2,055 - a new Q&A - part five

Three giants of Tottenham Hotspur. 10 questions.

Welcome to part five of our special 2,055 Q&A with Steve Perryman, Gary Mabbutt and Pat Jennings, all-time Spurs greats and our top three appearance makers with 854, 611 and 590 matches respectively, a grand total of 2,055.

Over the course of the 10-part series we’ll talk about the day they signed, walking into the dressing room as youngsters, biggest influences and magic moments over their collective span of 34 years at the Club we all love - 1964-1998. What game would they love to play again? What made them proudest? Over 20 years since the last of the trio retired from playing - Mabbsy in 1998 - what does Spurs mean to them?

These are our heroes, legends whose names are and will be forever indelibly linked with Tottenham Hotspur.

2,055 - part five

Who were the biggest influences in your Spurs career?

Steve Perryman

“I’d say three. Bill Nicholson, Phil Holder and Eddie Baily, in that order. Bill for obvious reasons. Phil, he was my partner in crime. We travelled together whether that was by bus, train or car and we put the world to rights. He fed me into being a leader. That was huge for my career, that leadership thing, that was huge, another string to your bow. It was a ‘don’t back down’ attitude, face up to the problem and say it how it is. It was a continuation of Bill’s way, if you like, and a Tottenham flow through my career. Eddie from day to day had a down to earth opinion on what you were doing. They didn’t want anyone to get above themselves and a youngster who got into the first team at Tottenham Hotspur at 17, playing with all these great names, in front of this wonderful crowd, with all this great history, it wouldn’t be normal if you didn’t get carried away at times. It was their role to keep you undercover, if you like. It was easier in those days because of the contract situation, no agents and everything that goes with it.

"Of course, there were others down the line like Keith Burkinshaw, who allowed me scope to be a real captain. Early days, Bill, Phil, Eddie Bailey. Later years, a constant thread, Pat Jennings. Just to how this man handled himself in all sorts of situations, never got flustered, never got out of his range, as such, just full of common sense in his approach to his career. Later days, Ossie as well. This man was coming from the other side of the world and it made me realise the game is virtually the same the world over. Yes, there are differences as per culture, but it’s the same. The fact I went to earn a living in Japan, that door was opened to me by Ossie Ardiles.”

Gary Mabbutt

"When I arrived, everyone. Everyone was different, they were all international players, listening to them becoming part of the team, everyone influenced me at the time. Ray Clemence in goal, Stevie P, Chris Hughton, Glenn and Paul Miller, Robbo, Ossie, Ricky, Tony Galvin, Steve Archibald, Garth Crooks - that was the team I joined. The biggest influence, again, probably Bill Nicholson, because he believed I had the ability to become a Spurs player. In terms of the players, Stevie P, I learned a lot from him as captain of the Club. I stayed at a hotel in the first few months I was here and during that time, Ray Clemence invited me over for Sunday lunch. I hadn’t been at the Club long and arriving at Ray Clemence’s house, going in, meeting the family... for me, growing up, Ray was one of those Liverpool heroes. It’s things like that, but the biggest influence had to be Bill Nick.

"In 1987, my contract was up. At that time, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Lyon all came in for me, and the biggest influence that made me stay at the Club was the fans, and the staff. They are the heartbeat of the Club. Spurs has been part of my family for the last 38 years. During that time, owners have come and gone, managers have come and gone, players have come and gone but one stable thing is the fans. The staff were all part of the whole process as well, it wasn’t just about a star striker, it was also about Sylvie in the laundry, the tea ladies on matchdays, everyone at the Club was as important as everyone else. I had a real rapport with the fans and that is the same 38 years later.”

Pat Jennings

"All those players, all those double-winning players, but Bill was trying to rebuild the team. I joined, Cyril, Mike England, Alan Mullery, Alan Gilzean, it was a rebuild and we were all in it together. Dave Mackay was unbelievable. He set the standards for all of us. Dave, he could do everything and whenever I look back, I can’t help but think he might well have been good for the Club for another couple of years, especially thinking about the success he went on to have at Derby (Dave left us in 1968, helped Derby get promoted into the First Division and then won the title as manager in 1975). Jimmy Greaves as well. I’ll always regret how we couldn’t somehow get Martin Peters (from West Ham) and keep Greavsie as well. I think he would have scored goals for the next two or three years.

"Jimmy was brilliant for me. As a goalkeeper, I admired his skills. My first international in Belfast against England, they beat us 4-3 and Greavsie scored a hat-trick past me (October, 1964). I admired him so much because I knew how good he was. He had everything and scored all types of goals, headers, overhead kicks – and once he got through to the goalkeeper one-on-one, you could just say ‘okay, take that back to the centre circle’ because he was that good. Look at the pitches we played on as well, he just seemed to skim over the surface. He had a great partnership with Gilly. Greavsie was an absolute gentleman as well.”

Next: 2,055 - part six

Between you all, you made 2,055 appearances for Spurs. If you could turn back time and play one game again, what would it be?

2,055 - the series

Part one - what do you remember about the day you signed for Spurs?
Part two - what was it like stepping into the dressing room for the first time with all those greats around you?
Part three - at the start of your Spurs career, was there a defining moment when you felt you really belonged?
Part four - Bill Nicholson meant a lot to you all, and played a key role in all of your careers - do you have one abiding memory of the great man?