Just before the great summer for English football of 1966, a young Spurs Under 17 side won the South-East Counties League Division II in dramatic fashion. Winning the nine team and sixteen game league on goal difference, having been tied on points with second place Crystal Palace. The talented Spurs side of that season, who were coached by Jimmy Joyce, won 11 of their 16 league matches, recorded two draws and also only lost three of their matches. Spurs recorded 24 points, along with Crystal Palace, but Spurs’ total of 60 goals scored along with their 22 conceded, was what won them the league title for that season. The Spurs Under 17 side actually also won the South-East Counties Junior Cup that same season. However, going back to the league season, Spurs started the season by recording a 2-2 draw away to Millwall, in the autumn of 1965. But during the course of the season they recorded some memorable results, such as beating Chelsea 4-0 away, thanks partly to a hat-trick from Martin O’Donnell. Spurs also beat Bexley United 11-0, and Watford 9-0. The Tottenham side contained a future first team player in Ray Evans, an FA Cup finalist (with Fulham) in John Cutbush, and also a former England Schoolboys international in Paul Shoemark. Very similar to articles which I wrote on the Spurs A team which won the Eastern Counties League in 1960/61, and also the Spurs reserve side that won the Football Combination League in 1961/1962. I will be focusing on the members of the Spurs Under 17 side, write about some of their statistics and also look at where they went after leaving Spurs, where possible.

Special thanks must go to Martin O’Donnell, who was a member of the Spurs Under 17 side during the league winning season of 1965/66, for all of his help in writing this commemorative piece.

The players:

Ray Bunkell: Making 13 appearances for the Spurs Under 17 side in the league during the 1965/66 season, Ray Bunkell was a talented midfield player, who was an energetic and skilful player. From nearby Edmonton, Ray played for Edmonton Schools and England Schools, along with Ray Evans (for Edmonton), and he joined Spurs during the mid 1960s, before signing professional forms with the club at a later date. Bunkell made more appearances than anybody else in the side during the league winning season of 1965/66, and he also scored six goals for the Spurs side, from the league games that he played. In an 11-0 league win over Bexley United, Ray scored a brace, during that season. He would later progress up through the Spurs A side and up to the reserve side later on during the 1960s. He was released by Spurs at the age of 21/22, and would later play for Swindon Town and then Colchester United, as he enjoyed a good career in the lower leagues. Ray Bunkell sadly passed away at the age of 50, in Wales, in 2000.

Derek Blackmore: Londoner Derek Blackmore was a full-back, who was on amateur forms with Spurs during the 1965/66 season. A tall and good full-back, Derek Blackmore made the second most league appearances of anyone in the side during that season (12), and he was an important player in the Spurs Under 17 team during the 1965/66 season. Unfortunately it is unknown where Derek went after leaving Spurs. 

Martin O’Donnell: A versatile but skilful player, left-half Martin O’Donnell, of west London, was a quick and composed player, who also had an eye for goal. Compared with former Rangers player Jim Baxter, by former Spurs Chief-Scout Dickie Walker, Martin O’Donnell scored four goals from 11 league appearances during the 1965/66 season. He scored a hat-trick, in a 4-0 win away to Chelsea, for Spurs’ Under 17 side during that 1965/66 season. Unfortunately Martin broke his thigh during the mid 1960s, and before that bad injury Bill Nicholson and Eddie Baily had wanted him to sign professional forms with the club. Martin did return to play some games for Spurs at youth level, later on in the 1960s, but he ended up playing non-League football later on in his football career, and would even play for Hayes with a future football manager, in Dave Bassett. Martin also played for Walthamstow Avenue, and would later enjoy a successful career in business. Martin is a great guy, who was very unlucky not to go further during his time at Spurs.

Ray Evans: Ray Evans would arguably go on to enjoy the most successful footballing career of anyone who played in the Spurs Under 17 side, during 1965/66. The former Edmonton Schools and England Under 18’s player made ten league appearances during the league winning season, scoring four goals, as he played in more of an inside-forward position, during that stage of his career. September born Evans, was one of the oldest members of the Spurs Under 17 side, and he would progress up through the various youth ranks and the reserves to go on and play over 130 first team league games for Spurs, mostly as a full-back. Ray was a talented, solid and well liked player, who could also strike a ball really well. After leaving Spurs in 1974, Ray Evans signed for Millwall. He would later play for a number of other clubs, including Fulham, Stoke City and Seattle Sounders. Playing the latter stages of his football career in America, Ray still lives there to this day.

