NICHOLSON, William Edward O.B.E. (1938-55)
Position: Half back
Height: 5ft 9ins
Weight: 11st 7lbs.
Born: Scarborough, Yorkshire, 26 January, 1919
Died: Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, 23 October, 2004
Signed from amateur August 1938
Also played for: Scarborough Working Men's Club, Scarborough Young Liberals, Northfleet United, England
Spurs Record:
Debut: 22 October, 1938 v Blackburn Rovers (FL) (a) lost 1-3
Appearances: League 318*, FA Cup 27 (*Includes 1 abandoned)
Goals: League 6
In all the years since the club was formed in 1882, nobody comes close to matching Bill Nicholson for his contribution to our success, let alone the dedication he showed over 68 years. Of the 18 major honours won by the club, Bill was involved in nine of them, one as a player and eight as manager.
He may not have been around when Bobby Buckle and his schoolboy pals laid the foundations for the Tottenham style, when John Cameron’s team lifted the FA Cup, Peter McWilliam’s side stormed through the Second Division and won the FA Cup or Percy Smith’s ‘Greyhounds’ thrilled fans with their fast-paced attacking. But Bill was there when Arthur Rowe’s ‘Push and Run’ team stunned football with the simplicity of their game and he was also there to guide us to previously unattainable heights.
Nicholson came down from Scarborough for a trial in March, 1936. He gave up his job as a laundry boy to join the groundstaff, spent two years at the Northfleet United nursery and signed professional in August, 1938.
Originally a left back, his League debut came in October, 1938 and he spent most of his first season understudying Bill Whatley, only playing when the Welshman was injured or on international duty. The start of 1939-40 saw Nicholson first choice but when war broke out, he joined the Durham Light Infantry and was hardly seen at White Hart Lane until demobbed in February, 1946. By then Vic Buckingham had staked a claim to the number three shirt but centre-half was proving a problem and Nicholson was given the job of shackling opposing centre-forwards.
He performed well enough and occupied the position in the first season of post-war football but was not the tallest of players and as 1947-48 started, he was moved to right-half where his strong tackling and simple distribution of the ball would be most effective.
Nicholson was an unfussy player, cutting down the space available to his opposing inside-forward, snapping into the tackle, working out the angles and intercepting before danger threatened. Once he had the ball he rarely held on to it, a few quick strides and then it was released. It was an attitude that fitted perfectly with Rowe’s ‘Push and Run’ philosophy that demanded continual movement from ball and player.
Nicholson missed only three games in the Second Division winning season of 1949-50 and only one as the Football League title was won for the first time in 1951. Although not regarded as one of the most gifted footballers in Rowe’s team he was considered, along with Ron Burgess, Alf Ramsey and Eddie Baily, as one of the four ‘greats’ in the team. He played a crucial role, providing the solid base in midfield that allowed Burgess to press forward so effectively, Ramsey to concentrate on controlling the right flank and Baily to perform his full range of tricks.
It was not only at White Hart Lane that Nicholson’s attributes were recognised. He won his first representative honour in January, 1950, when he played for England "B" against Switzerland but it was not to be the start of the long international career his performances merited. He appeared for the Football League, won two more England "B" caps and was a member of England's 1950 World Cup squad but was to win only one full England cap. That came against Portugal at Goodison Park in May, 1951 when, remarkably, he scored with his first kick of the match. He seemed set to make himself an England regular but, after being selected for the game against Austria in November, 1951, was forced to withdraw through injury. He was not to get another chance as Billy Wright made the position his own.
Nicholson anchored the Spurs’ midfield until the 1954-55 season when, approaching the veteran stage, he realised he was past his best and he himself made it clear to Rowe that a replacement had to be secured. The result was the signing of Danny Blanchflower and the beginning of a new era in Spurs’ history – one that, once again, had Bill Nick at its heart.
Under invitation from the FA, Bill coached the varsity and Pegasus teams during the early Fifties. When his playing career ended in 1954, he switched to a coaching role and assisted with the England Under-23 team.
Appointed assistant manager at Tottenham in 1955 he took over as manager on 11 October, 1958, to enjoy a 16-year stint at the helm. The early years saw him continue a role helping with the England Full and Under-23 sides.
Bill set about assembling one of the finest teams English football has ever seen. He inherited a fine crop of players including Blanchflower, Bobby Smith, Maurice Norman and Cliff Jones. His adeptness in the transfer market, one of his best qualities, soon added Dave Mackay to the ranks with Bill Brown, John White and Les Allen to follow.
Ably assisted by men such as assistant manager Harry Evans and trainer Cecil Poynton, with Blanchflower his idiosyncratic lieutenant on the pitch, Nicholson went to work on making the impossible possible. The rest is glorious Tottenham history.
We roared to League Championship glory in 1960-61 and completed the famous Double by beating Leicester City at Wembley in the FA Cup Final. In winning the league, Bill added his name to the short list of men to have won the championship as both a player and manager.
He wasn’t finished there though. The FA Cup was retained in 1962 and more history was created in 1963, when he led us to victory in the European Cup Winners’ Cup. It was an incredible night in Rotterdam too, as we beat holders Atletico Madrid 5-1, thanks to a performance of the most scintillating football.
And the trophies kept coming with Bill at the helm. Our fifth FA Cup triumph was secured in 1967, the Football League Cup in both 1971 and 1973 and the UEFA Cup in 1972.
These feats brought many firsts; the first Double of the 20th century was followed by the first European trophy win by a British club; the first British team to win two different European competitions and the first to win the League Cup twice.
On 29 August, 1974, Bill announced his retirement as manager. He remained in charge until 13 September. Following a spell at West Ham United as managerial consultant to John Lyall, he returned to serve us as a consultant and chief scout in July, 1976. His connection with our scouting department continued until his retirement in July, 1997. During July, 1991, he was appointed Club President. Among his personal honours, Bill received an OBE in 1975.
Bill became the first inductee into the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame at a dinner held on 11 March, 2004, which was attended by 10 members of our Double-winning squad. He was similarly honoured a couple of months later by The National Football Museum based at Preston.
Sadly, Bill Nicholson passed away at a Potters Bar hospital on 23 October, 2004, aged 85.
A Memorial Service was staged at White Hart Lane on 7 November, 2004, attended by many of those who played under him. Cliff Jones, Jimmy Greaves, Martin Chivers, Steve Perryman, Glenn Hoddle and Gary Mabbutt led the tributes.
Without question, he was truly Mr Tottenham. Gone, but never forgotten.