(Paddy Stack is pictured on the extreme left of the top row.)

Paddy Stack predominantly played as a centre-half during his playing days for Spurs at youth level, during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. From nearby Walthamstow just like his old Spurs teammate David Sunshine, Stack often captained the Spurs youth team during his time at the club, and he also played for them in the South East Counties League, as well as playing for the Spurs reserve side on one occasion. After leaving Spurs the defender would play non-League football, playing for the likes of Woodford Town and Walthamstow Avenue. I recently had the great pleasure of interviewing Paddy to talk about his time at Spurs.

What are your earliest footballing memories?

Paddy: My earliest football memories are when I was about ten in the junior school, and our headmistress in a Catholic school (they had nuns at the school) called sister Peters decided to form a football team, which we hadn’t had before. She taught us how to play football and so that’s how I got started, and so that’s my earliest memory.

What are your earliest memories of your time at Spurs and how did you come about joining the club?

Paddy: I think that I was recommended by my district schools coach, but when I hadn’t heard anything (he had said that he had said something to Spurs) I wrote to Spurs. And so I explained who I was and what I had done and what have you, and they invited me for a trial and there was at least 100 people like me there for this trial, and most of them stayed on for five to ten minutes or whatever, but I stayed there for the whole match. I was then taken on as a ground-staff apprentice professional which is what they called it then, but the odd thing about it was that I was 15 in the November, but they wouldn’t let me leave school until Easter. I never did understand that, and so the last three months of my schooling was an absolute total waste of time, because I wasn’t interested. When I eventually left in the Easter of course the season was virtually over, so when I got to Tottenham all of the other youth players had already gone on to a tour. So there was about two or three of us there at Spurs and that was all there was, so they stuck me in the ticket office throughout the summer, so I was handing out season tickets and doing paper work, as well as doing a bit of training now and again, and running up and down the steps. However, there was hardly anybody there and it was a strange atmosphere really, but if they’d have let me go on my birthday in the November or Christmas then I’d have been involved in all of that, but I wasn’t. From there we went on to pre-season training and I was pretty fit, and slim and agile and a good sportsman, but at the end of the first day of pre-season training I couldn’t get get out of bed, as everything hurt, so I really couldn’t move, but it was interesting.

Did you have any footballing heroes/inspirations and if so who were they?

Paddy: As a youngster the one that I liked most was Stanley Matthews, because he was a special dribbler and people didn’t dribble much in those days, as it was long balls from one end to the other from defence. So I was really keen on people like Stanley Matthews, but I didn’t get a chance to watch much football because we didn’t get a telly until I was about 11, but obviously Spurs was my first team because I lived in Walthamstow and they were the nearest. I’d been over to Spurs several times to watch them, and one day it was thick fog outside of my window and I thought well it must be clear at Tottenham, because I hadn’t heard anything. So I walked three miles across the marshes to Tottenham and by the time I’d got within 100 yards of the stadium you couldn’t see anything in front of you, literally there was smog everywhere. And so there was two or three of us all holding on to each other as total strangers, just to hold on to each other to keep safe, instead of going in the road or what have you. Of course when we got there the game was called off, but I was really keen in them days for watching Tottenham.

 Could you describe to me what type of player you were and what positions you played in during your time at Spurs?

Paddy: Well I was centre-half and I mean I’d always been a centre-half but of course when I’d got to Tottenham I’d stopped growing by then for some reason. I was about five foot ten when I was about 11 or 12, and I was still five foot ten when I got to Tottenham at 15, so I wasn’t tall enough at that position. They did try me in a couple of other positions but I just couldn’t do it, and I wasn’t good enough at the other positions as I was just a basic defender. I could tackle well, I could run fast and I could anticipate things quite well but when they tried to get me to be a proper footballer and be clever no, I couldn’t do that. 

Who were your greatest influences at Spurs?

Paddy: Well there were no influences really, because we didn’t have any coaching whatsoever, we did have training and gym work but there was nobody ever that told us how to do things. I played for the reserves once as they must have been missing a lot of players, so they stuck me in the reserves just for the one game and it was so totally different from us playing in boys football, because every time that the ball came to you you had somebody telling you what to do. One player or another would be pointing and talking to you, whereas before that I never had any of that and I didn’t know what to do, and so you just used your own initiative. So there were no big influences at Tottenham really, I wasn’t a loner as such but I was independent and so I made all my own decisions. My parents were never interested in football although my dad played for All-Ireland at hurling my mother told me, and nobody really talked about it, so I would have expected him to take a lot more interest in me than he did, but neither were interested really. When I went and played for the schools team and then the district team and county team and London, there was nobody ever that influenced me as how to play. Nobody told you what to do or how to improve yourself, so anyway that I could improve myself I did by heading. Because I knew that I was short for a centre-half so I used to tie a football in a net and hang it up on a high hook of some sort, and then try and reach it with my head. I spent hours jumping up and down to head the ball, but I don’t think that I was aggressive enough, as I was far too nice. If I barged somebody over then I’d spend five minutes picking them up again rather than getting on with the game.

So I don’t think I really wanted to become a professional footballer really, and so of course when we got called in by Bill Nicholson along with Dave Sunshine and Terry Lloyd, he called us three in. And he said that I don’t think you’re going to make it at this club at this time, so he said I’ll give you the opportunity to turn professional and stay on for another year and see how you go. The other two stayed on for the year and I said no I don’t fancy that and so I left, because there was no money in the game at the time and I’d already been told that I could earn more down the road working in a shop or something. So because I made all my own decisions I just sort of walked out really, I later went on to play for Woodford Town and I played there for a couple of years before going to Walthamstow Avenue and they were a good team at the time but I couldn’t really get in the first team there. I eventually ended up playing Sunday football, or Sunday and Saturday as I was playing on Saturday and Sunday every week at one time, but I don’t know if I’d have ever made it as I just was disinclined I think to try hard.

Were there any players at Spurs who you would watch closely to try and improve your game or look to learn from?

Paddy: No not really, because I was always independent and I was always captain for every team I played for, including Tottenham youth. I played for the Rep side in the South East Counties League alongside some other good players and so I didn’t take a lot of notice of other people, so yeah there was nothing there for me to influence myself or base myself on.

