Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Football: Rarely trod path twixt N5 and N17

THE EX-FILES

Saturday 27 December 1997 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Strange but true: Tottenham have signed as many Argentinians as Arsenal players since the war, while their visitors in tomorrow's derby currently have more Frenchmen in their squad than they have bought wearers of the north London cockerel over the same period.

There has not been a deal between the clubs since 1977, and even then it was a free transfer. Pat Jennings, after 472 games in Spurs' goal, was deemed to be past it, yet went on to amass a 237 appearances in eight years at Arsenal. Willie Young and Steve Walford made the same move that year, the two centre-backs reuniting with Terry Neill, the ex-Gunner who knew their capabilities from his two years as manager at White Hart Lane.

Neill's predecessor at Spurs, Bill Nicholson, swapped Jimmy Robertson for Arsenal's David Jenkins in 1968 - one of his less auspicious signings - and the last Highbury player for whom their rivals paid a fee was Laurie Brown, a pounds 40,000 buy in 1965.

Jimmy Brain, a Welshman in the Arsenal side who lost to Cardiff in the 1927 FA Cup final, left them for Spurs, while the England forward George Hunt made the opposite switch 10 years later. The great Arsenal winger Joe Hulme managed Spurs after the war - but how many wearing red and white tomorrow are aware that that the club's greatest manager, Herbert Chapman, reached his playing prime in the lillywhite of the other mob?

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in