Centre-forward Kion Etete made good strides during the 2021/22 season, while on loan at Northampton Town and Cheltenham Town, respectively. A tall centre-forward, the 20 year old is very good at holding the ball up, and also at linking the play. He has got better and better at Spurs, since joining their Academy set-up from Notts County in the summer of 2019. Etete is a skilful player, who also has good pace. He scored a good number of goals for the Spurs Under 18 side during his first season at Spurs, before being promoted to the Spurs Under 21 side for the following season, a season which he also did well in. The Derby born third year professional started the 2021/22 pre-season well with the Spurs Under 21 side, before joining League Two side Northampton Town on loan during that summer. He did well at Northampton, and I watched some of his matches for them. Etete scored six goals and provided two assists for Northampton, during the first part of last season, from 22 competitive appearances for them.
After impressing with his all-round play at Northampton, Kion would join League One side Cheltenham Town, in the January of 2022. While at Cheltenham, Kion impressed despite stepping up to League One, and he scored three goals for them, and also showed the creative side to his game, by providing three assists. Etete also missed some games because of injury last season, but he did finish the season by starting for the Spurs Under 21 side, in their final Premier League 2 fixture of 2021/22, against Chelsea. And Kion scored a header in that game. He is good in the air, where he scores a good number of his goals, but he has got better and better at his all-round game over the last couple of seasons. Kion works very hard off the ball, and his fine movement inside the penalty area really impressed me whenever I saw him play last season. He is good at running with the ball at pace, and at making clever runs in behind the defence, and he is also very good in front of goal when he receives the ball from crosses.
Kion Etete really impressed me in games against Oldham Athletic (while with Northampton Town) and also against Wycombe Wanderers (for Cheltenham Town). He led the line really well in both of those games, and he also scored a goal in both games, and in the game against Wycombe Wanderers, the Spurs player also got an assist. Very confident on the ball, he showed good leadership in both matches, and he was vocal throughout. I thought that the centre-forward did really well last season. His performances were about a lot more than just his goals, as he was creative with the ball, clever in his movement off it and he also made sure that the defenders that he came up against in League One and League Two, didn’t have an easy game. Kion has done well for the Spurs Under 21 side this pre-season, and he has scored one goal from three matches, and he did well again yesterday, when leading the line against Bromley. I’m hoping that he gets to go out on another good loan move this season, maybe even in the Championship. I look forward to seeing how Kion progresses this season, and I wish him all the very best of luck for the new season.
Spurs’ Under 21 side faced National League side Bromley, on Wednesday evening at Hayes Lane, in a pre-season friendly. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side won the game 2-0, and it was a good performance from Spurs, against a good Bromley side. Spurs lined-up with Josh Keeley in goal, while Tyrell Ashcroft, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Charlie Sayers and Marcel Lavinier started the game in defence. Captain Jamie Bowden and Kallum Cesay started in central midfield, as Romaine Mundle and Yago Santiago started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Nile John. Kion Etete led the line for Spurs, who got the match underway. A back-pass to debutant goalkeeper Josh Keeley, almost ended up going into the Spurs goal, but the goalkeeper managed to recover well, just in time. After receiving Adam Marriott’s pass inside the Spurs box, David Smith had an effort blocked by Charlie Sayers. Then a couple of minutes later Louis Dennis’ cross was met by Adam Marriott, inside the Spurs box, but his headed effort on goal was saved by Josh Keeley.
Bromley had started the match well. A corner-kick which had been delivered into the Spurs box, was headed towards goal by Sam German, to Charlie Nicholas, who then headed the ball wide of the goal. Jamie Bowden was shown a yellow card for a slightly late challenge, before right-back Tyrell Ashcroft had unfortunately picked up an injury early on in the match, which meant that he had to be substituted, with Jamie Donley replacing him. After receiving the ball from Marcel Lavinier, out on the left flank, Kallum Cesay showed some great skill to work his way into the Bromley penalty area, before having an effort saved by the Bromley goalkeeper (trialist A). Marcel Lavinier had an effort from the edge of the Bromley box saved by their goalkeeper, before the impressive Jamie Donley managed to pass the ball to Kion Etete on the edge of the Bromley box. The centre-forward turned with the ball, but his resulting effort was blocked by a defender. Another good run from Kallum Cesay down the left side of the pitch resulted in him finding Kion Etete, who turned with the ball well and then went into the Bromley box, before hitting the ball over the goal.
After reaching a cross from Harry Forster on the right flank, inside the Spurs box, Marcus Sablier hit the ball wide of the Spurs goal, from the left side of their penalty area. Then a couple of minutes later Spurs took the lead, through Romaine Mundle. After Jamie Donley passed the ball to Romaine Mundle on the right side of the pitch, Mundle came inside onto his left foot on the edge of the Bromley penalty area, before curling a powerful effort past the goalkeeper, and into the goal, 1-0. Charlie Nicholas hit an effort over the Spurs goal from distance, before a good Spurs move resulted in Nile John passing the ball to Kion Etete, who then found Romaine Mundle on the right side of the Bromley box. However, Romaine Mundle’s powerful effort went wide of the goal. James Vennings hit an effort over Josh Keeley’s goal from the edge of the Spurs box, before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. Bromley got the second half underway. Early on in the second half, Romaine Mundle won a penalty kick for Spurs, after showing some great skill to enter the right side of the Bromley box, before being fouled, resulting in the referee pointing to the penalty spot. Mundle stepped up to calmly find the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 2-0.