What prompted you to leave Spurs and could you talk me through your career after you left the Lilywhites?

Paddy: Well as I said I left Spurs because I wanted to and I didn’t think that there was any future for me there but at least I gave it a try. Then when I went to non-League football and played for Woodford and Walthamstow I had a lovely time for quite a few years and thoroughly enjoyed myself, because it was less demanding and I was captain so what I said went. I made some really stupid decisions really, I got a bit blasé about it I think in the end, so I’ve never considered having a problem with leaving.

What was your time at the Lilywhites like on the whole?

Paddy: It was ok, I mean I was disappointed about getting there late and missing the tour but other than that it was fine and I was playing quite well, and as I say I got into the Rep side. 

What was the greatest moment of your footballing career?

Paddy: I suppose being take on by Spurs after that trial match, and so that’s the one that stands out. I won lots of cups and leagues and all that sort of thing, but I don’t remember them, so nothing was really important. When I was playing Sunday league football I got in the Rep side there of course, and I played against various teams including the showbiz team twice, which was good, and we also played against a jockeys team. When I was playing the showbiz team a helicopter landed on the pitch in the middle of a game as it was some celebrity/actor from a long time ago whose name I can’t remember, and he gave out the trophies afterwards. So little things like that stick in your mind but I can’t think of the greatest thing or anything that was outstanding.

Who was the greatest player that you have had the pleasure of sharing a pitch with? 

Paddy: I shared a pitch with the whole of the Tottenham team obviously, and that was the year before the double so they were pretty good, and I’ve got lots of little stories about them. I suppose top internationals such as Bobby Smith and also Terry Dyson and people like that, and talking of Bobby Smith and Terry Dyson they had a snooker room at White Hart Lane, and during the summer while I was there virtually by myself I used to go in there and play. And when they came back off tour (the first team and everybody else) one day there was Bobby Smith and Terry Dyson playing snooker, and they were always rowing and were very combative, and I was playing on one table by myself and they were playing on another. All around the room they had pictures of past teams and stuff like that, and at one stage Terry Dyson got annoyed so much that he literally threw the cue like a javelin at Bobby Smith, and it missed him and smashed into one of these pictures, so yeah there were things like that that I remember. I played in a pre-season match against Bobby Smith and I was at centre-half and he was at centre-forward, and the first time a high ball came over he easily beat me although he was about the same height he would use his arms and legs, and so he virtually just pushed me out the way. So the second time that happened and a high ball came down the middle I thought I can’t let this happen as Bill Nicholson was standing watching. So I climbed all over the back of Bobby and my knees were in his back and my elbows were on his shoulders, and I headed the ball away and fell over as I did it. He came down and lifted me up and said don’t you ever do that again! And that scared the life out of me as he was the England centre-forward and I was only a 15 year old schoolboy virtually. So it’s things like that which I remember.

Could you talk me through some of your favourite memories of your time in the various Tottenham youth teams?

Paddy: I haven’t got any memories of it really, and I know that we played in various cups and leagues and stuff like that, but I can’t remember it now, as it’s just another team that I played for. 

Who was toughest player that you ever came up against?

Paddy: It’s got to be Bobby Smith, because I wasn’t at Tottenham for very long I didn’t come up against many tough players really, as in other leagues and teams that I played for I was always the toughest. I wasn’t dirty but I was aggressive and I didn’t like getting beaten, and that didn’t matter what team or league I was playing for, so yeah there’s nobody who I could really put down as the toughest.  

Were there any players at Spurs who you were particularly close to?

Paddy: No, I mean obviously I knew Dave Sunshine for a few years because we played everywhere together, and we both played for the schools team, and the Essex team and the district team and the London team, so where I was he was, or the other way round. So yeah I got to know him fairly well but he had no influence on me.

What would your advice be to the young Spurs players of today as they look to break into the first team?

Paddy: Well just work hard and be determined, and you’ve got to want it in the first place as I think that I wanted it more for the glory than the football to be quite honest. I don’t know that but it’s just what I’ve realised over the years, but I could have done a lot better I don’t know, because I was independent so I made my own decisions and maybe walking out on Spurs was one of the wrong ones, but I had nobody who influenced me or who was tough with me. 

After all these years how do you look back on your time at the Lilywhites and is Spurs a club who you still hold close to your heart?

Paddy: No, not really as it’s all a bygone age now and the whole thing (football) has changed now. There’s different pitches, a different ball and new rules and you can’t get away with anything now. 

The 2013/14 season saw a very talented Spurs under 18 side win the Premier League under 18 league southern division. Under the tutelage of under 18’s coaches John McDermott and Kieran McKenna, Spurs’ under 18 side were fortunate enough to have a group of very talented and promising players on their books for the start of the 2013/14 season, a very memorable one for the players involved. Spurs started the season with a home game against Middlesbrough at Hotspur Way, which they won 4-0, thanks to a brace from striker Daniel Akindayini and goals from Luke Amos and Nathan Oduwa. Spurs would go on to win their next six league games, as they started the league season in sensational form. They did narrowly lose their first game of the season (2-3) to West Ham United at Hotspur Way, it was to be one of only six league games that they lost that season. With Luke McGee in goal as the main goalkeeper, the likes of Kyle Walker-Peters, Connor Ogilvie and Cameron Carter-Vickers in defence, Luke Amos and Josh Onomah in midfield, the fast and skilful Nathan Oduwa and Anthony Georgiou out on the flanks, and Shayon Harrison up front, Spurs had an excellent squad of players. From 31 league games we scored an incredible total of 82 goals, conceded 48 and won 19 of our matches. Going forward we were unstoppable that season, with the likes of Oduwa, Harrison and Georgiou all chipping in with a good amount of goals, our brand of football was very exciting. We recorded some memorable victories along the way to winning the southern division, we beat a talented Chelsea side (away) 7-2 in the April of 2014, we also beat Arsenal 4-2 and we beat Manchester City 4-1.

