'Big Chiv' - 75 today!

Today - 27 April - is the 75th birthday of one of our greatest goalscorers, Martin Chivers.

Fourth on our all-time list with 174 goals in 367 appearances between 1968-1976 - including almost a year out with a serious knee injury - Martin topped our European list for almost 20 years and remains our all-time top goalscorer in the League Cup with 23.

He was the spearhead of Bill Nicholson's trophy-winning team of the early 1970s. That team landed the League Cup twice and the UEFA Cup in 1972 - Martin scored both goals in the 1971 League Cup win against Villa and, his most famous strike, a thunderbolt in the first leg of the UEFA Cup Final at Wolves.

A popular member of our matchday legends team, Martin is a regular at home matches.

To mark his big day, here is an interview with Martin adapted from the Tottenham Hotspur Opus.

Happy birthday, Big Chiv!

Martin Chivers - Tottenham Hotspur Opus

You began your career at Southampton. Why did you decide to move?
Martin: "I was scoring a lot of goals at Southampton. I had Ron Davies playing beside me and in one season we scored 62 goals, though he got the majority. When I heard that there was interest from a top club like Tottenham Hotspur – well, you wouldn’t hesitate. I was young and ambitious, and they were a top team."

You were playing in a game for the English League against the Irish League?
Martin: "Yes, Reg Drury from The News of the World was there. He said: “Tottenham Hotspur are looking for a new striker and you could fit the bill.” Jimmy Greaves, who was also in the team, emphasised the point to me. Lo and behold, Tottenham did come in for me in 1968."

Did Bill Nicholson say what role he had in mind for you?
Martin: "I think he wanted someone to play alongside Alan Gilzean, who could hold the ball up. Bobby Smith had moved on and I think, looking at the size of me, Bill thought, 'that’s my second Bobby Smith'. That’s probably why we had so many arguments over the years: he wanted me to be more like Bobby."

Was it hard to settle in at Spurs?
Martin: "It was easy to come into that team; they were all top players. Sometimes, if you introduce too many new players at once, they don’t always gel. But one player coming into the 11 can be beautiful. My team-mates set up so many chances for me, and I reciprocated by putting the ball in the back of the net. There were some fantastic characters there, too – it wasn’t hard to strike up a relationship with anybody. Pat Jennings, Cyril Knowles and Mike England were the ones who seemed to hold the players together on the social side. I bought a big townhouse in Epping, which was a bit further away than Bill wanted; he always wanted players right by our Cheshunt training ground, so there was no excuse for being late."

After eight months, you picked up a terrible knee injury that could have ended your career. How did that happen?
Martin: "It started in pre-season training. Every time I placed my left foot down to drive the ball with my right, it would hurt. I was sent to a specialist twice in July 1968 and he gave me a cortisone injection in the knee. I had pain all through August. Then in September, I went to lay a ball off with my right foot against Nottingham Forest and I collapsed. There was a big hole where my knee should have been and a lump at the top of my thigh, which looked like the kneecap. I pushed it back down and straightened my leg. Cecil Poynton, the trainer, told me to bend my knee. I tried and my kneecap started travelling up my thigh. The players just walked away. I found out later that the club were in touch with the insurance company. They thought I was finished, but I was only 23. Then a specialist called Mr Trickey saved my career. Bill said, 'big fella, you’ve got to be prepared for six months out of football'. So I said, 'fine, as long as it’s only six months'. I came back after a year and some incredible training. I surprised myself – running up and down the terraces carrying Cecil, lifting weights... I became a very strong person. After 12 months out, it took six months before I regained my confidence. I don’t think the fans thought I’d make it. Then, there was a famous game at home against Stoke City in October 1970. I got a couple of goals, one which could be considered my best. I curled the ball round Gordon Banks after knocking Dennis Smith off the ball – which was no mean feat – and that was it. I was back."

And you returned during one of the club’s most successful periods?
Martin: "We had four finals in four years. There were two other semi-finals as well: the League Cup in 1972 against Chelsea, which we lost in the last minute, and the UEFA Cup against Liverpool in 1973, which we lost on away goals. They were both heartbreaking."

What are your memories of the 1972 UEFA Cup Final?
Martin: "It was a bit of a shock ending up playing Wolves - it felt like a league game. I don’t remember much of the first half, Bill wasn’t happy with the way we were playing, and we had another big bust-up in the dressing room. As we went out for the second half, the players were saying, 'come on big fella, we know what you can do'. The rest is history – two terrific goals. I was so pleased with the first one. We were worthy winners."

How would you sum up those European nights - and that squad?
Martin: "That team was like a family. We played with a small squad, we all knew each other, we all knew our strengths, we stuck together and we were lucky to stay away from serious injuries, even when we 75 per cent fit we still played, they strapped us up and we went out there. We loved the travelling and the Club looked after us so well, second to none, the hotels, chartered flights, it was brilliant. They were such exciting times. We scored a load of goals in Europe, not just me, everyone. It was tremendous. They were such great days and we loved every moment."