Trevor Howard: Goalkeeper Trevor Howard of Enfield, signed for Spurs on amateur forms during the mid 1960s. Howard was a strong and brave goalkeeper, who was unlucky to have Stuart Skeet and Roy Brown in front of him at Spurs, at youth and reserve team level. Comfortable at diving at players feet, Trevor was a solid and really good goalkeeper who also used the ball well. He made ten league appearances for the Spurs Junior side during the 1965/66 season. Unfortunately it is unknown where he went after leaving Spurs.

John Clancy: Inside-forward and Spurs apprentice John Clancy was a late arrival at Spurs as an apprentice, however, he soon showed his quality at the club. Born in Perivale, but brought up in Stevenage, the former Hertfordshire Schools player was a quick and enthusiastic player, who could also score a really good number of goals. Clancy scored four goals from nine league appearances for the Spurs Junior side of 1965/66. He would later join Bradford Park Avenue, after leaving Spurs, before going on to play for Yeovil Town, where he is widely considered to be a club legend by Yeovil fans.

Andy Chuter: Forward Andy Chuter scored one goal from nine league appearances for the Spurs Junior side of 1965/66. However, unfortunately very little more is known about him, and it is unknown where he went after leaving Spurs.

Ian Coulston: The son of the head groundsman of Spurs’ old Cheshunt training ground – Donald Coulston. Ian Coulston was on amateur forms with Spurs during the 1965/66 season, and he was a winger, who was a quick and direct player. He also had a good eye for goal. Ian Coulston made nine league appearances during 1965/66, scoring an impressive total of eight goals. It is unknown where Ian went after leaving Spurs.

Paul Shoemark: Paul Shoemark came to Spurs with a big reputation, having been a very highly rated England Schoolboy international, who had scored an impressive number of goals for his country. The Wellingborough born centre-forward was a talented and clever player, who could certainly score goals at Junior level for Spurs. Shoemark scored five goals from nine league appearances for the Spurs Junior side during 1965/66 season, and he scored a brace in the penultimate league game of that season, against Charlton Athletic, which Spurs won 5-1. Paul later played for the Spurs A team and reserves, before departing the club some years after the league winning season of 1965/66. He later played non-League football for Hatfield Town, for about three years. And then would later play for Kings Lynn and also Downham Market. I had the great pleasure of interviewing Paul, who is a really nice man, last year.

Andy Bish: On amateur forms to begin with at Spurs, but later signing professional forms with the club, left-back Andy Bish was at Spurs for five years as a youth, A team and reserve team player. The East London born former footballer made eight league appearances for the Spurs Under 17 side, during 1965/66. Andy Bish left Spurs at the end of the 1968/69 season, and would later train to become a teacher, and move to Gloucestershire. He did however, continue his playing career with Forest Green Rovers, who he spent ten years with, as he helped them to progress up the leagues at non-League level.

John Gilroy: Capable of playing on the right or left flank as a winger, John Gilroy of Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, joined Spurs as schoolboy youth player just before the mid 1960s. He was a very direct winger, who would always look to take defenders on. However, Gilroy was a fast player with good skill on the ball, and a real eye for goal. During the 1965/66 season, John Gilroy scored six goals from eight appearances for the Spurs Under 17 side in the South-East Counties League Division II, and he scored a hat-trick in a home league win over Bexley United. After leaving Spurs at the end of the 1969/70 season, after playing for their A team and reserves on occasions, Gilroy played for Hatfield Town, before later playing amateur football. He is now retired and enjoys playing golf in his spare time.

John Cutbush: John Cutbush would never play for Spurs’ first team, despite becoming a regular for their reserve side for a number of seasons. However, unlike many, he would experience playing in an FA Cup final (for Fulham in 1975), after leaving Spurs. John Cutbush grew up in Kent, and played football for Kent and Maidstone schoolboys. The right-back who would end up signing professional forms with Spurs during the 1960s, was a good full-back who would make seven league appearances for the Spurs Under 17 side in 1965/66, scoring four goals. Later on during the 1960s and 1970s, he made a lot of appearances for the Spurs A side and reserves. However, he left the club in 1972 and enjoyed a good time with Fulham, before later playing for Sheffield United and then American indoor football side Wichita Wings. 

Colin Chambers: A tall centre-half and former Surrey Schools footballer, who left Spurs only about three or four months after joining them. Colin Chambers played for the Spurs youth side on occasions during his time at the club, and during that 1965/66 season he made six league appearances for the Spurs Under 17 side. It is unknown where Colin went after leaving Spurs.

Paul Hobbs: A former Essex Schools footballer, skilful left footed winger Paul Hobbs was on amateur forms with Spurs during the mid 1960s. He made six league appearance for the Spurs Under 17 side during the league winning season of 1965/66. It is unknown where Paul went after leaving Spurs.