What is quite staggering from that squad of Spurs players that season is the amount of them who are still playing football at a high level. Kyle Walker-Peters is doing really well at Southampton at the moment, then there’s Harry Winks who is an England international who has played so many competitive games for Spurs, and there is also Luke Amos, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kane Vincent-Young, Christian Maghoma, Luke McGee, Connor Ogilvie and Joe Pritchard who are currently playing in the EFL. You also have Anthony Georgiou, Filip Lesniak and Shayon Harrison who are enjoying good careers in Europe. They are just some of the players who have done really well to make a career in the game at a high level, which is of course a very difficult thing to achieve, and something that all of the lads at Spurs who are coming up the ranks at the club hope to achieve, and dream of achieving. It’s also very difficult to win the Under 18 Premier League southern division, and with such consistently talented teams such as Chelsea who have been dominant at this level for many years and also Arsenal, it just goes to show how talented and how good John McDermott and Kieran McKenna’s side were during the 2013/14 season. It was a really strong squad and competition for places in the side was also very strong, but there would have had to have been great team spirit in the side, for Spurs to have been so consistently good throughout the season. Winning the southern division that season meant that Spurs qualified for the play-offs which included the northern division sides that Spurs did also play during the regular season. Unfortunately Spurs were knocked out by Everton in the semi-finals of the play-offs, losing 1-0 at Goodison Park, in front of 1,450 people.

All of the coaches at Spurs during that season but also in the following seasons played a massive part in the careers of the Spurs under 18 side that won the southern division in 2014. And I must mention the late footballer, England international and Spurs development side head coach Ugo Ehiogu, for every player who played in that Spurs side and who also stayed on at the club and who played or was around the development side (under 19’s, 21’s and 23’s) for following seasons, Ugo helped to shape those young Spurs players into the footballers and people that they are today. A key member of that Spurs under 18 side that won the southern division during the 2013/14 season was Anthony Georgiou, who only very recently left Spurs. I asked Anthony to describe what it was like to play in the southern division that season and also be a part of that very talented Spurs side. The Cyprus international said “ as for the team we had so much quality in that team through the whole squad. Training was always at a very high level technically. I think we also had a very physically good team. We played very good football and didn’t change how we wanted to play for any team. On top of all that I think we had a very good group of people with a good atmosphere. ” In the following piece I will be looking back at every player that played for Spurs’ under 18 side in the league during the 2013/14 season, talking about what kind of player they are/were, providing some statistics and also looking at where they went after leaving Spurs (only two players from the side remain at the club – Harry Winks and Cameron Carter-Vickers). I shall be doing more of these types of articles in the very near future.

The team: 

Luke McGee: A very good shot stopper, goalkeeper Luke McGee was an exciting player, and was regarded as a very exciting prospect at Spurs, when on their books as a young goalkeeper. Edgware born and a Spurs fan, McGee signed scholarship terms with Spurs in the summer of 2012, part of a talented age group which included the likes of Harry Winks and Connor Ogilvie. McGee had made five under 18 league appearances during the previous 2012/13 season as a first year scholar. However, during the following 2013/14 campaign the tall, vocal and commanding goalkeeper became our under 18’s main goalkeeper, and he made 17 league appearances, becoming an important member of the team. The goalkeeper who was great at making good reaction saves at youth level at Spurs, would in fact make his senior competitive debut for Spurs in the following pre-season, before going on to play three more first team games (all non-competitive) during his time at the club. He would become the regular goalkeeper for our under 21 side and third choice goalkeeper at Spurs for a period of time at the club when Mauricio Pochettino was the manager of the club. McGee did go out on loans to Harlow Town (a work experience loan) and Peterborough United, with the latter one proving to be very successful. However, he left Spurs shortly after returning from his loan at Peterborough, and he signed for League One side Portsmouth in the summer of 2017. McGee made 55 competitive appearances for Portsmouth in all competitions and got an EFL Trophy winners medal during his time at the club. He spent a period of time on loan at Bradford City, before departing Portsmouth in 2020. The now 25 year old former England youth international is currently playing for League Two side Forest Green Rovers, where he is the clubs first choice goalkeeper.

Harry Voss: Goalkeeper Harry Voss was a first year scholar at Spurs during the 2013/14 season. From Welwyn in Hertfordshire, Voss made his competitive under 18’s debut for Spurs as a schoolboy during the previous 2012/13 season, but in the 2013/14 season he made ten league appearances for the club. Not a goalkeeper who played lots of competitive games during his time at Spurs as an Academy player, Voss would go on to play a fair bit in our good FA Youth Cup cup run during the following season, including in our semi-final second leg tie against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. A good goalkeeper, Voss also made some appearances for our development side and he impressed at the pre-season Tournoi Europeen for them, one pre-season in France. Harry spent a short period of time out on loan at Stevenage Borough as a back up goalkeeper, before leaving Spurs during the 2016/17 season. Voss then went to play for non-League side Bishop’s Stortford, before spending some time at Northwood on loan, and he most recently played for Hertfordshire based club Ware. While at Spurs Voss was part of the sides that won the Premier League Champions Cup and the IMG Cup in America. Voss also played in the under 18 Premier League play-off semi-final game against Everton at Goodison Park, at the end of the 2013/14 season.

Liam Priestley: A second year scholar at the time of the 2013/14 season, Rochford born goalkeeper Liam Priestley did spend some of the 2013/14 season out on loan with Norwich City where he played for their under 18 side, but he did play five games for Spurs in the league during the same season. The goalkeeper who did also play for Spurs’ under 21 side on occasions, ended up leaving the club that he spent seven years at, at the end of his contract in the summer of 2014. After leaving the club Priestley moved to America, where he combined playing for the Missouri State soccer team for four years up until 2018 (he won the goalkeeper of the year award there in 2017), while also studying at the same time, and during his time in Missouri he won the Premier League graduate Academy award. I don’t believe that Liam is still playing competitive football.

