50 years ago today - Alan Mullery silences the San Siro

Alan Mullery beautifully describes it as a 'deafening silence'.

It was the moment, 50 years ago today - 19 April, 1972 - that our legendary former captain smashed a shot past Fabio Cudicini, father of Carlo, into the top corner to put us 1-0 up after just seven minutes of our UEFA Cup semi-final, second leg against AC Milan, silencing the majority of the 68,482 fans present in the San Siro.

Mullery's goal put us 3-1 up on aggregate after the Steve Perryman-inspired comeback and 2-1 win in the first leg, and despite late pressure from Milan and a reply via the penalty spot from Gianni Rivera on 68 minutes, this Spurs side was never going to relinquish that advantage.

For 'Mullers', it was a footballing fairytale. Rocked by a serious pelvic injury in October, 1971, he was sent on loan to Fulham to regain match fitness in March, recalled by Bill Nicholson just a month later due to a lengthening injury list and returned to the side for the first time since 30 October, 1971 for the first leg against Milan at the Lane on 5 April.

The rest is Spurs history. He scored this goal in Milan, then led the team out in the final over two legs against Wolves in May, scoring in the second leg to secure the trophy at the Lane. That was his last game in a Spurs shirt, his 373rd appearance for us in all competitions, 1964-1972, and his last action was to parade the UEFA Cup on a lap of honour around White Hart Lane...

Speaking to us on the 50th anniversary of his goal in Milan this morning, Alan recalled: "It doesn't feel like 50 years ago... it feels like yesterday! I wish it was yesterday and I was a youngster again! It's amazing how the time has gone so quickly, and this is something I'll never forget, because it was such an important moment towards us winning the UEFA Cup. It was a brilliant time.

"We had a decent travelling support, but you walked out at a stadium like the San Siro, almost 70,000 in there, I think they must have had 67,000 in there as we had about 2,500 in there. I'd played there a couple of times before and when I scored, it went silent. They knew, basically, that their team wasn't good enough to beat us, and me scoring meant they needed three goals to go through. Once we were in that position, we knew no-one would beat us.

"We'd actually travelled to Milan the day before the game and stayed at their training ground. We then stayed again the night after the second leg. Bill Nicholson, of all people, ordered champagne all round! So we got stuck in! Anyone who knew Bill wouldn't believe that story!

"I'm just glad you've reminded me it was 50 years ago today. I've so many fond memories of that time, but when you say, 'it was 50 years ago', it does make you think, 'wow'!"