Although this wasn’t the last time that Spurs have entered the Northern Irish Milk Cup, the 1996 edition of the prestigious youth tournament, was the last time that Spurs had won it. In the following piece I will be looking back at the players who played in that year’s successful tournament, and also looking at where they went after leaving Spurs. With a big thank you to members of that Spurs Milk Cup winning team – David Lee and also Ciaran Toner (Ciaran played one game for Spurs’ Under 16 side at the 1996 edition of the tournament, as he was on international duty with Northern Ireland at youth level at the time), for their insights into some of the players of the 1996 Spurs Milk Cup winning side. They were a great help to me in writing this piece. A memorable experience for the Spurs players who were a part of the 1996 Milk Cup winning side, they certainly won’t have forgotten winning it, and what it meant at that stage of their careers to win it. Spurs had won the 1990 edition of the Milk Cup six years earlier, with players such as Jeff Minton and Nicky Barmby featuring for Spurs in that year’s tournament. However, Spurs started the 1996 Milk Cup by winning their opening group game 2-0 against Scottish side Hearts, with centre-forward Luke Bauckham and Darren Twidell scoring their goals, at Anderson Park, in Coleraine.

After this very talented group of Spurs players which included Ledley King, Peter Crouch and John Piercy had won their opening group game of the tournament, this group of Spurs players won 2-0 against Middlesbrough in their second group game (at the Showgrounds, in Coleraine), thanks to goals from prolific centre-forward Wayne Vaughan and the highly skilful John Piercy. With Spurs already through to the quarter-finals with one group game still to go, they recorded a 0-0 draw with County Tyrone in their final group game, at Roe Mill, in Limavady. However, in the quarter-finals stage of the 1996 Milk Cup, Bobby Arber’s Spurs side came up against Danish side Brøndby IF, at Cricket Park, in Ballymoney. With the game finishing in a 1-1 draw against a good Brøndby IF youth side, the outcome would be determined by penalties, after Ledley King’s own goal saw Spurs respond through Peter Crouch. Spurs’ captain David Lee scored the winning penalty to book Spurs’ place in the semi-finals with another English side, in Crewe Alexandra. In the semi-finals, the game once again was a close one. Jamie Dormer got Spurs’ goal, but it ended up finishing in a draw. However, Spurs once again showed the courage and composure to win on penalties at the Showgrounds in Limavady, to book their place in the final of the competition!

As always at the Milk Cup, there were some top, top players playing at the tournament. In the final Spurs faced Blackburn Rovers, who had some real talents of their own, at the Showgrounds, in Coleraine. The game was a competitive one, but John Piercy, who had impressed throughout the tournament for Spurs, would deservedly score the winning goal for Spurs at the tournament, to put Spurs’ name on the trophy of the 1996 edition of the Milk Cup.

Goalkeepers: 

Chris Marshall: A goalkeeper who was calm and composed inside his penalty area, as well as being good at making reflex saves, Chris Marshall was a member of the Spurs Under 16 team that competed at the 1996 Milk Cup. During the 1996/97 South-East Counties League season Chris Marshall was the first choice goalkeeper for the South-East Counties League Division Two side. However, after going full-time with Spurs, he decided to leave football, and instead he went onto study away from the game.

Gavin Kelly: Gavin Kelly was a goalkeeper who commanded his penalty area really well, and who was a fine all-round goalkeeper. The Hammersmith born former Republic of Ireland Schools international was a player who would rise up the ranks at Spurs, in the Academy and later into reserve team football. Kelly had signed trainee forms with Spurs the year after Spurs had won the Milk Cup tournament, and he would actually feature on three occasions for Spurs’ first team in pre-season friendlies during the early 2000’s. He would do well at Spurs, where he did well to progress up the various ranks at the club. However, after spending some time out on loan with non-League clubs, he would leave Spurs to go on trial with some lower league clubs, before joining Kettering Town on loan, and then later joining them on a permanent basis in late 2003. Gavin would later play for Welling United, Cambridge United and Leatherhead.