Channing Campbell-Young: A versatile player, defensive midfielder and then first year scholar Channing Campbell-Young made 14 league appearances for the Spurs under 18 side during the 2013/14 season, six of which came as a substitute. Campbell-Young (formerly of Interwood FC) in fact played predominantly as a right back for Spurs that season during those 14 league appearances, but that was to be  his only season at Spurs as a full-time player. Born and raised in Hackney in east London, Channing Campbell-Young departed Spurs in the summer of 2014 when he joined Bolton Wanderers. He played for Bolton’s under 18’s and 21 side for a while, primarily playing as a defensive midfielder, before leaving them and going to play in the non-League. Campbell-Young has so far played for Bromley, Billericay Town, Northwood, Marlow, Hendon, London Colney and most recently Staines Town during the 2018/19 season. However, the Londoner doesn’t appear to have played for any other clubs since 2019.

Cameron Carter-Vickers: Now 23 years of age and a full USA international (he was won eight caps so far), but back in the 2013/14 southern division winning season centre-half Cameron Carter-Vickers was playing for Spurs as a schoolboy, primarily for their under 18 side. The Southend born defender was a mainstay in John McDermott and Kieran McKenna’s side during the 2013/14 season, as he went on to play 26 times in the southern division for Spurs, scoring two goals. A talented centre-half with good ability on the ball, the defenders reading of the game and ability to intercept the ball were real strengths of his game at youth level along with being good in the air, and along with Christian Maghoma and Anton Walkes he was an important central defender for the under 18 side. Still on Spurs’ books and currently on loan at Bournemouth who he has made three appearances for so far this season, Carter-Vickers also played at left-back on occasions for the Spurs under 18 side in 2013/14. He rose through the ranks at Spurs well, and was soon playing regularly for the under 21 side as a full-time player at the club, and the former England youth international even made the bench for the first team as a second year scholar back in 2015. Carter-Vickers went out on his first loan in 2017, when he joined Sheffield United, and he has since had loan moves at Ipswich Town, Swansea City, Stoke City, Luton Town and now AFC Bournemouth in the Championship. The player who has so far made four competitive appearances for the Spurs first team, was very very good in the southern division in the 2013/14 and he adapted well to that level of football, and was a consistent performer as well. He has had some good loan moves away from Spurs so far, with the most notable one being at Luton Town last season where he was excellent, and helped them to avoid relegation to League One. Still only 23 years of age, the USA international has a very exciting future in the game to look forward to, in my opinion.

Christian Maghoma: Born in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1997, but brought up in north London, centre-half Christian Maghoma was another consistent player for Spurs in the southern division in 2013/14, and he got plenty of game time as well. Like Carter-Vickers, Maghoma wasn’t full-time at Spurs during the 2013/14 season as he was still a schoolboy, but he stepped up and played under 18 football with ease during that particular season. Excellent in the air and strong in the challenge, Maghoma’s qualities as a leader in that side were evident early on. His constant encouragement and advice to his teammates would have undoubtedly benefitted them, as would have his organisation of the defence. Now an international for the Democratic Republic of the Congo national team (he made his one appearance for them in 2017) Maghoma played in that important play-off semi-final match against Everton at Goodison Park, which Spurs narrowly lost 1-0 at the end of the 2013/14 season. Making 18 league appearances for our under 18’s (scoring two goals) during the 2013/14 season, Maghoma would go on to make his competitive Spurs under 21 debut for Spurs during the following 2014/15 season. It was to be his first of over 60 competitive appearances for the Spurs development side during his time at the club, and he was a regular player for them for many seasons, also captaining the side on a really good number of occasions too. A former England youth international who was part of the last England side that won the Victory Shield, the tall and commanding central defender would leave Spurs at the end of the 2017/2018, at the end of his contract. He would move to Poland where he played for Polish top flight side Arka Gdynia, who he would play for on 39 occasions, until he left them last year.

The defender who is good on the ball and at bringing it out from the back, is now back in England where he is playing for League One club Gillingham, who he signed for at the start of the 2020/21 season. Maghoma has played 11 times in competitive competitions for Gillingham so far this season. 

Joe Muscatt: A hardworking fullback who could play on either side for our under 18 and 23’s team, during his time at Spurs. The former Interwood FC player was good in the challenge and also very versatile during his time at Spurs, and the player from Whipps Cross would made three appearances for our under 18 side as a schoolboy, during the 2013/14 season. Muscatt was a steady player at under 18 and 23 level for Spurs, and he was also a good crosser of the ball. He played a good number of games for Spurs’ under 18 side during the following 2014/15 season as a first year scholar (he also made his under 21’s debut during the following season), before playing for our under 23’s on occasions during the 2016/17 season. However, Muscatt left Spurs at the end of that season upon the end of his contract, and he joined then Championship side Bolton Wanderers for the start of the 2017/18 season, where he would play for their under 23 side. Muscatt did play for Bolton’s first team in a competitive game on one occasion during the following season, and he was also loaned out to Salford City during the same season (he made four competitive appearances for them). However, come the summer of 2019 Muscatt left Bolton and was without a club, but since the start of this season the now full Malta international has been playing for SC Paderborn II (Paderborn’s second team).

Connor Ogilvie: A physical and hardworking but skilled defender who I was always thought was good going forward as well as at defending, the player from Harlow in Essex was a second year scholar at Spurs during the 2013/14 season. The former England youth international made 20 southern division appearances during the league winning season, also scoring one goal for the team. Connor Ogilvie predominantly played at left-back during that season, although he also did fill in as a left sided centre-half on a good number of occasions. Ogilvie was arguably our best player during the southern division winning season, and he was another real leader in the side, who provided constant encouragement to his teammates. A strong player who was very capable of getting up and down the left flank at youth level for Spurs at a good pace, Ogilvie was probably the leader of the side, as an already experienced second year scholar. A player who could take a fine free-kick for Spurs at Academy level, Ogilvie was as solid and effective at centre-half as he was at left-back, and he was always a player who was and still is now just so efficient in what he does. It didn’t take Connor long before he established himself as a regular and important player in the then Spurs under 21 side, and he also signed professional forms with the club in 2014. Making many an appearance for our under 21 side, Ogilvie also played once for our first team during his time at the club, coming on as a substitute in Ledley King’s testimonial match at White Hart Lane in the May of 2014. Ogilvie went out on his first loan in 2015, joining Stevenage Borough, where he really impressed, making 22 appearances, scoring one goal. 

