My Spurs debut | Micky Hazard vs Everton | 19.04.1980

An apprentice at 16, professional at 18, Micky Hazard made his Spurs debut against Everton at the age of 20.

Born in Sunderland, Micky made the big move south at such a young age, living in digs just around the corner from the stadium. It was worth it, though, as it was the start of a lifelong love of the club that now extends through generations of his family.

A skilful, creative midfielder, it's no surprise that Micky picked up an assist as we beat Everton 3-0 in the old First Division at the Lane. Paul Miller and Tony Galvin completed the scoring. The team finished 14th in 1979/80 before the return of the glory, glory times with back-to-back FA Cup wins in 1981 and 1982 and the UEFA Cup win in 1984.

Now 63, Micky went on to make 170 appearances for us in two spells, 1980-85 and 1993-95, as well as playing for Chelsea, Portsmouth and then under the management of Ossie and Glenn at Swindon. He picked up a winners' medal in the 1982 FA Cup Final and produced his best performances on the way to that UEFA Cup success two years later.

Speaking to us back in 2014, Micky recalled his debut now approaching over 43 years ago. “I was told on the Friday and remember running down the High Road to phone my mum and dad to tell them,” he said. "I remember all the build-up, the excitement. John Pratt, whose place I actually took, came up to me before the game and spoke to me, gave me words of advice, that was fantastic. He’s someone I hold in such high esteem, a great professional.

“I did manage to create a goal, I think it was for Ossie and I must have done okay. After the match, Johnny (Pratt) came back into the dressing room and praised me to the hilt, ‘different class, Micky’, he said. I can remember it now.

“It’s funny, all the things that you think you wouldn’t remember, I do, but the game itself, I can barely remember a thing!

“What a midfield that day. Glenn Hoddle was my hero, Ossie became my hero. I remember aged 14 seeing Glenn in training, going back home to Sunderland and telling people ‘I’ve just seen the best player in the world’.

“Strangely enough, the week before we played United and I was supposed to be playing, but I burst a blister on my big toe and it turned poisonous. I couldn’t play and we lost 4-1. I was then selected again the next week, we won 3-0 and it’s a fantastic memory, but the game’s a bit of a blur.

“I was putting my kit on and looking around the dressing room and there was Hoddle, Perryman, Ardiles, Galvin and there is excitement, but you are also re-assured, because you think ‘if I have a ‘mare, Glenn will cover for me, or Ossie will do that’, they would carry me through.

“Somehow I felt I was fated to be a Spurs player. That chemistry of what the club stands for and what I stand for, my beliefs, the club’s motto, it all went hand in hand and means so much to me every time I come back to the stadium."