A back pass from Charlie Sayers to Josh Keeley resulted in the goalkeeper being unable to properly control the ball, but he recovered really well and showed good feet to skilfully get past a Bromley player, inside his penalty area. A free-kick which was taken by Romaine Mundle, was delivered towards Jamie Donley inside the Bromley box. Donley was able to control the ball well on the right side of the Bromley penalty area, before putting a low cross in front of the Bromley goal, which Kallum Cesay came to close to being able to tap into the goal. Spurs made a number of changes in the 63rd minute of the game, as Kion Etete, Jamie Bowden, Nile John, Romaine Mundle, Charlie Sayers and Marcel Lavinier all left the pitch. Max Robson, Alfie Dorrington, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Maksim Paskotši, Roshaun Mathurin and Jeremie Mukendi came on in their place. Substitute Max Robson came very close to being able to tap the ball into the Bromley goal, following a good cross towards the back post, inside the Bromley box, from Roshaun Mathurin.
Reece Hannam hit an effort on the volley towards the Spurs goal, from the edge of the Spurs box, but Josh Keeley was alert to make the save. Marqes Muir came on to replace Malachi Fagan-Walcott in central defence, and then a headed effort from a Bromley player was cleared away inside the Spurs box. Reece Hannam then delivered a cross into the Spurs box, which a Bromley player was able to receive, but his effort was well saved by Josh Keeley, and Kallum Cesay was then able to clear the ball. After Chris Bush had challenged Jeremie Mukendi, the Bromley defender was shown his second yellow card of the match, meaning that Bromley had to play the remainder of the match with ten men. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time shortly after. Spurs’ final friendly match of pre-season is on Saturday, when they face Billericay Town, before then going to France to compete in the annual Tournoi Européen.
Player reviews:
Josh Keeley: On his debut for the Spurs Under 21 side, the Republic of Ireland youth international made three saves, including an impressive save late on in the match. The goalkeeper was getting used to the way that Spurs play, and in particular the way that they pass the ball out from the back, and he was put in some difficult situations with his distribution on a couple of occasions. However, he will no doubt get used to that way of playing the game, even more over time.
Tyrell Ashcroft: Unfortunately the defender and recent signing from Reading, was only able to complete 22 minutes of Wednesday’s friendly match, after he picked up an injury and had to be substituted on 22 minutes. Tyrell Ashcroft started the match at right-back.
Malachi Fagan-Walcott: Following his recent involvement with the Spurs first team in South Korea, central defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott had a defensively solid game on his return to the Spurs Under 21 side, alongside Charlie Sayers, during his time on the pitch.
Charlie Sayers: Passing the ball out well from defence and doing well defensively, left footed central defender Charlie Sayers completed 63 minutes of the friendly match with Bromley.
Marcel Lavinier: Marcel Lavinier started the game at left-back, but following Tyrell Ashcroft’s injury, he moved to right-back, where he got up and down the right side of the pitch well.
Jamie Bowden: The Spurs captain moved around the midfield well as he kept the ball moving in the central areas of the pitch. His experience showed during the game.
Kallum Cesay: This was a very good performance from Kallum Cesay, who despite starting the game in midfield, he would play the majority of the match at left-back. The Sierra Leone international went on some really good and skilful forward runs with the ball down the left flank, and he linked-up well with Yago Santiago on that side of the pitch.
Romaine Mundle: My man of the match, see below.
Nile John: Starting the game in the CAM role, midfielder Nile John later went into central midfield, along with Jamie Bowden, after Kallum Cesay went to left-back.
Yago Santiago: The winger impressed with his link-up play on the left side of the pitch.
Kion Etete: The centre-forward started the game well, and he did well at linking-up with Jamie Donley and at getting into some good goalscoring positions.
Jamie Donley: This was a good performance from the second year scholar, who entered the pitch in the 22nd minute. Playing in the CAM role, he got the assist for Romaine Mundle’s first goal, and his defensive work and tracking back was very good.
Jeremie Mukendi: The forward replaced Kion Etete in the centre-forward role during the second half, and he moved well off the ball.
Maksim Paskotši: The Estonia international went to right-back after entering the pitch during the second half.
Max Robson: The creative midfielder came close to tapping a cross from Roshaun Mathurin into the goal, not long after being introduced to the match. Robson’s off the ball work was as good as always.
Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: The defensive-midfielder completed almost 30 minutes of the match, as he builds up his fitness, following a knee injury which has kept him out for much of 2022.
Alfie Dorrington: The central defender replaced Charlie Sayers on the left side of central defence, during the second half.
Roshaun Mathurin: The highly skilful winger came on in the 63rd minute of Wednesday’s match.
Marqes Muir: The central defender came on in place of Malachi Fagan-Walcott, in the 72nd minute of the game.
My man of the match – Romaine Mundle. The Spurs player started the match as a winger on the right flank, and every time that he received the ball he would look to take on the Bromley left-back for skill. The 19 year old took his first goal really well, before then winning a penalty during the second half, and also scoring from it.
Spurs’ Under 21 side will play their fourth friendly match of pre-season on Wednesday evening (the game starts at 19:00pm), when they face National League side Bromley, at Hayes Lane. Bromley finished last season in tenth place in the National League, and they will be another difficult team to play against, this pre-season for Spurs’ Under 21 side. Wayne Burnett’s side started this pre-season by impressively winning 1-0 against League 2 side Colchester United, at Hotspur Way, in a behind-closed-doors friendly. They then lost 3-2 to Isthmian Premier Division side Enfield Town, before losing 3-1 to League Two side Leyton Orient on Saturday, in the annual JE3 Foundation Trophy fixture. This will be another good game for Spurs, as they get ready for the new Premier League 2 season. I will of course be in attendance at the match tomorrow, and it will be interesting to see whether there are many changes to the starting line-up, from the Leyton Orient game. I would like to wish Spurs all the very best of luck for the game.
