From the archives:
Tottenham H 3-1 Manchester C - 25th August 1990
This game was effectively Gazza and Lineker's homecoming after the World Cup. It was the opening day of the 1990/91 season on a scorching hot day at White Hart Lane. Gazza was the nation's darling after the 1990 World Cup Finals and Gazzamania was at it's height. Having finished the previous season in 3rd place (before the days of the Champions League!) spirits high in N17. Bizarrely by modern day standards we hadn't bought any new signings during the Summer which meant that was no bedding in period for half the team and Terry Venables had a good pre-season to work with the team. With the season ending in a '1' there were high hopes that this could be a successful one for Spurs....which meant winning a trophy!
City had finished in mid-table the following season, their first back in the top flight for 6 years.
The game followed script with Lineker scoring inside the first two minutes only for Niall Quinn to equalise. Spurs stepped up a gear in the second half with Lineker expertly finishing Nayim's cute through ball. The scene was then set for Gazza to have the final say; drifting in from the left he drove a left foot shot past Coton.
Take a look at the youtube video of the game above. This period for me, as a 9 year old, was a halcyon time to be a football supporter. Teams kept kits for more than one season, games were almost always played on a Saturday afternoon, the digital clock above the dug outs in the West Stand, terraces on Paxton Road and goalposts with stansions.
I've always been amused by the bloke with the long hair after the Gazza goal; he's either a City fan or totally out of it!
Following this game we made a really good start to the season going into November in the top 3 with Liverpool and Arsenal. However league results tailed off, Gazza needed a hernia op and the club's financial situation took it's toll. However the magic of the year ending in a '1' followed suit as we went on to win the FA Cup for a then record 8th time beating Nottingham Forest in the Final after beating Arsenal 3-1 in the Semi. Happy Days!