During the 2016/7 season Connor joined Stevenage on loan again, before stepping up a league during the following season when he joined League One side Gillingham on loan for the 2017/18 season. Another season on loan at Gillingham followed for Ogilvie, who continued to get regular game time for Gillingham, and he eventually joined them on a permanent basis in the summer of 2019. The defender has done really well for himself, and he has become a really important player for the club from Kent. Already having made 148 competitive appearances for Gillingham, scoring seven goals, Ogilvie was a very talented Academy player at Spurs, and it is great to see him doing so well in the game.

Chris Paul: Still a schoolboy during the 2013/14 season, Chris Paul made only two appearances for Spurs’ under 18 side in the southern division, scoring one goal. Paul was primarily a right-back, although he was a versatile player who could also play at centre-half. Born in Edmonton but raise in Barnet, Paul represented Northern Ireland at youth level (he was capped for them as high up as under 21 level), and he would sign scholarship forms with Spurs for the start of the following 2014/15 season. Later going on to play more competitive games for our under 18 side, and also some for our under 21’s as well, Chris Paul played for our under 18 side in the second leg of our FA Youth Cup semi-final tie with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2015. He was released by Spurs at the end of the 2015/16 season, and he joined Queens Park Rangers for the start of the 2016/17 season, where he would play for their under 23 side. He left Queens Park Rangers in 2018 after his contract came to an end, and he then joined then National League side Havant & Waterlooville. Paul spent two seasons at Havant & Waterlooville before leaving them last summer. He is now playing for National League South side in Hemel Hempstead who he is doing well at, mainly playing as a defensive midfielder.

Kane Vincent-Young: Camden born right-back Kane Vincent-Young (second year scholar during the 2013/14 season) made 10 appearances for the Spurs under 18 side during the 2013/14 season, primarily playing at right-back, although he did fill in at centre-half and at left-back on occasions. Vincent-Young had good pace and was good going at forward with the ball, and he was also good in defence as well. At the end of the 2013/14 season he left Spurs after his contract had come to an end, after spending seven years with the club. He joined non-League side Banbury United for a short time before Colchester United signed him, and he made 126 competitive appearances for Colchester during his time there, before League One club Ipswich Town signed him in 2019. Kane made nine competitive appearances for Ipswich and scored two goals, before getting injured, and although he didn’t play any more games for them during the 2019/20 season he did return to playing for them this pre-season (he played in their friendly against Spurs). However, the full-back who can play on either flank unfortunately picked up an Achilles injury during that pre-season, and he hasn’t played a competitive game for Ipswich so far this season. Still only 24 and a player with real potential to play in leagues higher up in England, hopefully Vincent-Young can return to playing again in the very near future, as he was doing very well before he got injured.

Kyle Walker-Peters: A highly skilful right-back who was very good and reliable on the ball and very difficult to disposes at Academy level for Spurs, Edmonton born defender Kyle Walker-Peters was another first year scholar during the 2013/14 season who impressed greatly over the course of the season. Walker-Peters made 25 southern division appearances during the season that we finished top of the league (he scored one goal), and the player who loved to take players on from wide positions during that season, also played at left-back and even in central midfield on one occasion. An England youth international who would end up being capped by his country all the way up to under 21 level, Walker-Peters also contributed a lot to the defence, with his well timed and strong challenges, as well as his fine reading of the game. With Walker-Peters on the right flank and Ogilvie on the left we were really potent going forward, but both players also remained defensively disciplined. Such was Kyle’s ability on the ball with his skill and quick feet, he would be used as a winger on occasions in the future at Academy level. A regular and very important player for John McDermott and Kieran McKenna’s side, Walker-Peters went on to rise up the various Academy ranks at Spurs (he was just as impressive when he used to play for the development side) before going on to make 24 competitive appearances for Spurs’ first team between 2017 and 2019. Kyle would initially join fellow Premier League side Southampton on loan until the end of the 2019/20 season, and he impressed during his time in Southampton. He joined the south coast club on a permanent deal in the summer of 2020, and he is now one of the first names on the Southampton team sheet, so far making 30 competitive first team appearances for them. I personally can see Walker-Peters becoming a full England international in the not so distant future.

Anton Walkes: A versatile and adaptable player, then first year scholar Anton Walkes made 24 appearances during the 2013/14 season, starting 18 of those games and scoring three goals. The Lewisham born player played as a defender (at right back and centre-back) and also in midfield for our under 18’s, but would later play as a centre-forward on occasions for our development side. Good at bringing the ball out from the back, and good in the air and in the challenge, Walkes was a real mainstay in the side that season. A good player technically, Anton is also a commanding defender and in 2013/14 he showed this throughout the season, putting in a number of very fine defensive performances. A future development side captain, Anton Walkes was another player from the southern division winning side who would work his way up the various ranks at Spurs. Walkes would become a regular player for the development side, playing in a great variety of positions, and whereever he played for Spurs at that level he always worked very hard for the team. Walkes featured in pre-season for Spurs’ first team in the 2016/17 season, putting in a notably impressive performance in an International Champions Cup game against Atlético Madrid in central defence. And during that season he would make his one and only senior competitive appearance for Spurs, when he came off the bench to feature in a League Cup third round tie against Gillingham at White Hart Lane in 2016. An impressive loan spell at American MLS side Atlanta United would follow during that 2016/17 season and he returned to Spurs halfway through the following 2017/18 season, where he made a couple of appearances for our under 23 side before joining Portsmouth on loan until the end of that season. 

Walkes joined League One side Portsmouth on a permanent transfer in the July of 2018, and during his two spells there he made 66 competitive first team appearances, scoring three goals and also getting an EFL Trophy medal. The Englishman left Portsmouth in January 2020 when he signed for Atlanta United on a permanent transfer, and the 23 year old has so far made 43 competitive appearances for them.