My one to watch: Michael Cheek. The 30 year old Bromley forward scored 17 goals from 42 National League appearances for Bromley, last season. The experienced player will definitely be one to watch, if he plays against Spurs on Wednesday.
Around this time last year I wrote an article on Spurs’ Academy defender Marqes Muir. The 19 year old central defender has since had his first full season with the Spurs Development side, making 15 competitive appearances for Wayne Burnett’s side. The Lambeth born second year professional can play on either side of central defence, although he often plays on the right side of central defence. However, Marqes has also played at right-back on a couple of occasions for the Spurs Under 18 side, in the past. And while playing in that position, I thought that he did really well. Although as a central defender, the player who has been at the Spurs Academy for over 11 years, is a real footballing centre-half, who likes to bring the ball out from the defence, with good skill and pace. Last season Marqes had some very good matches for the Spurs Under 21 side, and even though he did have some times out of the team, it would have been a very good experience as a first year professional to play a good amount of Premier League 2 football.
In a 1-0 Premier League 2 fixture away to Everton in early 2022, Marqes had a really good all-round game, and he was very assured in his defending, but also composed on the ball, and at bringing it out from defence. Marqes Muir started the final three Premier League 2 fixtures of the 2021/22 season for the Spurs Under 21 side. And in those last three matches, both he and the slightly more experienced Malachi Fagan-Walcott, had in my opinion three very good games in central defence. Marqes has got a lot of pace to his game, he reads the game very well and is consistently good at getting to the ball before and in front of forwards. In addition to his impressive ability on the ball and passing ability, Marqes Muir has good positioning on the pitch, and he is a very brave defender who is so good at making important blocks. In the final Premier League 2 game of last season, when Spurs faced a Chelsea side who needed to win that game to avoid relegation from Divison One, Marqes really impressed. He made some really good blocks, and his positioning and reading of the game alongside Malachi Fagan-Walcott, was good.
Marqes’ first match of this pre-season for the Spurs Under 21 side, came in a pre-season friendly with Enfield Town, last week. Marqes completed 61 minutes of that game, and he had to defend against a tall and physical Enfield forward, who really tried to distract Marqes. However, Marqes stayed tight when he needed to, to the Enfield Town forward, and I thought that he was intelligent in his all-round defending. Even though the 19 year old defender has a very good jumping reach, he wasn’t going to win headers against the very tall forward, but he did his very best to try and make sure that he (the Enfield forward) didn’t have an easy job at winning headers. I’m a big fan of Marqes Muir as a central defender, and I really like the way that he defends, and I also think that he has a very promising future in the game. I personally think that Marqes will make a really good number of appearances for the Spurs Under 21 side this season, and that is something that I will write more on in my preview of the Spurs Under 21 for the 2022/23 season. I’m not sure if he is also still eligible to play for the Spurs Under 19 side in the UEFA Youth League this season, but I would like to wish Marqes all the very best of luck for the new season. Spurs’ Under 21 side face Bromley in their next pre-season friendly, which is on Wednesday.
Peter John Taylor was a very direct and skilful winger, who had great pace to his game. From Rochford, Essex, the former Southend United player who once played a South-East Counties League game for one of Spurs’ Youth sides during the 1969/70 season, would join Spurs on a permanent deal from Crystal Palace in a £400,000 transfer, in 1976. A player with a real eye for goal, Peter Taylor (he made 123 Football League appearances for Spurs. Not including cup competitions) was a really fine all-round winger, who also had good defensive qualities to his game. He was a very important player during his second season at Spurs, as he helped them to win promotion from the old Second Division, following their relegation to that division during the previous season. Taylor was at Spurs for over four years as a player, before leaving to go to Leyton Orient in the November of 1980. He would later play for Oldham Athletic (on loan), Maidstone United and Exeter City, before gradually going into management. Peter has had a long career as a coach and as a manager in the game. He has managed clubs such as Gillingham, England (as caretaker-manager) Leicester City and Crystal Palace, during his managerial career. Until fairly recently he was in charge of National League South side Welling United. However, I recently had the great pleasure and privilege of interviewing Peter Taylor about his time at Spurs.
What are your earliest footballing memories?
Peter: I was born in Rochford, near to Southend, but I always supported Tottenham. Although I can’t remember how I got there, I went to White Hart Lane once to watch Spurs play a game against Wolves, and so I supported them from very, very early on. My earliest memories of football were just playing every day and going with my mates over to the field to play with a football.
What are your earliest memories of your time at Spurs? And how did you come about joining the club?
Peter: Well it’s amazing because when I was a schoolboy I had a trial there, and so all of the teams that I eventually played for turned me down as a schoolboy to sign for them, Tottenham included. I played in a trial game at Spurs, and I always say to people that I think that I had a big excuse to not be successful in midfield in that game, as I was in midfield for the trial team at Cheshunt. And in the midfield for Tottenham was Steve Perryman and Graeme Souness, and to be honest with you you can’t get much better than that, and so it didn’t surprise me that maybe I didn’t play well that day. But I eventually played one game in the South-East Counties for Tottenham, and as I say I had trials for Crystal Palace and also for Southend United, and I eventually played for them and had a good time there. When I joined Spurs from Crystal Palace, it was after a very good cup run that we had had at Palace, and we had nearly got to the final of the FA Cup in the 1975/76 season, but we lost in the semi-finals. I thought that I was going to be transferred to Leeds United, but then that fell through and then all of a sudden I was back at Palace. I then got a phone call from Crystal Palace, saying that Tottenham had agreed a fee for me. I was desperate to play for Tottenham, because they were the team that I supported, so it was a wonderful move for me.
