As we prepare to face Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday, here's a look at an FA Cup winning former player who began his career at Villa, and a goalscoring feat against the Villans in N17 that is now 67 years and waiting...
Record signing, league and FA Cup winner, oldest player for 89 years, golf pro, pub landlord - the life of Jimmy Cantrell...
Born in May, 1882, just before we were founded, Jimmy Cantrell signed for Villa in July, 1904, making his debut against Notts County on 12 November, 1904. He moved to Notts County in 1907 and after scoring 65 goals in 131 league games, we broke our transfer record to secure his services, paying a reported £1,500 fee, in October, 1912. After the First World War, Jimmy helped us lift the Second Division title in 1919/20 and our second FA Cup a year later, starting the final against Wolves at Stamford Bridge. By the time he played his last game for us against Birmingham on 21 April, 1923 he had become our oldest league player aged 40 years, 11 months and 14 days. That record would last until 2012, when Brad Friedel started for us against Bolton in the Premier League on 2 May, 2012 at 40 years, 11 months and 15 days. Brad would stretch his record to 42 years, 10 months and two days when he started against Benfica in March, 2014. Jimmy scored 84 goals in 174 appearances for us, 1912-1923. From August 1921, Jimmy was licencee of Ye Olde Corner Pin in Nottingham. A top golfer, he later worked as a golf professional. Jimmy passed away on 31 July, 1960.
Hat-tricks rare against Villa in N17...
One one Spur has scored a league hat-trick against Villa here at White Hart Lane/Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. That was the great Bobby Smith - third in our all-time goalscoring list behind Harry Kane and Jimmy Greaves - who bagged four goals in a 6-2 victory against the Villans in the old First Division on 29 March, 1958. Many present believed Bobby had actually notched five that day, but it turned out Terry Medwin got the final touch to claim the opener. "I was going to leave the ball to roll over the line, but a defender loomed up and I had to touch it over to make sure," explained Medwin, who was almost apologetic for giving the final tap over the line! Since then, three players have claimed hat-tricks for us at Villa Park - Clive Allen on on the opening day of 1986/87 - 23 August, 1986 - on his way to a record 49-goal haul, Gareth Bale in a 4-0 win in the Premier League on Boxing Day, 2012 and most recently, Heung-Min Son in another 4-0 Premier League win on 9 April, 2022.