(Part 1) 1980-1982.
Steve Archibald joined Spurs from Scottish champions Aberdeen in May
1980. The transfer fee of £800,000 was then a record between English
and Scottish clubs. The Scottish under-23 international immediately
formed a prolific goal scoring partnership with Garth Crooks, who had
signed the previous month. The forward's debut came in a 2-0 home win
over Nottingham Forest in the opening game of the 1980-81 season, with
his first goal for Spurs coming in the next match, a thrilling 4-3 win
at Crystal Palace. In January the Spurs number 8 was the toast of White
Hart Lane when he scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Arsenal.
The
Blond-haired forward hit a total of 25 league and cup goals in his first
season in London. Three of these came in F.A. Cup competition,
including the opener in 2-2 draw with Wolves in the semi-final.
Archibald won his first medal with Spurs in their 3-2 F.A. Cup final
replay victory over Manchester City. Jock Stein gave the lightning fast
Glaswegian his international debut in May 1980, in a 1-0 win over
Northern Ireland at Windsor Park, Belfast in the British Championship.
The following season Archibald's appearances were somewhat restricted by
injuries but he still played 47 times in total, a sign of Spurs fine
season that he amassed such a total but still missed out on 19 matches.
Spurs finished 4th in Division 1, won the F.A. Cup and were Runners-Up
in the League Cup. They also reached the semi-finals of the European Cup
Winners Cup where they lost to a brutal Barcelona team, who were
determined to make it through to the final, which was to be held in
their own Nou Camp Stadium. Steve's return was a somewhat disappointing 9
goals from his 47 appearances but better times were to eventually lay
ahead for the striker. (Tony Smith) |
Steve Archibald is pictured playing for Tottenham Hotspur on 2nd. October 1983.
Photograph George Herringshaw. ©
(Part 2) 1982-1984.
In 1982-83 Steve Archibald finished top scorer for Spurs in the league,
with 11 goals. In a largely disappointing season the Londoners finished
4th in Division 1, but failed to make any impression in the League Cup,
F.A. Cup or European Cup Winners Cup. The Scottish international's best
league performances came in scoring twice in a 2-1 home win over West
Ham in November, hitting both in a 2-0 home win over champions Liverpool
in April and a hat-trick on the last day of the season in a 4-1 home
win over Stoke City. Although Archibald failed to get on the score sheet
he was in the Spurs side that crushed Arsenal 5-0 at White Hart Lane in
April.
The following season was to be Steve Archibald's last at Spurs.
He was involved in a dispute with his manager Keith Burkinshaw and
although keeping his place in the side, the pair hardly spoke. Spurs
finished 8th in Division 1 and were knocked out of both cups in the
early stages. Steve netted 21 times in the league, including doubles
against Wolves, Luton Town, Sunderland and Arsenal. On the domestic
front Spurs had struggled to find any kind of form, but in Europe it was
a different story.
In the UEFA Cup campaign Archibald hit 5 of Spurs
goals in the run up to their nailbiting penalty shoot-out victory over
Anderlecht in the final. It brought his seasonal tally to 28 goals, the
best in his Spurs career. During his Spurs career Steve scored three
times for his country, against Hungary, Northern Ireland and in the 1982
World Cup Finals against New Zealand. In August 1984, after appearing
189 times for Spurs and scoring 78 goals, Steve Archibald was
transferred to Barcelona for £1,15m. (Tony Smith) |
CLUB CAREER:
1974 East Stirlingshire (trial) 1 (0)
1974–1977 Clyde 65 (7)
1977–1980 Aberdeen 76 (29)
1980–1984 Tottenham Hotspur 131 (58)
1984–1988 Barcelona 55 (24)
1987–1988 Blackburn Rovers (loan) 20 (6)
1988–1989 Hibernian 44 (15)
1989–1990 Espanyol 15 (5)
1990–1991 St Mirren 16 (2)
1992 Clyde 4 (2)
1992 Reading 1 (0)
1992 Fulham 2 (0)
1994–1996 East Fife 49 (7)
1996 Home Farm Everton 1 (0)
Total 477 (154 goals)