Did you have any footballing heroes/inspirations and if so who were they?
Peter: I absolutely idolised George Best, because I thought that not only was he a fantastic crowd pleaser who had done some amazing things, but he also worked extremely hard at tracking back as a defender. A lot of people probably don’t see that in his game, but I thought that he was a very, very exciting player, and so he was the one who I always wanted to be like, as I thought that he was the real deal. But as I say I supported Tottenham, and one of the games that I watched there was against Spurs and Wolves. And Cyril Knowles was playing for Tottenham, and Peter Knowles was playing for Wolves. I remember that one of the Tottenham players had kicked Peter Knowles, and his brother Cyril wasn’t impressed. And that just shows you how competitive the game is.
Who were your greatest influences at Spurs?
Peter: I appreciated Keith Burkinshaw signing me on, and I really respected that. I think that I’ve played with the best captain ever in Steve Perryman, and I think that Steve was an unbelievable captain for the players, and also for the manager as well. I think that Steve would have helped Keith on certain things and with tricky decisions and styles of play, and so on. I remember once that Steve put me right once, after Keith Burkinshaw had left me out against Leeds United away. And I couldn’t really believe it if I was to be honest, and so I said that to Steve. Steve said to me that I hadn’t played anywhere near the standard of play that I could do, in the last month. And that really made me open my eyes and I thought that if Steve can tell me that, then it must be right.
Were there any players at Spurs who you would watch closely to try and improve your game or look to learn from?
Peter: Even when I came in at Tottenham, Jimmy Neighbour was the winger, but he eventually went to Norwich the week that I signed for Tottenham. I always liked the way that Jimmy used to take players on, but I think that I was a little bit of a different winger than him, because I think that I used to score more goals. But I loved the way that he used to always go at players. Then going back a few more years, the late Jimmy Greaves was an absolute artist. I always used to say to my old Spurs teammate John Duncan, that he finished a bit like Jimmy Greaves. As to me Jimmy Greaves he used to put it in the net, and he never hit the ball with much power, but he always used to score. I thought that Jimmy Greaves was a fantastic player, who was an off the shoulder player who could dribble past people. And I think that he would have been a very exciting player today.
Could you talk me through your memories of your first team debut for Spurs in a Football League match against West Bromwich Albion, in the October of 1976?
Peter: I was so pleased when the move went through, and I knew that the first match was against West Brom. I knew that we weren’t the best of teams at that time, because Keith was changing a few things and we were struggling a little bit to stay in the division. So I knew that it wasn’t going to be us creating loads and loads of chances, and so I knew that the forwards were going to be defending as well to make us a solid team. But we went 2-0 up that day, and I think that Chris Jones might have got the first goal, and I got the second goal. I remember that the ball came across at me from the left hand side, and I stopped the ball with my right foot, and I hit it into the goal with my right foot. So although people think that I was a left footed player, I did used to use both feet. So I was really, really pleased to score a goal on my Spurs debut, but unfortunately we didn’t hold on as I think that West Brom scored after that, and then they had the confidence to go and get another three more goals.
Could you talk me through some of your favourite memories, or ones which stand out from your time at Spurs?
Peter: Well my favourite memories were some of the performances, and also playing for Tottenham and getting the crowd shouting your name, nicely. I’ll never, ever forget memories like that or things like that, because it makes you quite proud that they respected your play, and I was really, really happy with that. When we got promotion the year after I joined Spurs, we knew that it was a tough year, the first full year that Keith was in charge, and unfortunately for us we got relegated. And like most good teams and clubs it is a wake up call, and if that’s happened then that means that you’re not good enough, and that you need to get better. I think that we did and I think that we played some fantastic football in the old Second Division, and we scored lots of goals and I think that a lot of people became Tottenham supporters that year. Because I think that they really enjoyed the way that we played, and we played from the back and we ran the ball out from the back. We got lots of goals, crosses and chances, and so that was lovely. Then when we drew 0-0 against Southampton in the final game of that season, that got us promotion.
That night after we had won promotion, the whole team went down to Truro to celebrate, because I think that we went to open someones ground near there, after the Southampton game. But going back, I’ve had the pleasure of playing with some fantastic players, and to have the pleasure of playing alongside Glenn Hoddle, who is the best player that I’ve ever played with, I was so lucky. Because as a winger Glenn could find you whether you were 100 yards away, or two yards away, as that’s how good his passing was. So he was fantastic, and I’m delighted to see how well he’s done as a manager and as a pundit as well. Also, playing alongside Ossie Ardiles was fantastic, and I thought that he was an incredible and very clever player, who was always found space, and he always found the ball. And as I mentioned earlier, Steve Perryman is in my opinion one of the best captains that anybody could wish for, and he was probably a very, very underrated player, who should have played more for England. But he was a respected club man, and is still very respected by the players that played with him.
Could you talk me through some of your memories of that memorable promotion winning season of 1977/78 with Spurs?
