enjoyed the same facilities, pitches and medical back up, then the likes of Greaves, Jones, White, Mackay, Smith, Crerand, Charlton, Law, Charles, Baxter etc would have had no problem.
Whilst Mackay is remembered as a hard man, he was also an extremely talented footballer too.
posted on 7/2/17
comment by GeniusGreaves Optimist Supreme (U1302)
posted 17 minutes ago
Also owned a butchers shop in white hart Lane, it was at a time when footballers were ordinary members of the community and didn't earn fortunes
___________________________________
Completely different times of course, players not only travelled to games on the same local bus or in some cases walked to the ground.
They also drank in the local pub with fans as well.
Never had any complaints about playing more than a game a week, and this was on heavy muddy pitches too.
People often say that these players would have struggled in the modern game, which is absolutely rubbish.
If they enjoyed the same facilities, pitches and medical back up, then the likes of Greaves, Jones, White, Mackay, Smith, Crerand, Charlton, Law, Charles, Baxter etc would have had no problem.
Whilst Mackay is remembered as a hard man, he was also an extremely talented footballer too.
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Agree with everything you say about old players doing as well now with all the facilities open to them, mackay was another who had a business outside football, manufactured club ties in seven sisters Road
posted on 7/2/17
posted on 8/2/17
He was also as brave as a lion...I remember him scoring from a diving header in a 7-0 win over Burnley in 1968 even though it was obvious he would have to collide with the post to do so