Cyril KNOWLES

 Cyril Knowles joined Spurs from Middlesbrough in May 1964 for a fee of £45, 000. The full-back made his debut in August's 2-0 home win over Sheffield United. The stylish 20 year old defender missed only 4 of Spurs 46 league and cup games during that first season at the club. His first taste of the North London derby came at White Hart Lane in October, when Spurs defeated Arsenal 3-1. With his side finishing 6th in Division 1, it was a solid start to the Yorkshire man's Spurs career. The following season Knowles missed only a single game throughout the whole campaign. His first goal for the club came in August in a 4-2 home win over Leicester City. Two further goals came in January's two 2-2 home draws with Everton and Newcastle. Throughout the 1966-67 season Cyril was an ever present as Spurs finished 3rd in the league and won the F.A. Cup, courtesy of a 2-1 victory against London rivals Chelsea.

In December 1967 Knowles made his full England debut in a 2-2 draw with the U.S.S.R. at Wembley. The following season saw Knowles ever present again in the Tottenham defence, making 52 appearances as Spurs finished 7th in Division 1 and lost out to Olympique Lyonnais in the European Cup Winners Cup 2nd round. Cyril won the remainder of his England caps in 1968 when appearing against Spain, Sweden and West Germany. Knowles played 45 games for Spurs during 1968-69, as the Londoners reached the League Cup semi-final and finished 6th in Division 1. Manager Bill Nicholson described Cyril as having an 'educated' left foot and praised his tough tackling defender for his style and composure. His willingness to give his all for the cause and to attack at any opportunity made him a genuine hero to adoring Spurs fans. As the sixties drew to a close, there were skinheads on the terraces and Cyril Knowles was about to become a cult hero. (Tony Smith).

Tottenham endured a very mediocre 1969-70 season, finishing 11th in the league and going out of both cup's at the early stages. Thereafter the early 1970's proved to be the most successful period of Cyril Knowles Spurs career. The Londoners finished 3rd in Division 1 in 1970-71 and won the League Cup, beating Aston Villa 2-0 in the Final at Wembley. Although no longer an England international, Knowles appeared in 49 of Spurs 54 competitive matches. He played 47 times for Spurs during the following campaign, scoring twice in April's 4-3 home win over Leicester in the league. Tottenham finished 6th in Division 1 and were beaten League Cup semi-finalists but in the UEFA Cup they tasted success, beating Wolves over two legs in the first ever all British European final. In 1972-73 Knowles gained further silverware with Spurs and found himself the subject of a chart topping hit.

Injury prevented the Yorkshireman playing in seven league games, but he appeared in all of his side's League Cup matches, culminating in the Londoners defeating Norwich City 1-0 in the final. In a brave attempt at retaining the UEFA Cup, Knowles played in all 10 of Spurs games, with Liverpool defeating the holders in the semi-final on the away goals rule. In a 1973 ode to Cyril Knowles, the Cockerel Chorus reached number 14 in the charts with 'Nice One Cyril'’ and it became a popular tune on the White Hart Lane terraces. Bill Nicholson's side were by now beginning to fade and in 1973-74 could only manage 11th in Division 1. Although exits in the opening round of both cups were largely over looked by another European campaign, the writing was on the wall for many of the Spurs team. Knowles had missed most of the season with injury and played in only 4 of Spurs UEFA Cup games. The ex-England international missed the latter stages of the competition, where Spurs lost out in the final to Feyenoord. It had been a poor season for Cyril Knowles and, sadly, there was worse still to come. (Tony Smith).

(Part 3) 1974 - 1976.

By the start of the 1974-75 season Cyril Knowles had been at White Hart Lane for a decade and enjoyed a largely successful career. Spurs had won the UEFA Cup, F.A. Cup and the League Cup twice and Knowles had appeared 4 times for England. Sadly the glory days were to become a thing of the past during the remainder of Cyril's time at White Hart Lane and the club were very nearly relegated in that 74-75 campaign. After a nightmare start to the season, Bill Nicholson resigned in September and was replaced by Terry Neill. It was a difficult time for both the club and their popular defender. Knowles appearances were beginning to be restricted by injuries and Spurs could not pull themselves away from the bottom of the table.

By April the Londoners league position had became perilous. Only two victories in the last three games saved the famous old club from the drop. Knowles played a large part in Spurs 2-0 home relegation battle with neighbours Chelsea, but his side had still not guaranteed their safety. Only victory over European Cup finalists Leeds United would save the day. Nearly 50, 000 fans crowded into White Hart Lane to witness their team's fate. Two goals from Cyril helped Spurs to a memorable and crucial 4-2 win, which ended with scenes of relief and wild celebration amongst jubilant fans. It was fitting that these goals were his last in the league for Spurs. In October 1975 Spurs recognised Cyril Knowles' loyalty, stretching to more than 500 competitive games, by granting him a testimonial against Arsenal. Fittingly, Cyril scored Spurs' second goal in a 2-2 draw.

The 31 year old defender played his last competitive game for Spurs in December 1975 in a 2-2 home draw with Everton. It was only 1 of a dozen games Knowles managed in his final season and he was forced to to retire through persistent knee injuries. Although sadly Cyril Knowles is no longer with us the mention of his name at Spurs is greeted with great affection. (Tony Smith).

Cyril Knowles scored 17 goals in 507 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur, winning the FA Cup in 1967, the League Cup in 1971 and 1973 and a UEFA Cup winners medal in 1972. After announcing his retirement from professional football, Knowles started his managerial career as a Yorkshire based scout for Spurs. This was followed by a brief spell as manager of Hertford Town in 1976 and he was first team coach at Doncaster Rovers between 1977 and 1981. He was the inspiration for the popular record "Nice one, Cyril", performed by Cockerel Chorus, which peaked at number 14 in the UK singles charts in March 1973, and is widely regarded as the greatest left-back in the history of Tottenham Hotspur by both supporters and critics.

Management career.

In the summer of 1981, he was appointed assistant manager of Middlesbrough, where he started his career, but resigned two years later to become manager of Fourth Division strugglers Darlington. His second season, 1984-85, was a great success as he transformed the club's playing fortunes and guided them to third place in the Fourth Division, ensuring promotion to the Third Division. Knowles guided Darlington to 13th place in the Third Division for 1985-86, and remains the only manager to have preserved their third-tier status in the modern era.

He resigned as Darlington manager in 1987 following relegation to the Fourth Division, but soon returned to management withTorquay United. As manager of Torquay, Knowles developed the talent of Lee Sharpe, the young winger who would star for Manchester United in the early 1990s and later play for Leeds United and Sampdoria. He transformed a poor side that had almost been relegated from the League the previous season, taking them to the brink of play-offs in his first season and the final of the Sherpa Van Trophy the following year.

He resigned as manager of Torquay in October 1989 after a disappointing start to the 1989-90 season but returned to management in December, at Fourth Division basement club Hartlepool United. He revived Hartlepool and they finished 12 points clear of relegation. Their form in 1990-91 was even better, and they eventually gained promotion in third place. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour in February 1991 and player-coach Alan Murray took temporary charge of the first team. At the end of the season, Murray took over on a permanent basis, with Knowles unable to continue following brain surgery.

Knowles failed to recover from the cancer and he died on 30 August 1991 at the age of 47.

In 1995 a new stand at Hartlepool's Victoria Park stadium was renamed in his honour.