We were there... team-mates recall Harry Kane’s first goal for Spurs in 2011

15 December, 2011, Tallaght Stadium, Dublin. It’s a date and venue that will now go down in Spurs history - the date and venue that our all-time record goalscorer, Harry Kane, scored his first goal for the Club.

It came in the final group match of our UEFA Europa League campaign in 2011/12. Needing goals and results to go our way, we delivered a 4-0 win in Dublin, but Rubin Kazan’s draw against PAOK in Greece meant we’d only finish third in the group.

Nevertheless, something special started that night, Harry’s first step on a journey that, over 11 years later, would take him past Jimmy Greaves’ mark of 266 goals. Starting on the bench, Harry Redknapp brought on Harry, then just 18, for Jermain Defoe for the final 15 minutes. In added time, Danny Rose crossed deep, Andros Townsend nodded down and Harry spun and finished in one movement.

Jermain, Andros and Steven Pienaar were also on target, and we’ve tracked down five of Harry’s team-mates to ask what they remember of that night in south west Dublin...

Carlo Cudicini

Goalkeeper - 37 appearances, 2009-2012

“From what I remember, it was the group stage of the Europa League, a competition that Harry Redknapp gave me the opportunity to play in, so it was important for me. It was a young team, only a few players on the bench. It was an all English goal - Danny Rose crossed, Andros Townsend put it back in the box and it was a what is now a classic Harry Kane finish. You could see what kind of player Harry could become. He was hungry for goals, I remember a young Harry getting balls at the end of training and practising his finishing. That’s the player he became, and why he deserves the career he’s having, such a determined guy who has become one of the most successful strikers in the Premier League. I witnessed the Harry Kane before going out on his loans, and the Harry Kane who came back after his loans, and he was a different player, especially now I know how important loans are for young players - it’s the job I’m doing here at Chelsea - so I know very well how much the right loan can give to you.”

Younes Kaboul

Centre-back - 140 appearances/8 goals in two spells, 2007-2015

“We played in the purple kit, I remember that! I can’t remember too much about the night. We had a young team out and everyone was happy for Harry. He had incredible desire and dedication. He was ready. By going on loan, he had that experience and that gave him a massive push. He also learned a lot from the strikers who were at the Club at the time, Jermain Defoe, Pavlyuchenko, Robbie Keane. I remember at 17, 18, he was coming to train with us, very respectful, head down all the time working hard. The only thing I’m surprised about is how quickly he’s got there, he’s been a regular since 2014 and to get to that number in that time is insane, really. He deserves it, because it wasn’t easy for him, he had to work hard to get to where he is now. I’m so happy for him.”

Sandro

Midfielder - 105 appearances/3 goals, 2010-2014

“Over 11 years ago? Wow. We’re getting old! I remember that game. We played in the purple kit. Jake Livermore was the captain, I believe, together in the midfield. It was nice, that game, because when I arrived in Spurs I played games for the Under-21s (development team at the time) with Harry, Andros, Danny Rose and, in that game, we all played together in the first team. It was a good feeling. We knew Harry was hungry, he was fighting. We knew he could do something. He’s now one of the best strikers in the world, an amazing player and we’re all happy, because we saw him at the beginning. I remember the goal, it was Andros at the second post who headed it back to Harry. We were all so happy for him. He was a kid then, a good lad, worked hard. That’s the memory.”

Andros Townsend

Academy product, winger - 93 appearances/11 goals, 2011-2016

“I remember we were all-but out, Harry Redknapp left a lot of the senior lads at home and allowed a lot of the younger boys to have a run out. I remember thinking it was my big chance, because it looked like we were going out and there would be no more European games and no more cup games until the FA Cup. As for Harry’s goal, it was probably the only headed assist of my career! At the time, I didn’t think Id be assisting the future record goalscorer for Spurs, and no doubt England! It’s insane, really. At the time, I was happy that I scored on the night, and happy that Harry came on and took his chance. Don’t forget, he missed a penalty on his debut in the play-off that season against Hearts. I know that was devastating for him, so it was great that night for him to be able to make amends for that and get his first goal for the Club. I always remember telling people that he was the best finisher I ever played with. That’s what he had at that time, an unbelievable ability to score goals. I don’t think his body had matured physically, he probably wasn’t quick enough or mobile enough, but he definitely had that natural instinct to score goals, and, for me, only Jermain Defoe rivalled that. He had something special, for sure, but he hadn’t put it all together at that time.”

Jermain Defoe

Striker - 363 appearances/143 goals in two spells, 2004-2014

“I remember the purple kit, remember the goal I scored, a bit of a scruffy one, then H came on for me and scored in the last minute. At the time he was 18 and, for him, that was a special moment. I’ve said it so many times, even when he trained with the first team, I just knew. I spoke to Mark Bright recently and he said to me, ‘you don’t realise, but when you trained at Charlton, I phoned Ian Wright and told him about you’, and it was like that for me with Harry, as a striker, you just know. I spoke to Tim (Sherwood) and Les (Ferdinand, coaches at the time), they loved Harry, and it was his clean finishes, hitting the corners, I’m not surprised to see what he’s gone on to do, and he’ll continue doing it for a long time!”

Watch - Harry's goal at Shamrock