Terry Naylor was recommended to Spurs by former boxer Fred Rye, and would join the club on amateur forms in 1966. Terry used to work at Smithfield Meat Market, and the Islington born former professional footballer in his early days at Spurs, would play for the senior youth team in the South-East Counties League. A tenacious defender who often played at full-back (he used to play at defensive-midfield, early on in his career), Naylor did train with local side Arsenal and also with Millwall (Terry’s younger brother Peter, would later join Millwall, after training with Spurs for a time) prior to signing forms with Spurs. In the senior youth side at Spurs during the 1966/67 season (he made 21 appearances for the senior youth side that season, scoring one goal), Terry played with the likes of Jimmy Neighbour and Ray Evans, both players that he would also play with in the first team. Later on in the 1960s he would progress to the A team and the reserves, where he was also a regular. Terry made his competitive first team debut for Spurs in a First Division fixture with West Bromwich Albion in March, 1970, and he would make well over 300 (includes friendly matches) additional appearances for Spurs’ first team, scoring one goal, after that game, undoubtedly becoming a Spurs legend, for his great service to the club. 

The Londoner would win the hearts of the Spurs fans for being a full-back/defender who gave 110% in every game that he represented the club in, making him a fan favourite. He was always a very tough tackling defender who opposing players certainly didn’t enjoy facing on the football pitch, as he made it difficult for them to play their game. However, he was also a clever and fair defender who was good at making important defensive interventions, and during one game which I watched a replay of recently (from the early 1970s), I was very impressed with how effective he was at playing as a sweeper, where he performed his defensive role really well, and against a good side at the time, in that game. Naylor was a leader and a very vocal player on the pitch, and he also demonstrated many a time that he could get forward on the pitch to good effect, and also deliver fine crosses into the penalty area, from either flank. His determination and real defensive nous and patience to become a regular, would pay off. Terry unfortunately missed the 1973 Football League Cup final through injury however, he did start in both legs of the 1974 UEFA Cup final against Feyenoord. 

Similar to John Pratt and Steve Perryman, Terry Naylor had so much energy on the pitch, and he was a tireless runner for the team, and a fine athlete. He was also a very important player for Spurs during the 1977/78 promotion winning season from the Second Division, often playing at right-back in that side. Not only is he a Spurs legend, but he is someone who loves the club dearly, and who still has so much time for the Spurs supporters. He is a real gentleman of the game, and a top, top man, and without doubt one of the nicest former footballers who I have ever had the pleasure of meeting! Terry left Spurs in 1980, to move to another London club, in Charlton Athletic. He spent some good years with Charlton, before later playing non-League football for the likes of Gravesend and Northfleet and Haringey Borough. Now retired, Terry still has a great knowledge of the game (I’ve had the great pleasure of interviewing him and meeting him on a couple of occasions), and nowadays he sings in pubs in London. He should look back on his time at Tottenham Hotspur with great pride, and it’s a testament to his sheer determination and adaptability to the game, that he managed to progress through the ranks at Spurs, to make so many first team appearances for the club.