Peter: We had some fantastic games, as well as a couple of not so good ones, but we did have some fantastic games. I remember the game against Bristol Rovers, at home, which was Colin Lee’s debut and he scored four goals. He was playing alongside Ian Moores, who was his partner up front, as we played like a 4-4-2 formation that day, and Ian got three goals that day. So it was an incredible performance and every time that we got a chance we scored and so that was an outstanding day for us, which we enjoyed. There’s been times when I’ve been at the end of a 7-0 or 8-2 loss, while playing for Tottenham. So you’ve got to enjoy games and results like the one against Bristol Rovers. And I think that the things that I enjoyed most from that season, was the way that we scored goals, and the way that we played attacking football. There were times that we played a defensive-midfield and there were times when we played a very attacking midfield, and there were also times when Steve Perryman played as a double centre-half. And that is something that you never believed was going to happen. All of the forwards went forward and never stopped overlapping, and we scored plenty of goals. So the most important thing was to get back into the top league, but to do it the way that we did was terrific.
So we really went for it in games, and a lot of the credit for that has to go to the manager, Keith Burkinshaw. He had been relegated the season before, but he showed the following season what a positive manager he was.
What was your time at the Lilywhites like on the whole?
Peter: To be honest with you, the only frustration that I had, which not a lot of people do know, is that I had a pelvic injury. I always say to people that my main threat on the pitch was my pace, and over ten to 15 yards I was very, very quick. It was an injury that doesn’t probably even happen now, but it was a pelvic injury which meant that my pelvis was moving, and was causing me groin problems, which meant that I couldn’t move the next morning. So all of a sudden they decided to pin the pelvis, to get me playing again, but I felt that a little bit of it was me, and a little bit of it was the management thinking that I was never going to be the same player ever again. So I think then that I wasn’t in the plans to play every week, which was why I left in the end, but I wish I had have stayed at Spurs longer and also given the injury longer, but you can’t have everything. I’ll never forget my time at Tottenham, because as I say it’s the club that I support and I felt as though I did alright for them, although I could have done better, but a lot of that was the pelvis problem, I think. As I think then people would have seen a bit more from me.
What was the greatest moment of your footballing career?
Peter: As a footballer it would be playing for England. And to get that opportunity as a Third Division player was great, and hopefully I was rewarded for putting in some hard work on my game to try and be a better player. But if it’s not actual footballing and it’s actually the managing side, then it would be managing England, and I never dreamt that that opportunity would happen to me. It was fantastic also for Glenn Hoddle when he was named manager in 1996, and that was when I first got involved in the FA, coaching the Under 21’s with Glenn. But then you get that opportunity, and I knew that it was only going to be for one game, but it’s on my memory bank, and no one will ever change that.
Who was the greatest player that you have had the pleasure of sharing a pitch with?
Peter: Well I did share a pitch with George Best, when he was at Fulham and I was at Crystal Palace. My final game for England was in a bicentenary tournament in Los Angeles, and Pelé and Bobby Moore, and I then played the last 20 minutes of the match. And so I was on the same pitch as Pelé, and I don’t think that you can ever better that, and in that game he was still very, very good. And so to be able to say that you were on the same pitch as Pelé, that is something that I’ll take all day long.
Who was the toughest player that you ever came up against?
Peter: I played against Ron Harris a few times against Chelsea, and you didn’t want to mess around with him. He was a steady player, but to be fair I don’t think that he ever really tackled me that strongly in a game, and I don’t know whether that was me being clever or if he just didn’t fancy tackling me that strongly. One of my old managers – Ken Knighton, who played as a full-back at Hull City, was such a tough player. And so I thought that he was one of the toughest players that I ever played against, but I’d say that the best left-back that I ever played against was Kenny Sansom. He was a youngster at Crystal Palace when I was there, and then he eventually got into the team, and I got transferred to Tottenham. But he carried on and had 80 odd games for England, and what a career he had.
Were there any players at Spurs who you were particularly close to?
Peter: I think that the closest one for me was always Steve Perryman, because I knew Steve from playing for England Under 23’s, in four or five matches before I joined Tottenham. So he was probably the closest one that I knew at Tottenham, and even now he is one who I keep in touch with the most. I speak to him every other week, and I go and watch him when he does his after dinner talks, and so even though you’re not with your ex-teammates every day, you’ve still got that good friendship.
What was former Spurs manager Keith Burkinshaw like to play for at Spurs? And just how big an influence did he have on your footballing career?
Peter: I really enjoyed playing for Keith, and I liked his training as well, because a lot of his training was based around teams. He used to like 11 v 11 games at Cheshunt, and although clubs didn’t do that so much, I liked it because I really enjoyed the practice matches. They were always competitive and so they were always a test, but Keith also wanted to play from the back as well. So that meant that there was more chance of getting the ball to my feet, and getting the ball when you’re getting good service made it more enjoyable to play in Keith’s team. Also, he didn’t restrict me making runs, and I’ve watched a lot of the old videos, and I’m always in the box. So if there’s a cross coming into the box from the other side of the pitch, then I got into the box to try and score a goal, and at no point did he restrict me on that, and he actually encouraged me to get into the box. Whereas a lot of other managers were more worried about the shape of the team, if you lost the ball. Keith is a good man and a very honest Yorkshireman who tells you how it is, and in some ways he was too honest with me. But that is exactly how he was, and I respected that and I got used to that.
How would you have described yourself as a footballer, during your playing days?
