John CHIEDOZIE

Chiedozie quickly skipped into his stride, scoring one and making another for Clive Allen, another new signing, in a 4-1 opening day win over Everton. Despite an erratic final ball, Chiedozie always posed a threat with his pace and trickery and was once described by Kenny Dalglish as being 'as quick as a hare'. He also had a fearsome shot, the most eye-catching example being a superb winner in a 1-0 success at Aston Villa in September.

Though the goals dried up in the second half of the season, John started the next campaign in a similarly positive vein. He scored five in seven games from September through to mid-October, three of them coming in the consecutive hammerings of Newcastle United and Chelsea at White Hart Lane. Although his opportunities were restricted by injuries and the arrivals of Paul Allen and Chris Waddle, Chiedozie continued to contribute valuable goals in the new year, including a crucial late equaliser at Oxford United in the FA Cup 3rd round and the opener in a 5-0 replay win over former club County in the 4th round.

John had been unlucky with injuries throughout his career - a broken leg ruling him out of Leyton Orient's run to the 1978 FA Cup semi-final when he was a youngster - but the worst was still to come. His goal in a 2-0 win over Birmingham City on 16 April 1986 would prove to be his last not only as a Spurs player, but as a professional. A persistent back problem kept him out of contention for 18 months and after a solitary appearance in 1986-87, John missed the entire 1987-88 campaign. Not considered to be the same player, he was released on a free transfer to Derby County in August. Chiedozie managed only two appearances and following further brief stints back at Notts County and then Chesterfield, John ended his career at non-League Bashley. In a career that was as bright as it was brief, injuries had caught up with a man who very few defenders could catch. (Alex Voskou).