Luke Amos: A tenacious and intelligent midfield player with great potential, who made 12 appearances in the southern division in 2013/14. Former Ware FC player Luke Amos (former England youth international) played in both defence and in midfield from his 12 competitive league appearances. A defensive minded midfield player who can also contribute well to play in the final third, the Welwyn Garden City born player is really good at breaking up play and keeping the ball moving in the central areas of the pitch. The then first year scholar made more appearances for the under 18 side during the following season, before becoming a regular in the development side during the next couple of seasons. An exceptionally hardworking and versatile player, Luke made over 50 appearances for our development side and he also spent time out on loan with Southend United and Stevenage Borough which helped his development as a player. A player who would feature on a good number of occasions for Spurs’ first team in friendlies, Amos was a part of the Spurs under 21 side that won the Tournoi Europeen in France in 2017, before enjoying an excellent pre-season with the Spurs first team in 2018/19. A tenacious and real team player, Luke Amos made his one and only competitive Spurs first team appearance, when he came off the bench to play against Newcastle United in a Premier League game at the beginning of the 2018/19 season. Unfortunately Luke got injured playing in an under 23 game the following month, which ruled him out for the remainder of that season. However, he returned in time for the beginning of the following 2019/20 season, when he joined Championship side Queens Park Rangers on loan for the whole of that season. After impressing a lot on loan at Queens Park Rangers, Amos signed for them on a permanent basis in the summer of 2020, but really unfortunately Luke suffered a cruciate ligament injury early on in the 2020/21 season, which has ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Charlie Hayford: Watford born central midfielder Charlie Hayford made two appearances as a schoolboy for the under 18’s in the 2013/14 season. Like Amos, Hayford is a midfield player with a great work ethic, and who also has good ability, and who does his job efficiently in the centre of the park. Hayford signed scholarship terms with Spurs for the beginning of 2014/15 season, but sadly he missed quite a bit of that season through injury. Hayford did play more games for the under 18’s during his second year of scholarship, and he also made some appearances for the under 21 side, but he left the club in the summer of 2016 after his contract came to an end. He joined Sheffield Wednesday for the start of the 2016/17 season, playing for their under 23 side, before then moving to South Africa for a period of time to play for Bidvest Wits. However, Charlie returned to England and he has been enjoying a good career in the non-League, playing for Hemel Hempstead, Biggleswade Town, Chesham United, Barton Rovers, Bedford Town, Baldock Town, Hitchin Town and most recently Northwood FC.

Cy Goddard: Chelsea born but raised in Pimlico, midfielder and former Japan youth international Cy Goddard’s technical ability and creativity made him another important player for under 18’s in 2013/14, and from his 19 league appearances he scored two goals for the team. Goddard’s low centre of gravity, hard work, and eye for a forward pass meant that he was an important creative outlet in the side, regardless of whether he was playing as a central midfielder or as a CAM. A skilful and very tidy player who used his skill to good effect, the then first year scholar rose up the Academy ranks at Spurs to play for the development side in competitive games on over 35 occasions, Cy Goddard scored one goal for development side, and it was a sumptuous volley against Leicester City’s under 21 side in the 2015/16 season. Goddard left Spurs at the end of the following 2016/17 season, and he joined Italian side Benevento Calcio in the summer of 2018 (he has so far made two competitive appearances for them). He joined Cypriot First Division side Pafos FC on loan in the September of 2019 and made six competitive appearances for them. Still a Benevento player, Goddard is currently on loan at Indian Super League side Mumbai City, who he has made nine competitive appearances for to date.

Filip Lesniak: Another versatile player in the under 18 side in the 2013/14 season, former Slovakian under 21 international Filip Lesniak was a stalwart of the side, making 24 league appearances during the 2013/14 season. A really reliable and consistent player at under 18 level, the midfielder from Kosice was a second year scholar in 2013/14 and he already had plenty of experience playing competitive under 18 football during the previous season. Primarily a defensive midfielder, but a player who could also fill in in defence as he did on a couple of occasions during the 2013/14 season, Lesniak did a really good job at protecting the back four and also breaking up play, and keeping the ball moving in the central areas of the pitch. Also a regular at under 21/23 level for Spurs (he also spent a period of time on loan at Slovan Liberec), Lesniak made over 50 competitive appearances for Spurs at this level. He would go on to make one competitive appearance for Spurs, coming on as a substitute in a Premier League game against Leicester City in the May of 2017, and Lesniak registered an assist in that game after setting up a Harry Kane goal as Spurs won 6-1. Filip left Spurs at the end of that season and joined Danish side AaB Fodbold, who he made 44 competitive appearances for. Lesniak (24) has since played for Silkeborg IF on loan, and he is currently playing for Polish Ekstraklasa side Wisła Płock, who he has so far made 17 competitive appearances for. 

Will Miller: A former England under 18 international with great balance, skill and vision, attacking midfielder Will Miller scored seven under 18 goals for Spurs from 25 league appearances in 2013/14, also registering a good number of assists. A former actor, the Londoner was a really clever and creative player in McDermott and McKenna’s side, and he played in a variety of positions in 2013/14, playing as a left winger, CAM and central midfielder, and also captaining the under 18 side on occasions as well. The former Leyton Orient youth player was a tricky player with very quick feet, whose footballing brain was very good in my opinion. Now retired from playing the game and currently involved in the music and film industry, Will Miller would rise up the ranks at Spurs to play well over 40 competitive games for our development side, and I always thought that he replicated his under 18 form at both under 21 and 23 level. Of slight build and never the most physical of players, Miller more than made up for it with his skill and intelligence on the pitch, and I always thought that he was quite a quick player who also had a nice weight of pass. He would play for Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs first team on occasions in friendlies although he would never play for them in a competitive game. Miller had a loan spell with Burton Albion during the 2016/17 season before signing for them on a permanent basis during the 2017/18 season. In total Miller made 54 competitive appearances for Burton Albion before retiring from the game in 2019.

