My Spurs debut | Cliff Jones vs Arsenal | 22.02.1958

Cliff Jones, 88, is one of our all-time greats - a key member of Bill Nicholson's double side in 1961, he went on to add another two FA Cups (1962, 1967) and the European Cup Winners' Cup (1963) to his medal haul during 10 wonderful years at Spurs.

Still fifth in our all-time goalscoring list with 159 goals in his 378 appearances in all competitions, the Welsh wing wizard was the man for the big occasion, including goals in the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1961 and 1962 and the ECWC semi-final in 1963. He also holds the distinction of scoring our first goal and first hat-trick in the European Cup, the first in the first leg of our preliminary round clash against Polish Gornik Zabrze, the treble in the memorable 8-1 win in the return.

Capped 59 times by Wales and a member of the side that reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 1958 - where they were knocked out by Pele's Brazil - Cliff began his career at his home-town club Swansea and after the glory, glory years at Spurs, joined Fulham before winding down his career and turning to teaching PE - at a school in Highbury!

Arsenal's Highbury Stadium was also the scene of his debut - a typical, all guns blazing 4-4 draw between the teams in the old First Division - on 22 February, 1958.

But it might never have happened, as he explained in a fascinating interview as part of our Legacy Collection on SPURSPLAY last year...

"Spurs paid 35,000 pounds for me, a massive amount of money then," he said. "The maximum wage then was £20 a week. I can remember my first game for Tottenham was against, of all teams, Arsenal, our big rivals.

"At the time I was doing my national service, which every lad had to do - two years' national service. I was in the Royal Horse Artillery stationed at St John's Wood. Bill Nicholson (then first team coach to Jimmy Anderson) told me to meet at 1.30pm at Highbury - and that I would be making my debut.

"So, I made my own way over from St John's Wood to the Arsenal. I arrived at the entrance to the famous Marble Halls at Highbury and the big Commissionaire on the door didn't recognise me and wouldn't let me in!

"I said, 'my name is Cliff Jones, I've just signed for Spurs for 35,000 pounds and I'm playing today!' He said, 'yeah, I've heard that before son', and he wouldn't let me in! He left me standing there! Anyway, Bill came out, pointed at me and said to the Commissionaire, 'yes, that's him, good to see you Cliff', but he then looked down at his watch and declared, 'by the way, you're late'. So not only would they not let me in, but I was also late! Welcome to the First Division, Cliff!"

You can watch The Legacy Collection | Cliff Jones exclusively on SPURSPLAY now alongside Ossie Ardiles, Martin Chivers, Ledley King and Gary Mabbutt.