JOHNNY WALLIS MBE

Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) Football Club is located in North London. The club is also known as Spurs. Tottenham's home ground is White Hart Lane. The club motto is Audere est Facere (To dare is to do).

We regret to announce the passing of Spurs stalwart Johnny Wallis earlier this week, aged 79.

Johnny was associated with the club from 1936 until his retirement in 1994, initially as a player and then as a valued member of our backroom staff.

Born at North Finchley on October 3, 1923, John Clifford Wallis first signed amateur forms for us in 1936. He captained Hendon, London and Middlesex Schoolboys from left back and gained two England Schoolboy caps during 1938.

A member of our groundstaff and Tottenham Juniors, he made the first of his nine appearances for our wartime team during November, 1940 and also guested for Enfield and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Johnny served with the Royal Artillery in Burma, Malaya and Palestine. He played for Chelmsford City and Wisbech Town whilst attending university coaching and medical courses and was appointed manager of our 'A' team in 1948, leading them to many honours during his tenure.

A four year stint as reserve team manager from 1964 to 1968 preceded his 19 years on our first team bench, first as trainer/physiotherapist and from 1975 as kit manager. Johnny also served as assistant kit manager for five years and then on our groundstaff for two years until his retirement in May, 1994.

Johnny received the MBE in the 1993 Queen's Birthday Honours List and a benefit game was staged at Enfield during April, 1996 between a Spurs XI and West Ham United. Darren Anderton, Stephen Carr, Colin Calderwood and David Kerslake of our present staff featured in that match.

Johnny passed away at the North Middlesex Hospital, Edmonton on February 25, 2003. He is survived by his wife Connie and brother Peter. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.

A full obituary will appear in our next home programme.