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Here is Brian Judson's preview of the game

Full Record of Spurs -v- Stockport County

Prem           Pl   W   D   L   For-Ag  Pts
Home            0   0   0   0    0 - 0   0
Away            0   0   0   0    0 - 0   0
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Total(Prem)     0   0   0   0    0 - 0   0
==========================================
Football Lge
Home(Div 2)     3   2   1   0    4 - 0   5
Away(Div 2)     3   2   0   1    7 - 5   4
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Total(Div 2)    6   4   1   1   11 - 5   9
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Total(Prem)     0   0   0   0    0 - 0   0
Total(Div 2)    6   4   1   1   11 - 5   9
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Grand Total)    6   4   1   1   11 - 5   9
==========================================

Season     Div'n   Home    Away

1908-09      2      0-0     3-1
1919-20      2      2-0     2-1
1937-38      2      2-0     2-3

We have never played Stockport County in the FA Cup or FL Cup.

I thought that as we have no recent history of having played Stockport County that I would wander down memory lane and recall some 5th Round ties down the years.

In season 1936-37, we were drawn against Everton at Goodison Park. Spurs were in the Second Division and were already out of the promotion race whilst Everton were anxiously looking over their shoulder in case they were dragged down into the relegation battle in Division 1. We drew 1-1 on Merseyside and actually took the lead with five minutes left to play, Jimmy McCormick scoring for us. Yet moments earlier, Everton could have been ahead when they were awarded a penalty. But Jack Hall, a big strapping 'keeper who had been signed from promoted Manchester United during the previous close season, saved the penalty taken by Bill Dean. Spurs then broke away upfield for McCormick to score but in the dying moments, Coulter snatched an equaliser for Everton.

Two days later, Spurs won the replay, 4-3, in one of the most thrilling cup-ties ever seen at White Hart Lane. Conditions were poor as the pitch had been flooded on the morning of the match and was very greasy. Tommy Lawton, then only 17, was called up to replace Coulter. In the second minute, Everton were 1-0 ahead after Lawton crashed home a centre from Geldard. Dean added a second after 20 minutes when Geldard slipped past Whatley to provide the cross from which Dean scored. But shortly afterwards, Morrison reduced the arrears from a Miller pass. Spurs were on top for the rest of the first half but could not score again.

There was a dramatic incident early in the second half when Everton were awarded a throw-in, which Joe Mercer took, and at the height of their attack Dean was fouled in the penalty area and Spurs did not argue when the referee pointed to the spot but then someone noticed the linesman flagging furiously so the referee went to find out what was up and then awarded a throw-in to Spurs because Mercer had committed a foul throw.

Spurs then scored again through Morrison only for the referee to disallow the goal because Everton's goalkeeper Sagar had been pushed. Immediately afterwards, Dean extended Everton's lead to 3-1 with twenty-five minutes left. Meek then sent Morrison away in the 65th minute as Everton appealed in vain for offside and Morrison scored. With five minutes left, Morrison provided the pass from which Meek equalised. As extra time loomed, Miller tore down the left wing and Morrison's header knocked Everton out of the cup.

There have been many dramatic moments in the Cup but one of the most dramatic was against Bristol City in March 1967 when we won 2-0. The Second Division side's tactics were designed to upset Tottenham. Quigley was niggling away at Mackay and eventually Quigley annoyed Mackay with a tackle that could have permanently damaged Mackay's ankles. The Scot picked himself up and went for Quigley with the intention of smacking him right out of White Hart Lane. The referee separated the squabbling pair and appeared to send Mackay off. The referee was quickly surrounded by players protesting and the referee apparently was persuaded to change his mind and lectured both players for a long while.

Spurs went ahead after ten minutes. Venables found Greaves from deep inside the Spurs half of the field. His long pass completely split the Bristol City defence. Greaves let the ball run past him and whipped the ball under Gibson, the City 'keeper, as he came out to narrow the angle.

For the rest of the first half, Spurs took pot shots at the Bristol City goal but could not score. Bill Nicholson wriggled on his seat in towering fury as Spurs toyed with Bristol City.

Early in the second half, Bristol City should have equalised. Jennings could only parry a shot and Bush had a gilt edged chance he would normally have scored but, with Jennings helpless and no one on the goal-line, Bush could only kick the ball into the side netting.

Then, England handled the ball in the area to give Bristol City a penalty. Ford took the kick and underhit the ball and Jennings saved it. The referee then decided the kick should be re-taken. Crowe took the kick. He took a long run-up and the ball sailed wide of the goal to the relief of the Spurs fans.

In the last minute, Bristol City conceded a penalty and Greaves demonstrated how penalty kicks should be taken. But Spurs could and should have scored more than two goals.

The last memories I will revive are those of Tottenham going to Portsmouth in February 1991. Memories of Hillsborough were still fresh in our minds but I remember that Portsmouth didn't seem to segregate the rival sets of supporters as efficiently as they could have done. Gazza turned on a brilliant display, scoring both goals as Spurs marched on. But Gazza was not fully fit as he was carrying a couple of injuries and Spurs knew that the time was coming when they'd have to do something about it. It was about this time, of course, that we first started to become aware of how serious our financial problems were. But Venables didn't need to motivate Spurs as Gazza did that, leaving Venables free to pursue his dreams of being big shot J R Ewing riding to save the beleaguered Spurs as a White Knight .......

And how will we fare against Stockport? Who laughed? You shouldn't laugh because Stockport have beaten some good teams in the past who made the mistake of taking Stockport for granted. We need to score an early goal to settle our nerves. If we can do that, we ought to win. My guess is that we will win 3-0.

Cheers, Brian

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