My favourite European goal - Martin Chivers

Harry Kane became the Club’s all-time record European goalscorer last season with the winner against Borussia Dortmund in our Champions League Round of 16, second leg win in March - goal number 24 in 50 appearances in European competition for the striker. To mark the achievement, we put together a mini-series highlighting the favourite European goals of our top four European marksmen.

After kicking-off the series with Mark Falco’s goal against Bayern Munich in 1983, next up it’s Martin Chivers, who held the mantle of our record European goalscorer for almost 30 years before Jermain Defoe toppled it in 2013.

And there really is only one goal in contention for ‘Big Chiv’ as we turn the clock back to 1972 and the UEFA Cup Final first leg against Wolves at Molineux...

Martin Chivers

- 22 goals in 32 European appearances, 174 goals in 367 appearances in all competitions, 1968-76
- Third in our all-time European goalscoring list and the Club’s third all-time goalscorer behind Bobby Smith (208) and Jimmy Greaves (266)

Wolves 1-2 Spurs

UEFA Cup Final first leg, Molineux, 3 May, 1972

Martin Chivers carved his name in Spurs folklore on the night the Club took a huge step towards creating more history under Bill Nicholson. Many felt this showpiece was somewhat of an anti-climax as two English teams faced-off for the first time in a European final, not least after we’d toppled AC Milan in the semi-finals. The first leg was a bit of a slow burner as well - until Chivers lit up Molineux.

After a cagey first half, Chivers rose majestically to head home Mike England’s free-kick on 57 minutes. Wolves equalised on 71 minutes but we took the initiative again thanks to one of the greatest goals in the Club’s history.

It all started from a Wolves attack, halted by Cyril Knowles. He played the ball up the left touchline to Chivers, whose flick inside was intercepted by John McAlle only for Alan Mullery to win the ball back, poking it back into the path of Chivers. This time, the striker strode forward a few yards before unleashing an absolute rocket from the best part of 30 yards that flew past Phil Parkes. “What a shot - pick that one out!” said legendary commentator David Coleman on BBC’s Sportsnight. What a strike!

A fortnight later, Mullery headed us into a 1-0 lead after 30 minutes of the second leg at the Lane. Wolves levelled on the night through David Wagstaffe on 41 minutes but rarely threatened again. It ended 1-1, we won 3-2 on aggregate and became the first British club to win two European trophies, nine years after our Cup Winners’ Cup triumph in 1963. It was Bill’s seventh trophy - league title, three FA Cups, one League Cup, ECWC and UEFA Cup - with one more to follow, the League Cup in 1973.

Martin's memories...

“I knew I caught it well. It was only a couple of minutes before the end of the game. I just thought ‘what the heck, I’ll let one go’  and I’ve never caught a shot like it. You do in training, but never really get the impact on the ball like I did on that occasion. That was, without doubt, the hardest shot I ever hit. It was so far out, it had to be hit like that as well.

“Earlier, I scored the header from Mike England’s free-kick, I rose and headed it into the far corner. I was a normally a near-post man as well. Both of those goals were perfect.

“It was great to lift that trophy. I look at the photos all the time, we’re all there in the dressing room drinking champagne. Alan Mullery actually went on a second lap of honour. It was his last game before moving back to Fulham. He scored the goal that night and we waited for him to come back in. We were knackered! It was a big moment in all our careers.”