Defenders:

Gavin Stone: Good with both feet and tall, Gavin Stone had a real presence about him as a central defender, and he was also composed on the ball. The Stafford born former Spurs youth player was also good in the air, and he scored a decent amount of goals for Spurs at youth level. Gavin would make good progress during the 1996/97 season with Spurs. After leaving Spurs later on in the 1990’s, Gavin Stone would spend a good amount of years in non-League football, playing for  Stafford Rangers, Hinckley United and Ilkeston Town, to name just some of Gavin’s former clubs.

Steve Dobson: A right-back/wing-back who was tireless on the pitch, defender Steve Dobson was also very good at getting forward out wide on the flanks. He would make the right-back spot almost his own in Spurs’ South-East Counties League Division Two side in 1996/97, following Spurs’ success at the Milk Cup, as well as also featuring in the Division One side. After leaving Spurs, Steve Dobson was around the time of the mid 2000’s playing non-League football for Burnham Ramblers.

Ledley King: A former Spurs player who needs no introducing. Ledley King is without doubt one of the finest Spurs Academy graduates, ever! A central defender with real class, quality and reading of the game, Ledley King was a one club man and Spurs legend, who played a big part for Spurs’ first team over the years, despite his very unfortunate injury record. The Londoner who captained Spurs to the 2008 League Cup final success against Chelsea, was just so unlucky, particularly with knee injuries during his footballing career. However, the former England international still achieved great things in the game, and along with Peter Crouch from this group of Spurs youth team players, would have a fantastic career in the game at the top level. Ledley now works as an ambassador for Spurs.

Jamie Dormer: Jamie Dormer was a clever and technically gifted left-back. He would progress well at youth level for Spurs, and he would spend a good number of years with Spurs. The defender would make a good amount of South-East Counties League Division One appearances during the 1996/97 season. Jamie got the all important goal which took the Milk Cup semi-final tie with Crewe Alexandra to penalties. After being released by Spurs in the early 2000’s, he joined Billericay Town when the late Justin Edinburgh was manager, but Jamie would also play non-League football for East Ham United and later AFC Hornchurch.

Narada Bernard: Narada Bernard was very good at defending in one v one situations. A left-back who had good pace, the Bristol born former professional footballer would mainly play in the South-East Counties League Division Two side during the 1996/97 season after the Milk Cup. However, Narada would later join Arsenal from Spurs as a youth team player, and he would progress up to reserve team level with them. He would enjoy a long career in the game, playing for AFC Bournemouth, Woking and Weymouth, to name just some of the clubs that Narada played for. He also won a full international cap for Jamaica during his playing career.

Kevin O’Brien: Waterford man Kevin O’Brien joined Spurs just after the mid 1990’s, from local side Villa FC, in Waterford. A solid and versatile player who could play in defence as well as in midfield, O’Brien did the under appreciated side of the game really well, and he was tenacious. Kevin was a strong tackler who kept good defensive positioning. After playing his part in Spurs’ Milk Cup winning success pf 1996, Kevin O’Brien would spend a good couple of seasons with Spurs at Academy level. After leaving Spurs the former Republic of Ireland youth international would return to Ireland to sign for Waterford, where he played League of Ireland football.

Midfielders:

David Lee: The captain of the Spurs youth side that competed in the 1996 edition of the Milk Cup, highly skilful and also versatile midfield player David Lee was a key player at that year’s tournament. A central midfielder with a really good range of passing, David could also play out wide on the flanks as a winger. He was unlucky with injuries during his career and it would in the end mean that he had to retire from the game quite early, but in 1996 as the captain of the Spurs Milk Cup winning side he was a really important player for Spurs at that tournament. In the following seasons David would progress up to reserve team level with Spurs, where he became a regular. He would later move to Southend United in 2000, before later playing for Hull City and Brighton & Hove Albion, before finishing his career with Canvey Island during the late 2000’s, after having played for a decent number of other clubs. David now works as a football agent.

