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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 4h

“George Graham in charge of Tottenham Hotspur — it was like finding a chunk of liver in your banana split.” 🤢 That's @damejulie.bsky.social take on Graham's arrival at WHL in 1998! If you agree with the sentiment how did this appointment compare to Mourinho's arrival in 2019?

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 10h

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW🎙️ Its the emotional hook that defined an era and divided multiple fanbases... George Graham Arsenal Legend Charged by the FA Close friend of Terry Venables Leeds renaissance Appointed Spurs Manager. How did that happen and what did it mean?? pod.fo/e/6b51e1

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Is Gascoigne Going To Have a Crack? The Spurs Nostalgia Podcast: The Man in the Raincoat

October 1998. Tottenham Hotspur appoint George Graham as manager.On paper, it made perfect sense.Graham was one of the most successful managers in English football. A league champion, cup winner an...

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

If Shakespeare had written a 90s football story it might have looked like this... A Chairman under siege A mutinous fanbase A Manager crossing enemy lines Revenge. Betrayal. Identity. Morality New documentary episode out tomorrow explores 'The Man in the Raincoat's controversial arrival in 1998. 🎙️

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

NEW EPISODE WEDNESDAY 🎙️ In October 1998, Tottenham appointed George Graham. League titles ✅ FA Cups ✅ European trophies ✅ Arsenal ❌ Was it the most controversial managerial appointment in Spurs history? A special documentary episode lands Wednesday 👀.

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

“If we do have a losing spell — which we inevitably will — the supporters are going to turn very quickly. Are you prepared to live with that?” The stakes were huge - David Pleat on the advice he gave Alan Sugar as he considered appointing George Graham. Hear more from Pleat in this week's episode

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

“He got off on the wrong foot with the media, and I thought there was a prejudice against him from the word go. The players certainly found him difficult because he was a disciplinarian.” David Pleat, on Christian Gross. Plenty more from our Director of Football 1997-2001 here: pod.fo/e/69141b

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

David Pleat was part of every discussion at the club when he returned as Director of Football in 1997: Who should be the next manager? Who should we sign and release? He even got involved in where to plant trees to reduce the wind at the training ground! Its a fascinating listen - do give it a try

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I got so much out of David Pleat in this week's episode - he was able to shine light on what was happening behind the scenes in a truly chaotic period between 1997 - 2001 (link ⬇️) Managerial comings and goings Good and bad signings (and the ones that got away) The role of the youth and reserve

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

As Director of Football David Pleat provides incredible insight into life at White Hart Lane between 1997 - 2001: Christian Gross Working with Alan Sugar Signing Paulo Tremazzani Mediating between Sergei Rebrov and his Loughton neighbours over a Morse Code transmitter 👀 It's out tomorrow!

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Coming Wednesday🎧 Manager. Scout. Football thinker. David Pleat has held every role imaginable at Spurs and has influenced players, supporters and owners. It was my great pleasure to speak with him about his role as Director of Football 1997-2001 and the chaotic state of the club in that period

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Tomorrow morning the story of the chaotic 97/98 season continues with Part 2. An anxiety ridden experience for all of us at the time even it did work out ok but @damejulie.bsky.social makes the case for its narrative ending elevating it somewhat! Part 1 here for the recap: pod.fo/e/4f0871

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

To kick off Season 3 I was delighted to be joined by co-author of The Club Jon Clegg to discuss the macro state of English football between 1997 - 2001. It really helps to understand why Spurs fell so far behind as the 90s came to an end. Painful but essential listening ahead of Season 3!

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I'm not yet as emotionally invested (as I am with the men's team) but watching our women's team is so enjoyable. The style and intent is just everything you'd want a Spurs team to be. Clever and progressive passing and the constant forward movement off the ball so impressive.

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Really enjoyed this conversation. Well worth listening 🎧

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

How Terry Venables nearly joined Arsenal, why his sacking had such a profound impact on the jobs he subsequently took and whether he should be remembered as a hero or villain? Personally I'd get him in the next group of Hall of Fame inductees but appreciate he divides opinion. What do you think?