Dave Morrish: A strong full-back who also played for the Spurs youth team in the FA Youth Cup. Dave Morrish was on amateur forms with Spurs during the mid 1960s, and he had been with the club since he was a schoolboy footballer. He made six league appearance for the Spurs Junior side during the 1965/66 season. Unfortunately it is unknown where Dave Morrish went after leaving Spurs.

Alan Hesling: West Londoner Alan Hesling played mainly for the Spurs side in the South-East Counties League, during his time with the club. Although the player who had also had trials with QPR as a youngster, was on amateur forms with Spurs, but did play the odd game for the Spurs A side. The full-back made five appearances for the Spurs Under 17 side in the league during 1965/66, and he would later join Ipswich Town, after leaving Spurs. Alan Hesling played for Ipswich’s youth team and reserve side during his three seasons in County Suffolk. It is unknown if he continued his playing career after leaving Ipswich.

J Lowe: A goalkeeper who was a triallist at Spurs. J Lowe (first name unknown) made five league appearances for the Spurs Under 17 side of 1965/66. 

G Quicke: The son of well known photographer Norman Quicke, G Quicke (first name unknown) was a midfielder who was only with Spurs during the 1965/66 season. Quicke made five league appearances for the Spurs Under 17 side during the 1965/66 season. However, it is not known if he continued his playing career after leaving the club.

John Conway: Formerly of the Friern Barnet Youth Club, centre-forward John Conway won the Middlesex County Junior Cup, and would later go onto sign as an apprentice professional with Spurs. Conway, whose nickname was Russ, scored lots of goals for the Spurs youth team during his time with the club. John Conway scored an impressive total of six league goals from three appearances for the Spurs Under 17 side, during the 1965/66 season. Again, as with quite a few of the Spurs Under 17 side squad members from the 1965/66 season, it is unknown if John Conway continued his playing career with Spurs, after leaving the club.

Alan Dunn: Like John Conway, Alan Dunn was a good centre-forward who scored a number of goals at youth level for Spurs, during the mid 1960s. However, there were a lot of forward options at the club at all levels at that time in Spurs’ history. The Londoner scored two league goals from just three league appearances for the Spurs Under 17 side in 1965/66. Again, it is unknown if he continued his playing career after leaving Spurs.

Adrian McElligott: A centre-forward from Slough, who was on amateur forms with Spurs during the 1960s, Adrian McElligott was a big, fast and strong player who made three league appearances for the Spurs Under 17 side of 1965/66, and he knew how to score goals. He was friends with former QPR player Ian Gillard, who was with Spurs as a schoolboy footballer during the 1960s. After finishing his playing career, Adrian McElligott became a scout for Fulham, a role which he would do for a number of years. Very sadly Adrian passed away in 2013.

Chris Roberts: From Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, Chris Roberts was still a schoolboy footballer with Spurs during the 1965/66 season. He scored four league goals from just three league appearances for the Spurs Under 17 side during that season. Very sadly Chris Roberts passed away very young. 

A Bedford: A Bedford was a triallist who made just two league appearances for the Spurs Under 17 side, scoring one goal.

A Mathers: A Mathers was a triallist who made just two league appearances for the Spurs Under 17 side, during the 1965/66 season.

Don Turner: From Watford, Don Turner scored one goal from two league appearances for the Spurs Junior side of 1965/66.

Micky Wimborn: A local lad from Edmonton, Micky Wimborn played for Edmonton Schools prior to joining Spurs as an amateur. He left Spurs after one year, but would make two appearances for the Spurs Under 17 side during 1965/66.

G Bennett: A triallist with Spurs during 1965/66. G Bennett made just one league appearance for the Spurs Under 17 side.

C Byers: A triallist with Spurs during 1965/66. C Byers made just one league appearance for the Spurs Under 17 side.

W Byrne: A triallist with Spurs during 1965/66. W Byrne made just one league appearance for the Spurs Under 17 side, scoring one goal.

J Cain: A triallist with Spurs during 1965/66. J Cain made just one league appearance for the Spurs Under 17 side.

A Cooper: A triallist with Spurs during 1965/66. A Cooper made just one league appearance for the Spurs Under 17 side.

M Kemp: A triallist with Spurs during 1965/66. M Kemp made just one league appearance for the Spurs Under 17 side.

R Smith: A triallist with Spurs during 1965/66. R Smith made just one league appearance for the Spurs Under 17 side.

A Sully: A triallist with Spurs during 1965/66. A Sully made just one league appearance for the Spurs Under 17 side.

If any of the Spurs players from this team are reading this, it would be great to hear from you.