Nicky Hunt: In 2022 I attended a legends evening with Ledley King and Michael Dawson (hosted by Micky Hazard) in which Ledley mentioned former Spurs youth player Nicky Hunt as being someone who he thought would go onto make it in the game and have a good career, such was his talent. Nicky Hunt was a skilful box to box midfielder who had an eye for goal, and the former Spurs youth player would play for both Spurs youth sides in the South-East Counties League Division One and Two, during his time with the club. 

Ciaran Duffin: A wide player who was industrious and hardworking, but also direct with the ball at his feet, Ciaran Duffin was one of two Northern Irish Spurs players at the Milk Cup in 1996, to play at the tournament. Ciaran only spent one season with Spurs as an apprentice, before returning to Northern Ireland, where he continued to play football. He played for clubs such as Coleraine and Moyola Park, after returning to Northern Ireland.

Ciaran Toner: A player who would go on to become a full Northern Ireland international, Craigavon born former professional footballer Ciaran Toner was a hardworking, two footed midfield player. He could pass well off both feet, and he also worked well off the ball. A former Spurs youth and reserve team player, Ciaran only made one appearance for Spurs’ youth side at the 1996 Milk Cup, in their final group game against County Tyrone. This was because Ciaran was away on international duty with Northern Ireland at youth level, during the tournament. The player who made one first team appearance for Spurs in a pre-season friendly, would later play for the likes of Leyton Orient, Rochdale and Grimsby Town.

John Piercy: A versatile midfield player who played the game with flair, John Piercy was a real standout player at the 1996 Northern Irish Milk Cup, scoring the winning goal in the final against Blackburn Rovers. The Forest Gate born former Spurs man was a good dribbler with the ball at his feet, and he was also creative with the ball. John would progress up through the youth and reserve team ranks at Spurs to make nine competitive appearances for Spurs’ first team during the late 1990’s/early 2000’s. He would later play for Brighton & Hove Albion, and later Eastbourne Borough and Worthing for a short time. John Piercy was a key player for Spurs at the 1996 Milk Cup.

Darren Twidell: Central midfielder Darren Twidell was a midfield player who was capable of keeping the ball moving in the central areas of the pitch, as well as having good ball retention skills. Darren would later play non-League football after leaving Spurs, playing for Great Wakering Rovers.

Jamie Sinclair: A left-back who worked hard, was difficult to get past on the pitch and who also had a good range of passing, Jamie Sinclair was a fine player for Spurs at youth team level. However, I was unable to find out where he went after leaving Spurs, or whether he continued playing football.

Forwards:

Luke Bauckham: A centre-forward and a competitive player on the pitch, Luke Bauckham always made it difficult for the central defenders. He was good at being able to receive the ball and at making runs in behind, and he was also a good finisher. Luke scored one goal at the 1996 Milk Cup, for Spurs. Luke would later play for Billericay Town and East Thurrock, later on in his footballing career.

Wayne Vaughan: A tenacious and very hardworking centre-forward, who certainly knew where the goal was, Barking born former Spurs Academy player Wayne Vaughan scored a lot of goals for Spurs at youth level, and he would also play for the Spurs reserves side. Wayne was a talented player, who did really well at the Milk Cup in 1996. In one season with Spurs he scored 22 goals from 31 appearances for the club at youth level. Wayne would later play in the non-League for Romford and Aveley, to name just a couple of his former clubs.

Peter Crouch: Like Ledley King, Peter Crouch had a wonderful career in the game. A former England international, the centre-forward would play for the likes of Aston Villa, Liverpool and of course Spurs’ first team on his return to the club in 2009. A centre-forward who I always thought had good skill on the ball, and who was also good in the air and at holding up the ball, with the ability to finish well inside the penalty area. Peter Crouch played for Spurs as a youth team player, and he scored an important goal against Brondby IF, in the 1996 Milk Cup. A player who would of course have a great footballing career, and who played at the highest level of the game. It was great to see Peter return to Spurs later on in his footballing career, as a first team player.