Ledley's tribute to Daws
Ledley King has revealed his thoughts when Michael Dawson first walked through the door at Spurs.
The popular central defender and club captain recently signed a new deal to extend his time at the Lane to 2016.
'Daws’ joined us in a double deal with Andy Reid from Forest in January, 2005.
Since then, he’s been a rock in our defence, a leader and captain, representing the club with pride and a firm favourite with team-mates and supporters alike - a path Ledley knows all about.
The pair played together for seven years - barring injury - until Ledley’s retirement at the end of the 2011-12 campaign.
Michael always tells the tale of when he first watched Ledley.
“I was sat up in the Directors’ Box at White Hart Lane in 2005. I remember the game, Portsmouth, and thinking ‘it’s just too easy for this guy’. I was stepping up from the Championship and thinking ‘would I manage it?’”
But what about Ledley’s thoughts upon Michael’s arrival?
“When he first came here he was such a young lad,” said Ledley.
“My first thought was ‘competition’. Any player would look at a player coming into the club in his position and think ‘I’ve got competition here’. So that was my first thought.
“Of course, I then got to know him and Michael is a terrific guy, a great personality and an infectious character. It was great to play alongside him and very easy to play alongside him.
“He’s become a real leader at the club and I’m thrilled he’s going to be here longer, and this new deal will take him beyond 10 years, which is a great achievement."