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Only the signing of a big name striker could satisfy the
disillusioned Tottenham faithful after Teddy Sheringham moved to
Manchester United in July 1997. When Les Ferdinand arrived from
Newcastle United the following month, that's exactly what they got. A
player with a proven goalscoring record, Ferdinand was blessed with the
lightning pace that Sheringham lacked, as well as an astonishing leap
for a man under six feet tall.
Although the £6m price tag was undoubtedly high for a 30-year-old,
the money looked to be well spent when the solidly built striker scored
three times in his first four games, including a brace to help defeat
Aston Villa 3-2. Yet Les missed much of the 1997-98 campaign through
injury and Spurs struggled. While five goals in 21 appearances was a
disappointing return, crucial strikes against Newcastle and Wimbledon at
the back end of the season ultimately helped to steer the side away
from relegation.
After starting the following season with goals against Everton and
Blackburn Rovers, Les endured further long periods on the treatment
table and only managed to equal his previous season's tally. However, he
returned to fitness to pick up his first piece of major silverware when
Spurs beat Leicester City 1-0 in the 1999 League Cup final. Sadly
though, Ferdinand's injury problems showed no sign of abating and the
striker was restricted to only nine appearances in 1999-2000, his only
two goals coming in wins against Newcastle and Sheffield Wednesday in
August.
It was in the following campaign that Les finally started to show
what he could do when he was consistently fit and firing. In November
2000, he slid in to convert a Stephen Clemence cross in a 2-1 win over
Liverpool, before claiming his first hat-trick for the club against
Leicester the following weekend. A well placed low drive from outside
the box helped to clinch a 3-1 final day win against Manchester United.
Though 10 goals in 28 league games didn't mark a return to his prolific
form at Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle, it did represent a
respectable return for a player who had battled with injuries for the
better part of three seasons.
Following Sheringham's return in the summer of 2001, Ferdinand formed
a useful partnership with the man he was originally bought to replace.
On 3rd December, days from his 35th birthday, Les showed that he still
had the might and the muscle to have a major impact. Within minutes of
coming on as a half time substitute against Bolton Wanderers, he helped
to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead, creating an equaliser for Gus
Poyet and grabbing a goal of his own. Spurs went on to win 3-2 thanks to
Sheringham's winner. Ferdinand again tormented the Trotters only a week
later, claiming a hat-trick in a 6-0 League Cup win. On 15th December,
he hit the landmark 10, 000th goal in the Premier League when he opened
the scoring against Fulham at White Hart Lane.
It was with high hopes that Spurs reached their second League Cup
final in four seasons, against a struggling Blackburn side. Yet
Tottenham's day was summed up by Ferdinand's frustration in front of
goal, as he was denied three times by goalkeeper Brad Friedel and the
Londoners slipped to a 2-1 defeat. However, Ferdinand did manage 15
goals in all competitions, his best return for the club in his last full
season.
Les played 11 times in 2002-03, scoring against Everton on the
opening day and Southampton at the end of August. Now 36, he was allowed
to join West Ham United for a nominal fee on 20th January 2003, after
33 goals in 118 league games. It was unfortunate that injuries had, for
the most part, denied fans the pleasure of seeing Ferdinand at his best.
However, it was fitting that his one major domestic honour came with
the team he'd supported as a boy. Les rejoined Tottenham as a coach in
November 2008, ensuring the club's strikers would benefit from the
experience of one of the great goalscorers of the Premier League era.
(Alex Voskou)
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