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

We covered Terry Venables in depth in Season 1, but his Spurs story ended in a cloud. Today’s episode is the goodbye he never really got — a look at what makes him such a compelling character. Crooner? Crook? Dreamer? His biographer Tim Rich joins me to tell the full story. Link in reply

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

As a Season 3 aperitif i have an interview with Tim Rich - author of a new Terry Venables biography - coming out tomorrow. We discussed what happened to Terry post Spurs and the profound effect his sacking from the club had on him personally. I'll post again tomorrow with the link.

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

If you had to say something nice, or positive, about Alan Sugar's time as Chairman what would it be? (can't say - selling it and fucking off!)

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Season 3 of the pod is about the moment Spurs lost their grip on who they were meant to be. Christian Gross, Klinsmann returns + relegation fear. George Graham in the dugout. Ginola as the cultural saviour? Sugar x Campbell Trailer is live now. New episodes every Weds through to Xmas. link below ⬇️

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

As a Spurs 'historian' I naturally make comparisons between now and then. Starting seasons poorly but ending up ok happens a bit. 88/9 - bottom after 10 games; finished 6th 92/3 - didn't win any of first 5 games; FAC SF 8th 08/9 - 2pts/8 games - LC Final/create momentum to finish 4th in 09/10

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

We have spells of being very good for 20min but then can be really bad for 20min. When we're good we still have deficiencies in front of goal. When we're bad - we're not just technically and tactically bad but also excruciatingly mentally bad. I'm not sure the good will outweigh the bad.

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Beyond moaning about pundits in general I was particularly irritated by Hawthorne/Smith constantly doom mongering about playing out from the back and then choosing to ignore the times Dubravka kicked long and Liverpool won the ball and came straight back onto us.

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I'll be recording an episode with @barditei.bsky.social about the 1999 Worthington Cup Final this week (due to be released in October). What do you remember about the game/that day? Is it the great 'forgotten' Spurs trophy?

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I didn’t see anything of the game today bar the live match tracker on Ladbrokes 🤓 so my opinion worthy of very little…but seeing very mixed takes on performance. As a general rule of thumb I’d say how you feel in 24/48 hrs likely to be more reflective than immediate post match.

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Our U18 won 4-2 today - that’s 4 wins in 4 and 24 (twenty four) goals scored in total 👀

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

In my Spurs supporting lifetime we've won 42.5% of the (league) games...i.e. 2 in 5. The past 2 seasons has seen that number drop to 26% and we've lost >50%...an anomaly or sign of 80s Wolves like demise?? More detail in my latest White Hart Review blog - www.whitehartreview.com/post/the-gra...

whitehartreview.com

The Gravity of Football: Why Spurs Shouldn’t Be This Bad

When your club’s recent results resemble the worst three‑year period in Wolves’ history - a period defined by three straight relegations - you’re not just “out of form”. You’re in a collapse that prob...

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Enjoyed listening to @dankp.bsky.social + @tomfoins.bsky.social covering Rule The Roost this week. Concerned to hear @tehtrunk.bsky.social was off 'recovering' only to see him on here embarking on a Partridge style bus tour - just checking you haven't done it bear foot just eating Toblerone!🤔

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Thanks for the responses...in our entire league history we win 42.4% and lose 33.5% - so win about two in five and lose one in three. In the last 2 seasons those numbers are 26% and 52%. I've broken other periods down in table below. (Win % is first )

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Based on your lifetime Spurs experiences - how often do you expect Spurs to win (league) games? What would you see as an acceptable win % and loss % in general terms not specific to next/recent run of fixtures I've been doing some research for my next White Hart Review article...will share my data.

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Following Spurs from overseas in the 90s meant ingenuity, patience and a lot of luck. VHS tapes, midnight kick‑offs, Irish pubs, DIY supporters’ clubs. Steff@thegameisaboutglory.co.uk + @spursofnorway.bsky.social joined me to discuss what it really took to follow Spurs from thousands of miles away

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Well done @notthatmilo.eurosky.social for overcoming a very tricky technical challenge in turning this around for your Monday morning commute/dog walk/work outs!

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Ahead of tomorrow's pod featuring @spursofnorway.bsky.social and Steff from @thegameisaboutglory.co.uk I'd love to know your personal experiences of trying to follow a Spurs result from overseas? What desperate measures did you take to find out a score...and was it worth it? (Bonus point for 90s!)

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

In an adjacent theme to this week's pod about the joy of opening day in the 90s I've written an article for the White Hart Review platform about how I've grown to dislike the modern day, all-consuming off-season. (link in reply) Have we been conditioned to try and follow football 365 days a year?

