Legends team collects award – but slips up at MK Dons

The Spurs Legends team has been recognised for their work in the community at the 2019 Pride of Essex Sports Awards.

Led by our 1984 UEFA Cup-winning striker Mark Falco and regularly featuring former Spurs stars from the 1980s and 1990s such as David Howells, Justin Edinburgh and Clive Wilson, the team takes part in friendly fixtures across the south of the UK on Sundays with the aim of helping to raise funds for charities and local sports clubs.

As a result of their matches benefitting numerous worthy causes, the team received the Pride of Essex ‘Special Recognition Award’ at a glitzy ceremony at Chigwell Hall on Thursday night.

“First of all it’s a nice surprise and, secondly, it’s very nice for everyone associated with the Club to be rewarded in this way,” said Falco, who collected the award on stage on behalf of the squad, many of whom were in attendance. “Without everyone giving up their weekends to play matches, this wouldn’t be possible so it’s a big thank you to everybody who has been involved. As former players, it’s the best thing in the world for us to keep putting that Lilywhite shirt with the cockerel on and to think that we’re still representing the Club, even if it’s only for a day, feels great.”

Former defender Edinburgh, who lifted the 1991 FA Cup and 1999 League Cup during his time with us, also collected the ‘Professional Sports Personality’ award after guiding Leyton Orient FC back into the Football League and reaching the final of the FA Trophy at Wembley.

Things didn’t go quite as well on the pitch on Sunday (5 May), though, as the Legends suffered a 6-1 defeat to a younger MK Dons Legends side at Stadium MK. Pascal Chimbonda, Sean Davis and Steve Hodge all came into the starting XI while iconic former skipper Steve Perryman was in attendance in his role as Associate Director at MK Dons, but it was the hosts who claimed victory.

Luke Chadwick and Scott Taylor scored inside 13 minutes, although Howells responded from the penalty spot to make it 2-1 before the break. However, MK pulled away after the restart with Drewe Broughton and Izale McLeod adding their names to the scoresheet, while Taylor completed his hat-trick.

Spurs Legends: G Howells, Statham, Galvin, Vega, Nethercott, Chimbonda, Davis, Watson, Doherty, D Howells, Hodge. Substitutes: Falco, Edmonds, Wilkinson, Jarrett, M Southam, G Southam, Chinery, Jallow (GK). Attendance: 1,288.