Peter: I think that I was positive on the pitch, and I think that I was exciting, although I don’t think that I did as well as I should have done. I should have been a bit more consistent, but I always wanted to be positive with the ball and to take people on with the ball, and to try and get behind players to try and get a better opportunity to score a goal. I think that the supporters respected how I played, but maybe on the consistency side maybe people didn’t think that I was as consistent as I should have been. I say to young footballers now, to not have any regrets at the end of your career and to give it everything that you’ve got. I think that I gave it everything that I had, but I still have a few little regrets that I should have done a bit better.
What prompted you to leave Spurs? And could you talk me through your career after you left the club?
Peter: The only reason that I left Spurs was because I thought that Keith wasn’t thinking of me being the first choice anymore. I was still confident that I should have been the first choice, and so I said to myself that I’d go to Leyton Orient after they wanted to sign me. So I thought that I’d go there and do well, and try and get fit again, and then try and get another move. And in the end it worked, because I went to Leyton Orient and started off really well, and I think that I scored in the first half a dozen matches. Norwich were showing a real interest in me, and I thought that I was going to go there, but Leyton Orient weren’t listening, and in the end I broke my leg. But that was the only reason that I left Tottenham, but if Keith had have said to me that it might have taken six months because of my pelvic injury to get back right, then I think that I would have stayed there, at Spurs. But I didn’t feel that that was how he felt. After Leyton Orient I carried on playing and I went to play for Maidstone, which was in the National League as it is now, and we won that. So I still played at a good competitive level.
Gerry Francis was the Exeter City manager, and so I joined them for a while, which got me back into the Football League. I didn’t really enjoy that though, and so I went back to Maidstone, and I just carried on playing. I got my first managerial job in 1986 at Dartford, and I played for four years and then went to Enfield, where I was player-manager for a year. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I was learning all the time about coaching players, and then Steve Perryman asked me to be his assistant at Watford in 1991, and I had two fantastic years there of coaching and learning. So that was the start of my managerial career.
After all these years how do you look back on your time at the Lilywhites and is Spurs a club that you still hold close to your heart?
Peter: Very much so, and I’m delighted at how they are doing now. I had nearly four years at Tottenham, and it’s a wonderful football club. I’m delighted at the team that they’ve got, and I think that with this manager that he’s got a different mentality into the players, and I think that he’s going to toughen them up. So I still support Spurs and I want them to do well, and as memories go I’ve got fantastic memories of my time at the club, and the people there. I absolutely love the place, and I hope that they carry on improving.
Romaine Mundle has had some really good games during the course of 2022, so far. The 19 year old winger who is capable of playing on either flank, is a very direct and skilful winger, who in my opinion has made great strides since joining the club full-time in the summer of 2019. The Edmonton born second year professional has a great change of pace, and his ball control and skill on the ball is very, very good. A very reliable player on the ball, Romaine made 18 competitive for Spurs’ Development side last season, providing one assist. Romaine also made the bench on one occasion for the Spurs first team in competitive competition, and he also featured for the Spurs first team in a pre-season friendly against Leyton Orient, last pre-season. I thought that the now second year professional got better and better during the 2021/22 season, as it went on. And during the second half of last season, the winger had some very good games.
In Premier League 2 games in 2022, against Arsenal (away), West Ham United (away) and Derby County (away), Romaine Mundle had in my opinion very good games. Playing the game with real confidence, the winger is very direct with the ball, and he is always looking to go past the full-back, although he is also very unpredictable in his play, and he does like to test the goalkeeper from distance. In the Premier League 2 fixture away to West Ham, last season, he was undoubtedly Spurs’ best player in that game. Showing great skill on the ball, with his very clever turns on the ball, he made it very difficult for the West Ham defenders, during that game. Providing a really good number of assists for the Spurs Under 18 side in his second year of scholarship with Spurs, Romaine Mundle stepped up well to the Spurs Development side, and he made a really good impression on a number of games that he was involved in last season. I’m also sure that he will get a good amount of goals and assists for the Spurs Under 21 side, in the very near future.
Also capable of playing in the CAM role and in central midfield, Romaine impressed during the first half of the Spurs Under 21’s most recent pre-season friendly, against Leyton Orient. He is so good with the ball in tight spaces, and his link-up play and awareness for his teammates, is also very good. I hope that Romaine gets a really good number of games for the Spurs Under 21 side this season, and I am sure that he will continue to impress for the Spurs Development side during the new season. I would like to wish Romaine all the very best of luck for the start of the new season with Spurs’ Under 21 side, and hopefully he will be involved with the squad for their next pre-season friendly, which is against Bromley on Wednesday.
On Saturday afternoon, versatile 21 year old Spurs player Brooklyn Lyons-Foster returned for the Spurs Under 21 side against Leyton Orient, having been out since the 17th of January with a knee injury. Lyons-Foster came on in the 75th minute of the Spurs Under 21’s 3-1 loss to League Two side Leyton Orient, in the annual JE3 Foundation Trophy fixture. Brooklyn came on to play in a defensive-midfield role during the final 15 minutes of the game. Having previously played in defence for much of his time at Spurs, since he signed scholarship forms with the club. The Islington born Spurs player can play in any position in defence, such is his excellent versatility. He has good pace, passing ability and he is an excellent reader of the game. Always a player who I have been a big fan of, Lyons-Foster was in my opinion doing consistently really well in that defensive-midfield role for the then Spurs Under 23 side last season. Often playing alongside Harvey White in midfield for Wayne Burnett’s side, Brooklyn had a really calming influence on games, as he quietly went about his game quietly, but very effectively.