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Just bought and completed my first pre season league ladder since the 90s…it was intended for my son but he was far more interested in Fortnite 🙄 This is one of the rituals of new season build up dating back to the 90s as I explored on my latest episode about Spurs’ opening games. Link in reply 🎧

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Tomorrow's bonus episode is a look back at opening days of the 90s. Silent football summers, Match and Shoot League Ladders, trying to find BBC World Service updates. Sunshine, new kits and new optimism. It was a more innocent time. What springs to mind for you?

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

My feelings on Djed are that he was always much better than the 'club signing' Conte portrayed him as but also never a Premier League elite full back or on a potential Bale arc. Where would you rate him against our 21st century full backs? Lots of Cult Heroes on this list (and he defo joins that)

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

There's something so exciting about a relatively unknown youngster breaking into the first team and making an immediate impact with a winning goal. Great to speak with Andy Turner about his moment in 1992 on my latest pod. Give it a listen on your evening walk or commute to/from work 🎧 (link below)

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Interview with Andy Turner episode now out and available to listen (see reply for link). Andy is another player to speak glowingly about Terry Venables. You have to hope our 2026 crop of exciting prospects are managed as well.

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Bonus episode out tomorrow... I spoke with our 90s teenage sensation Andy Turner about his Spurs career that concluded with two senior appearances playing alongside Jurgen Klinsmann and then Alan Pardew! Andy's a really nice fella and got a really fascinating story to tell.

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

This years pre-season seems to affirm my belief that pre-seasons should be completely ignored. They’re for coaches and idle speculation - nothing else! Wake me up on 22nd August.

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

I have 3 bonus episodes coming in August 90s teenage sensation Andy Turner talks to me about his career and playing in the Intertoto Cup! @jonoblain.bsky.social and I discuss the thrill of opening day in the 90s @spursofnorway.bsky.social and Steff discuss following spurs from overseas in the 90s

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Season 2 now completed covering Spurs through the chaos of the mid 90s! Huge thanks to all my panellists including @theodelaney.bsky.social @notthatmilo.eurosky.social @damejulie.bsky.social and to everyone who’s listened and interacted. Season 3 now in production opening in September 🎧

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

A few comments comparing Gross to Igor Tudor… For sure there’s a few similarities but the big difference is how, particularly in 1997, Gross was a complete unknown! Tudor had at least played at highest level for Juve and in WC and coached Juventus. Which recent mgr would you compare Gross with?

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Was Christian Gross’ press conference- yes the one with the tube ticket - the most infamous verbal spurs exchange of the 90s?? In the podcast @damejulie.bsky.social helps me break it down and we discuss whether Gross or Sugar were most to blame for this utter car crash! What do you think?

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Was there just the smallest semblance of logic in appointing Christian Gross in Nov 1997? After the early successes of Wenger and Guillit across town and Gross’ reputation as a disciplinarian with new ideas about physical conditioning maybe it made sense?? Latest episode concludes season 2 🎧

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Is Gascoigne Going To Have a Crack? The Spurs Nostalgia Podcast: 97/98 Season Review - Part One

Season Two closes with Part One of our deep dive into the 1997/98 campaign — a season that began with hope, glamour and new signings, and quickly descended into one of the most turbulent autumns ...

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Despite Ginola and Les Ferdinand arriving it was Jose Dominguez who lit up WHL initially! But with Teddy gone, Injuries and form getting worse the mood turned and Gerry Francis looked more and more like a man trapped in a lift. Season 2 closes on Tuesday with Part 1 of the 97/98 review 👀

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Currently in Belgium (day trip in Gent) en route to Netherlands on holiday. Who was the first famous Belgian you can remember knowing of? Here’s mine from around 1987.

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

One of Gerry Francis’ legacies was the signing of David Ginola in summer 97. But Gerry was really disappointed to learn that Teddy was allowed to leave. It wasn’t the first or last time that we’ve lost a superstar in the same summer that a new one arrived 🙄 I’m talking to you 1989 and 2013!

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Gareth Dace @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

The interview really seems to have captured the imagination. I've smashed my previous download 'records' so thanks everyone for listening. If you've heard the episode I'd be really interested to know if your opinion of Gerry Francis and his time as manager has changed?

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