Greavsie at 80 – a special celebration

This week brings the milestone 80th birthday of our all-time record goalscorer Jimmy Greaves – and we’ll be marking the occasion at our home Champions League fixture against RB Leipzig.

Arguably the greatest striker ever to grace the game, ‘Greavsie’ set countless records during an incredible playing career, many of which still stand to this day.

Collecting two FA Cups and the European Cup Winners’ Cup during his nine years with us between 1961 and 1970, Jimmy’s haul of 266 goals in 379 competitive appearances in our colours remains a Club best.

League records also tumbled during his career – nobody has ever scored more top-flight goals (357)  or top-scored in Division One in more seasons (six) than our former striker, who began his career at Chelsea before joining us via a brief spell at AC Milan for a famous £99,999 fee in December, 1961.

Part of England’s World Cup-winning squad in 1966, Jimmy left us to join West Ham in 1970, with the late, great Martin Peters moving in the other direction, and retired at the end of the 1970/71 season.

Sadly, Jimmy suffered a severe stroke in 2015 and is now wheelchair-bound.

Born in East Ham on 20 February, 1940, he celebrates his 80th birthday on Thursday – and we’ll be kicking off the party when we host RB Leipzig on Wednesday night in a huge Champions League round of 16, first leg clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Jimmy adorns the front cover of a special-edition A4-sized Champions League official matchday programme available on the night, with a host of features reflecting on his career published inside.

Supporters will be able to enjoy a video montage of his incredible career on the big screens inside the stadium at half-time, while members of the Greaves family will also be in attendance as guests of the Club, taking part in a pitchside presentation on Jimmy’s behalf during the pre-match warm-ups.

Ticket news

We have a very limited number of tickets available on Guest Sale for Wednesday’s Champions League fixture. Our Season Ticket Holders and One Hotspur Members are able to purchase an additional three tickets each, subject to availability. This is a great opportunity to bring friends and family to experience a huge night of European football.

All-new ‘Greavsie’ film to premiere tonight

In addition to the events to mark Jimmy’s birthday at the RB Leipzig match, supporters are reminded that ‘Greavsie’, the latest in the acclaimed BT Sport Films series, which documents the life and times of this true footballing icon, will premiere on BT Sport 2 tonight (Tuesday 18 February) at 10.30pm, with additional broadcasts over the next week including Saturday 22 February at 7.30pm on BT Sport 2.