A player who is more than capable of going into defence from that defensive-midfield role to help out the Spurs Development side when needed. Lyons-Foster, was in my opinion one of the most impressive players, and a big reason why we did really well during the 2021 part of the last Premier League 2 season. He is tenacious and very intelligent in his all-round game, but his passing ability allows him to make important forward passes from midfield. And Brooklyn also likes to get forward from midfield, to help out the forwards on occasions. He was very unlucky to get injured during the January time of last season, and were it not for that knee injury then he could well have been part of Antonio Conte’s Spurs first team squad that traveled to South Korea, this pre-season. I personally hope that Brooklyn gets to go on the first loan move of his career, this summer. As that would be a great experience for him at this stage of his career. However, I wish him a very successful 2022/23 season, and hopefully he gets a lot more minutes for the Spurs Under 21 season during this pre-season.
Spurs’ Under 21 side faced League Two side Leyton Orient, at The Breyer Group Stadium, in the JE3 Foundation Trophy match, on Saturday afternoon. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side lost the game 3-1, as Leyton Orient won the trophy. Spurs lined-up with Aaron Maguire in goal, as Kallum Cesay, Alfie Dorrington, Maksim Paskotši and Danny Rose started in defence. Captain Jamie Bowden and Matthew Craig started in midfield, as Yago Santiago and Romaine Mundle started the match out wide on the flanks, either side of CAM Nile John. Kion Etete would lead the line for Spurs, who got the match underway on a nice summer afternoon. Early on in the match Maksim Paskotši came close to meeting a free-kick from Romaine Mundle, which was delivered towards the back post, inside the Leyton Orient box. After receiving a pass from Danny Rose, Romaine Mundle went forward with the ball to the edge of the Leyton Orient box. However, his curling effort was tipped over the goal well by Leyton Orient goalkeeper Sam Sargeant. Darren Pratley hit an effort towards the Spurs goal, which was headed away by Kion Etete, a couple of minutes later.
After receiving the ball on the edge of the Leyton Orient penalty area, Spurs’ captain Jamie Bowden hit a good effort on goal, which seemed to be tipped onto his near post by goalkeeper Sam Sargeant. However, the ball then came to the alert Kion Etete, who managed to score a goal, with it deflecting in off of Sam Sargeant, 1-0. Spurs were playing well during this stage of the match, and after receiving a pass from Danny Rose down the left side of the pitch, Kion Etete went into the Leyton Orient penalty area after turning well with the ball, before hitting a low effort just wide of the goal. Matthew Craig received a yellow card, before Daniel Nkrumah hit a low effort wide of Aaron Maguire’s goal from the edge of the Spurs box. Leyton Orient equalised soon after, as Adam Thompson’s lofted pass into the Spurs box, was headed across goal by Connor Wood, with the ball hitting off the back post of Maguire’s goal. Spurs were unable to clear the ball though, and Ruel Sotiriou was also to find the back of the net, from the centre of the Spurs box, 1-1.
George Moncur hit an effort across the Spurs goal, from the right side of the Spurs box, before the same player took the lead, soon after. After Leyton Orient had been awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Spurs box, George Moncur stepped up to curl a very good effort into the top right hand corner of Aaron Maguire’s goal, 1-2. The referee sounded his whistle for half-time not long after that Leyton Orient goal. Luca Gunter replaced Aaron Maguire in goal for the second half, which Leyton Orient got underway. Sonny Fish hit an effort wide of Luca Gunter’s goal, from the left side of the Spurs box, before at the other end of the pitch Yago Santiago went forward with the ball down the right side of the Leyton Orient box, before then hitting an effort wide of the goal. Marcel Lavinier and Tyrell Ashcroft replaced Alfie Dorrington and Maksim Paskotši respectively in defence. Nile John hit an effort on goal from the edge of the Leyton Orient box, which was saved by Sam Sargeant. George Moncur then hit an effort over the Spurs goal, after receiving Ruel Sotiriou’s cross.
Tyrell Ashcroft received a yellow card, before Spurs made two changes. Roshaun Mathurin replaced Yago Santiago, and Brooklyn Lyons-Foster replaced Romaine Mundle, as he returned following a long time out because of injury. From a throw-in on the right side of Spurs’ side of the pitch, the ball came to Adam Thompson inside the Spurs box. And the Leyton Orient player hit an effort past Luca Gunter in the Spurs goal, although it did take a deflection on its way into the goal, 1-3. From the edge of the Spurs box, former Spurs player Anthony Georgiou hit a low effort on goal which was well saved to his left by Luca Gunter. After Kion Etete had been brought down inside the Leyton Orient penalty area, Spurs were awarded a penalty. Kion stepped up to take it, but he ended up hitting the ball wide of the goal. Max Robson came on late on in the match, to replace Kion Etete, before Omar Beckles hit an excellent free-kick effort from inside the Leyton Orient half against one of Luca Gunter’s posts. Harrison Sodje headed a late Leyton Orient corner-kick over the Spurs goal, just before the referee sounded his whistle for full-time. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side face Bromley (away), in their next pre-season friendly, on Tuesday evening.
My Spurs player of the match – Kion Etete. I thought that the centre-forward was probably Spurs’ best player today, against Leyton Orient. I thought that the 20 year old worked hard off the ball and impressed in the way that he led the line (particularly during the first half). He also scored a goal during the first half to give Spurs the lead, and he won a penalty which he was unable to score from during the second half.