Josh Onomah: A direct and skilful midfielder with a good eye for a forward pass, Josh Onomah showed his quality at his new club Fulham throughout last season (2019/20). The former England youth international who was capped up to under 21 level for his country and who also won the 2017 Under 20 World Cup with England, was excellent at youth level for Spurs. With his influential driving forward runs from midfield and good weight of pass, the player from Enfield was soon playing regular under 21 football for Spurs after signing scholarship terms with the club in the summer of 2013. However, in the 2013/14 season Josh Onomah made 17 southern division appearances (he mainly played in central midfield) for Spurs’ under 18’s, scoring one goal. Having already played competitive under 18 football in the previous two seasons before 2013/14, Onomah was another player who provided the side with invaluable experience. Going on to make 32 competitive appearances (scoring one goal) for Spurs’ first team after making his debut for them in an FA Cup third round replay against Burnley at White Hart Lane in January 2015, Onomah had loan spells with Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday before leaving Spurs on a permanent basis to sign for then Championship side Fulham for the 2019/20 season. The dynamic midfielder was instrumental in helping Fulham to get promoted to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs, and Onomah has so far made 45 competitive appearances for Fulham, but an injury before the start of the 2020/21 season meant that he wasn’t registered to play for the first half of this seasons Premier League. However, he is now back and making Premier League match day squads again, and will hopefully get a good run in the team during the remainder of the season.

Josh Onomah is another player from that squad who I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see play for England in the future, as he certainly has the quality to play for them.

Charlie Owens: Islington born former Northern Ireland youth international Charlie Owens was a schoolboy during the 2013/14 season, but he stepped up to play for the under 18’s in the southern division on two occasions. The former Clissold Rangers player who plays as a central midfielder, is a bit like current Spurs under 23 player Jamie Bowden in his style of play, in certain ways. A good passer of the ball, Owens is also a player with a good work ethic and a real tenacious side to his game, and he demonstrated this at both under 18 and development side level during his time at Spurs. Owens signed scholarship terms with Spurs for the start of the 2014/15 season, and he would go on to make a good number of appearances for our under 18’s and development side in the following seasons. The defensive minded midfielder left Spurs at the end of the 2016/17 to join another London club in Queens Park Rangers, where he initially played for their under 23 side, before so far going on to make three competitive first team appearances for them so far. Owens also spent some time on loan at Wycombe Wanderers.

Joe Pritchard: An industrious central midfielder who also has a good creative side to his game, Watford born player Joe Pritchard could also play out on the right at youth level for Spurs, and also as a CAM. Pritchard made 16 southern division appearances for Spurs in 2013/14, scoring two goals, and the then first year scholar   would mainly play in central midfield during that season. Joe Pritchard played again for the under 18’s in the next season (2014/15) and he was making really good progress at the club until he suffered a bad injury in a southern division game against Norwich City at their Colney training centre, which set him back. However, he showed the resilience to come back from that injury to return during the 2015/16 (in a friendly against Brentford) season as a first year professional. Pritchard made over 60 appearances for our development side up until leaving the club at the end of the 2017/18 season (he was very good for our under 23 side that season, and he often captained them). He joined Bolton Wanderers for the start of the 2018/19 season and he made five competitive appearances for the Lancashire club before leaving them at the end of that season. However, the midfielder has since joined League One side Accrington Stanley who he has made 63 competitive appearances for, and has been directly involved in over 20 goals for them, and he is doing really well for them.

Lloyd Ross: Playing in a number of positions from 12 appearances (he scored one goal) for our under 18 side during the 2013/14 season, Harlow born midfield player Lloyd Ross was a first year scholar back in the southern division winning season. However, after some making some more appearances for the under 18 side during the following season, the team player with good ball control left Spurs in the summer of 2015. Ross went to the Franklin Pierce University in America, before returning to England and joining Billericay Town for a period, and he has also played for Walthamstow FC, but since then I don’t think that that the versatile player has played for anybody else.

Zenon Stylianides: A tenacious and hardworking central midfielder who can also fill in at left-back, north Londoner Zenon Stylianides from Edmonton near White Hart Lane, made three appearances for Spurs’ under 18 side in 2013/14. A player who I always liked, as he had skill and was always willing to make that extra run for the team, Stylianides was a schoolboy in 2013/14, and he didn’t sign scholarship forms until the end of that season. The player who is eligible to represent Cyprus at international level, was a regular at under 18 level during the next two seasons, before stepping up to play for the Spurs under 23 side in the 2016/17 season. However, Zenon left Spurs at the end of that season after his contract came to an end, and he ended up joining Queens Park Rangers, where he played for the clubs under 23 side up until leaving them in the summer of 2018. Stylianides then joined Cypriot Second Division side Omonia Aradippou, and he played for them until July 2019, when he returned to England. This season the midfielder had been playing for Isthmian Premier Division side East Thurrock United, up until their season was paused last year. 

Kash Wallace: A trialist from Arsenal, who played just one game for Spurs’ under 18 side during the 2013/14 season. Kash Wallace came on as a late substitute (he replaced Joe Muscatt) against Norwich City in the 2013/14 season, playing the closing stages of the game at left-back. I was unable to find out where the former Arsenal Academy player went after returning to Arsenal, and I am not sure whether he is still playing the game. 

Harry Winks: Always a composed and reliable player for our under 18’s, central midfielder Harry Winks from Hemel Hempstead, made 14 appearances for our under 18 side in 2013/14, scoring four goals. Always a very tidy player who is efficient and effective at his job, the now 24 year old midfielder is the player from the 2013/14 squad who has made the most first team appearances for Spurs. A second year scholar at Spurs in 2013/14, Winks divided his time playing under 18 and under 21 football during the season. A former England youth international turned full international (he has won eight caps for his country so far), Winks primarily played in central midfield for McDermott and McKenna’s side. Winks quickly worked his way up the ranks at Spurs, and by the 2014/15 season he had already made his Spurs first team debut. A player with good pace, who reads the game well and who also is very good at making accurate passes, Winks has made a further 161 competitive first team appearances for Spurs, started in a UEFA Champions League final and also captained the team that he has always supported. He has done exceptionally well to achieve all of that in his relatively short career so far, and he still has a lot to look forward to in the game.

