Spurs' Unsung Hero, of the Glory, Glory Years: My Autobiography: Terry Dyson

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Jimmy: "It was under the floodlights, we’d play in the all-white kit and the crowds were fantastic. It was electrifying. Football was never a drab game from a spectator’s point of view, but if you look at some of the old photos from those days, you’ll see the crowds and they’re all in their overcoats and caps. Some of them might have a team scarf on, or a coloured rattle, but nobody really dressed up. There were no replica shirts and there was no colour. Despite that, the atmosphere was fantastic. Today you get all the fans wearing the shirts and I think of White Hart Lane during those European years, it started the whole thing off. We had the ‘Spurs Angels’ and everybody started to dress up. It was something totally new. Those games were electrifying to play in." We were over the moon because we'd got the double and Bill was congratulating everyone. But as I'm coming off the first words he said to me were: 'What about the goal you missed?' It was announced today 19 September 2021 that sadly Jimmy passed away. The above clip is a reminder for all time what a goal scoring genius he was; one that will never grace a Spurs team again. Jimmy: "Well, we’d all be in the dressing room beforehand and would often agree among ourselves to keep quiet if he asked us if there were any questions. We wanted to get away early. Everybody would just look at the floor when he asked, but it never went to plan. Bill would always say, ‘What? We’re all experts now, are we? We’re the greatest players in the world, are we?’ Still nobody would say a word. Then he’d walk up to Knowlesy and say, ‘Knowlesy. You must have something to say!’ Then Knowlsey would open his mouth and we’d all groan. It would add another hour on the meeting."

Terry more than made up for his disappointments in 1962 when he starred as Spurs won the Cup Winners' Cup and become the first English side to win a European trophy a year later. A run that saw the Lilywhites overcome Glasgow Rangers (8-4 on aggregate), Slovan Bratislava (6-2), OFK Belgrade (5-2) and culminated in a 5-1 final thrashing of Atletico Madrid in Rotterdam, which provided Bill Nicholson with what Terry claims was his finest moment. Terry's younger brother John, who lives in York's Huntington, was on the books of Middlesbrough before playing for York City and Scarborough, while his son, and Terry's nephew, is Simon Dyson, one of Europe's leading professional golfers. Dyson was a part of the legendary Tottenham team that won the double in the 1960-61 season, becoming the first team in the 20th century to win both the League Championship and the FA Cup in the same season. Dyson played a crucial role in this achievement, scoring 12 goals in 42 appearances that season. He was very fair, honest, a great coach and he was absolutely Tottenham through and through. I used to be in awe of him with respect - most players were."In 1962-63 Tottenham became the first British club to win a European trophy with their success in the European Cup Winners’ Cup. The previous season, Spurs had just failed to reach the Final of the European Cup competition but had qualified for the Cup Winners’ Cup by retaining the FA Cup with a victory over Burnley at Wembley. Tottenham’s 1962-63 success gave Spurs another first to add to their collection.

Despite his successful career at Tottenham, Dyson only made one appearance for the England national team, which came in a friendly match against the USA in 1959. To all Spurs supporters, please accept my words as those of Maurice. After 60 years of marriage, I feel I can answer honestly for him. His family have decided that you, his loyal fans, should know his real condition now. Maurice will be 87 on 8 May, but he has been suffering for several years with heart problems and vascular dementia, that is at an advanced stage. It means that as the conditions are progressive he has become more and more withdrawn and needs care 24/7. He still loves watching Norwich, Spurs and England play and his few words are usually, ‘glory, glory days’ and always about you, the fans, the adulation and support. He has always said without the supporters he would be nobody.”

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After leaving Tottenham in 1965, Dyson had brief spells at Fulham and Colchester United before retiring from professional football. However, his contributions to Tottenham Hotspur during his decade-long stint at the club will always be remembered by the fans. Terry will be chatting with fans and signing copies of his autobiography, Spurs’ Unsung Hero of the Glory Glory Years, which relates the untold rollercoaster tale of a forgotten member of a side rated as one of the greatest club teams of all time. Terry Dyson breaks a half-century of silence to put the record straight.

Terry experienced heart failure in 2005 but recovered to find late love and marriage with Hilary Dyson, who predeceased him in March 2020. His online chronicle of Hilary’s long wait for an organ translant was one of the most moving love letters on record.

Baily captained the team with George Ludford as vice captain while Eddie Gibbins served as club secretary. Ted Ditchburn joined those three to make up the selection committee. Honorary umpire was F. Bean with honorary scorer W. Plant. Over 2.5m people watched Spurs during their 49-match march to glory in 1960-61 - an unsurpassed average of over 50,000 a game - and 115 goals in 42 League matches tells its own story. He wrote biographies of George Balanchine, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington and libretti for three staged operas by Paul Moravec. Jimmy: "The ‘67 Cup Final was different because it was the first all-London final and Chelsea were probably a year off being a really good side. We caught them at just about the right time, when we were just a bit too strong for them. A year or so later, they had become a really good team."

Jimmy's goals helped Bill Nicholson's 'glory, glory' team retain the FA Cup in 1962, create history by becoming the first British team to lift a European trophy, the Cup Winners' Cup in 1963 - Greavsie scored in both finals - and then claim the FA Cup again in 1967. My personal memories of White Hart Lane now that Spurs will be using Wembley for 2017 – 2018 season and the new stadium is possibly going to be re-named. Jimmy: "No, it wasn’t really. I always enjoyed my football there. I loved playing at Spurs. It was the summer of my career and I would have played there for the rest of my career if I could. That would have been enough for me." Terry Dyson was the unexpected hero on a great night for Spurs. At the end of the game Bobby Smith jokingly suggested he should retire immediately as he’d never play as well again. Dyson, a left winger, had joined Spurs in December, 1954 and made his League debut the following March against Sheffield United at White Hart Lane. For the next six seasons, however, he made only 37 appearances being understudy to George Robb, Terry Medwin and Cliff Jones.Danny was great because he could be playing diabolically and he still wanted the ball. He never hid and I learned from that. He was also a good liaison with Bill and everyone respected him for who he was and what he had done. The names of the ‘Double’ team and manager Bill Nicholson will be forever etched in the memories of every Tottenham supporter. Too easily are players now labelled ‘legends’ but this was a team of ‘Legends’ and the one that every subsequent Tottenham team have been trying emulate and live up to.