The Spurs Under 21 side will play their third friendly of pre-season on Saturday, when they make the short trip to East London, to face League Two side Leyton Orient at The Breyer Group Stadium (the game starts at 13:00pm). Spurs’ Under 21 side lost 3-2 to Enfield Town on Tuesday, in what was another good pre-season test, following their 1-0 behind-closed-doors friendly win over Colchester United, at Hotspur Way last Saturday. This Saturday’s game between Spurs’ Under 21 side and Leyton Orient, is this year’s JE3 Foundation Trophy match, which is held every year in memory of Spurs legend and former Leyton Orient manager Justin Edinburgh. In the inaugural edition of the JE3 Foundation Trophy, in 2020, Spurs’ Development squad lost 6-2 to Leyton Orient. I watched Leyton Orient’s first friendly match of pre-season, which was against non-League side Haringey Borough. Former Spurs Academy player Anthony Georgiou impressed in the first half of that match, while midfielder Zech Obiero was in my opinion very impressive in midfield, and he showed some excellent skill on the ball.
The game on Saturday will be a great experience for the Spurs Under 21 side, especially as they will be playing against a Football League side. I look forward to going to the game on Saturday, and I would like to wish Wayne Burnett’s side all the very best of luck for the match.
My one to watch: Anthony Georgiou. The former Spurs player signed for Leyton Orient earlier this month, after playing for Cypriot side AEL Limassol for a while. Georgiou often plays on the left flank as a winger, and his pace, skill and very good ball control, makes him a difficult player to defend against.
Spurs’ Under 21 side played their second friendly match of pre-season on Tuesday evening, when Wayne Burnett’s side made the short trip to the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, to face Isthmian League Premier Division side Enfield Town. Spurs lost the game 3-2, but it was another good test for Spurs’ Under 21 side, as they prepare for the new 2022/23 season. Aaron Maguire started in goal for Spurs, while Kallum Cesay, Marqes Muir, Alfie Dorrington and Danny Rose started in defence. Matthew Craig and captain Marcel Lavinier started in midfield, with Max Robson and Roshaun Mathurin starting out wide on the flanks, either side of CAM Josh Chambers. Jeremie Mukendi led the line for Spurs. Spurs got the game underway in Enfield, but it was the home side who took the lead early on in the match. After Marqes Muir did well to block John Muleba’s effort inside the Spurs box, the ball came to Sam Youngs in the centre of the penalty area. And he was able to find the bottom left hand corner of Maguire’s goal, 0-1. A little while later Roshaun Mathurin came inside onto his right foot from the left flank, before hitting an effort wide of the Enfield goal. After Danny Rose went forward with the ball down the left flank, he found Max Robson in the Enfield penalty area with a good cross. However, Robson’s low volleyed effort went just wide of the goal.
After Sam Youngs hit an effort from a free-kick into the Spurs wall, the ball came to James Dayton, whose effort went over Aaron Maguire’s goal. Following a pass from Josh Chambers, Roshaun Mathurin showed some great skill to enter the Enfield box, before being fouled by Scott Shulton, resulting in the referee pointing to the penalty spot. And Mathurin found the bottom right corner of the Enfield goal from the following penalty, 1-1. John Muleba headed a cross from an Enfield free-kick, just over the Spurs goal from inside their box. Then soon after, Wynford Marko hit an effort from the right side of the Spurs box, which deflected wide off of Danny Rose. The referee sounded his whistle for half-time a couple of minutes later. Luca Gunter had replaced Aaron Maguire in goal, for the start of the second half. After receiving the ball inside the Spurs box, Marcus Wyllie hit an effort on goal, which was saved well by Luca Gunter, before Scott Shulton hit an effort over the Spurs goal. Gunter then made another impressive save, to keep out a headed effort on goal from Marcus Wyllie, before making another two very good saves.
An effort from a free-kick from Sam Youngs, was well kept out by the alert Luca Gunter. The ball then came to Wynford Marko, but his effort was also saved really well by Gunter, before the ball ended up reaching Adam Cunnington, who scored from close range, 1-2. Marcel Lavinier had an effort from distance blocked, before Enfield were awarded a penalty at the other end of the pitch, after Kallum Cesay had brought down Marcus Wyllie inside the Spurs box. Sam Youngs then stepped up to find the bottom left corner of the Spurs goal, 1-3. Spurs made a number of changes before the game got started again. As Jamie Bowden, Nile John, Romaine Mundle, Kion Etete, Yago Santiago, Maksim Paskotši and Tyrell Ashcroft entered the pitch. As Danny Rose, Roshaun Mathurin, Jeremie Mukendi, Josh Chambers, Max Robson, Marqes Muir and Kallum Cesay all left the pitch. After going onto his right foot from the left flank, Romaine Mundle hit an effort wide of the Enfield goal from distance. Not long after that effort from Romaine Mundle, Spurs got their second goal of the game. After receiving the ball some way out from goal, Nile John looked up before hitting an unstoppable effort into the top left corner of the Enfield goal, 2-3.
Maksim Paskotši headed an effort just wide at the back post of the Enfield goal, after meeting Romaine Mundle’s corner-kick. The referee sounded his whistle shortly after that chance for Spurs to get a late equaliser. Spurs’ next pre-season friendly is against Leyton Orient, on Saturday in the JE3 Trophy.
My Spurs player of the match: Luca Gunter. The second year scholar and goalkeeper came on for the start of the second half, and he had a fine game during the second half. The 17 year old goalkeeper who has been called-up to represent England at youth level in the past, was making his first appearance since returning from an injury which had kept him out for much of the second half of last season. He made four impressive saves against Enfield Town, keeping good positioning and showing his excellent reflexes.
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