Anthony Georgiou: A left winger with outstanding pace, Cyprus international (he has won seven caps so far) Anthony Georgiou was a key player for Spurs in the southern division during the 2013/14 season. Georgiou chipped in with eight goals from 26 southern division appearances, as well as setting up plenty of goals for his teammates. Born in Lewisham but brought up in Potters Bar not far from Hotspur Way, Georgiou’s direct and strong running down the left flank caused lots of problems for opposition defenders throughout the 2013/14 season (he played both as a winger and a full-back), and his hard work and tracking back to help out the defence proved invaluable over the course of the season. A very unselfish player, the former Watford Academy player was one of the most influential attacking players, and his creativity from out wide (he is a great crosser of the ball) helped to provide a good number of goals for the Spurs forwards. Georgiou stepped up to play for the under 21 side in 2013/14, he made over 50 competitive appearances for our development side during his time at the club, and he would go on to become an important player for them in future seasons. He would play for Spurs’ first team three pre-seasons in a row starting from the summer of 2017, and Anthony would also make one competitive first team appearance for Spurs, coming off the bench in a UEFA Champions League group stage game against APOEL Nicosia in Cyprus. After a long time in north London, the now 23 year old departed Spurs to sign for Cypriot First Division side AEL Limassol earlier this month. He made his debut for them against Ermis last Friday. 

Armani Daly: Winger Armani Daly (able to operate on either flank despite being right footed) made three southern division appearances for Spurs in 2013/14 as a schoolboy. Daly signed scholarship forms with Spurs at the end of the season, and the player who could link the play well and who worked hard from out wide, would spend the next two seasons almost exclusively with our under 18 side, bar the odd appearance for our under 21’s. Daly left Spurs at the end of the 2015/16 season, and after trialling with a number of clubs he stopped playing football.

Nathan Oduwa: Central London born winger Nathan Oduwa (then second year scholar) was an incredibly skilful forward who could produce moments of magic on the pitch for Spurs at Academy level (he spent part of his first year at the club out on loan at West Brom). With pace, outstanding skill and an eye for goal, Oduwa’s ten goals (he scored some important ones over the course of the season) from 24 southern division appearances made him a key player. Able to get past defenders with ease, Oduwa is an extremely unpredictable player who is capable of producing the spectacular, and the former England youth internationals great balance and pace makes him very difficult to defend against. Oduwa would become a development side mainstay in future seasons, and he would also go on to play once for the Spurs first team, coming off the bench to feature for Spurs in Ledley King’s testimonial at White Hart Lane. Nathan would play for Luton Town, Colchester United, Peterborough United and Rangers on loan, before leaving Spurs in 2017 to play for Slovenian side NK Olimpia Ljubljana, before then playing for Danish team Vejle Boldklub. He would later play for Israeli side Hapoel Hadera and Irish side Dundalk, but for now he is currently without a club after his contract with Dundalk ended after the end of their most recent season. 

Emmanuel Sonupe: A fast, skilful, direct and effective winger who made a good impact on the under 18 side in 2013/14, as he helped them to win the southern division, Emmanuel Sonupe scored five goals (three of those came in a 4-0 win over Stoke City) from 22 southern division appearances. A traditional winger like former teammate Anthony Georgiou, who likes to take players on and whip crosses into the box, the then second year scholar who was born in Denmark Hill, south London, played both on the left and right flank during the 2013/14 season for our under 18 side. Sonupe would later become a regular starter for Spurs’ old under 21 side, and he also went out on loan for a period of time with Scottish side St Mirren. Emmanuel left Spurs in the summer of 2016 after his contract came to an end, he then joined EFL club Northampton Town who he made four appearances for, before joining Kidderminster Harriers on loan. Sonupe has since played for Stevenage who he made 51 appearances for and Yeovil Town who he is currently playing for, and he has so far made five appearances for the National League club.

Daniel Akindayini: Our top scorer during the 2013/14 season, centre forward and then second year scholar Daniel Akindayini scored 15 goals (he scored a hat-trick against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 5-1 win) from 27 southern division appearances. A good finisher who is also good in the air and able to hold the ball up well, Akindayini was promoted to the Spurs under 21 side for the following 2014/15 season. However, the former Spurs striker left the club after the end of that season, and he would join Brighton where he would play for their development side. Since leaving Brighton in the summer of 2016 Akindayini has played for Margate, Norwegian side FK Gjovik-Lyn, Dutch side Hoek, AFC Hornchurch, Great Wakering Rovers, Cheshunt and Haringey Borough, a side that Daniel was playing for up until this seasons Isthmian Premier Division was paused last year.

Shayon Harrison: A skilful forward with an impressive goal scoring record for Spurs at youth level, Hornsey born player and then first year scholar Shayon Harrison was prolific at under 18 and development side level for Spurs, during his time at the club. A centre forward with good movement off the ball, Harrison can also play as a CAM or out wide on the flanks. Harrison scored 12 goals from 22 southern division appearances in 2013/14, and the player who made one competitive appearance for Spurs’ first team in a League Cup fourth round tie against Liverpool in 2016 (he also featured for them in the 2016/17 pre-season), would become a very important player for Spurs’ under 23 side. Shayon went on loans to Yeovil Town, Southend United and Melbourne City FC during his time at Spurs, but he left the club at the end of his contract which came to an end in the summer of 2019. Harrison joined Dutch Keuken Kampioen Divisie side Almere City FC that summer, and he has since made 33 competitive appearances for them, scoring eight goals.

Ryan Loft: Signed from non-League side Ebbsfleet United (he had played for Dartford before that) not too long before that 2013/14 season, tall and physical centre forward Ryan Loft is a player who is good at holding up the ball and and at getting himself in the oppositions penalty area, and causing problems for defenders, as well as playing with his back to goal. Loft is particularly good in the air which is where he scores a good amount of his goals. In the 2013/14 season he was a schoolboy at Spurs, but he still made three southern division appearances, scoring one goal. Loft scored a good number of goals at under 18 level for Spurs after joining the club full-time in the summer of 2014, and he would later go on to play for their under 21 and 23 side. The player from Gravesend went out on loan to Braintree Town, Stevenage and Exeter City before leaving Spurs at the end of the 2017/18 season, after his contract came to an end. Loft joined Leicester City on a two year contract that summer, and he would play for their under 23 side during his time at Leicester.  He went out on loan to Carlisle United before leaving Leicester City at the end of the 2019/20 season. Loft is currently playing for League Two side Scunthorpe United, who he currently has seven goals for from 28 competitive appearances.