On This Day In History: February 2

John Harding 02 February 2009

1928
Tommy Harmer was born in Hackney on this day. Nick-named ‘Harmer the Charmer’, he was the archetypal ball-juggling inside-forward who captivated Tottenham Hotspur fans of the late 1950s with an artistic sleight-of-foot.

The son of a French polisher, he was spotted by a Spurs scout, joined the White Hart Lane club as a 17-year-old amateur in 1945 and signed professional forms in August 1948. But it was not until September 1951, aged 23, that Tommy made his first team début, and not until some five years later when he was employed alongside the recently acquired wing-half Danny Blanchflower, that he really flowered.

These two gifted players combined magnificently to become one of the most creative centre-field pairings in English football. In the process, Spurs were transformed from the lower-to-mid-table mediocrities into championship challengers in 1956-57.

Harmer played in every match, scoring 17 league goals, including ten penalties, as the side finished as title runners-up to Manchester United's Busby Babes. In October 1960 the ‘Charmer’ was sold for £6,000 to Watford but returned to London in September 1962 to lend Tommy Docherty's precocious young Chelsea team some of his 34-years experience. Following a coaching stint, he left the game in 1967 to work as a bank messenger. He died on Xmas Day 2007.

1962
Brian Clough is dropped by Sunderland after failing to score since mid-December. His former understudy at Middlesbrough, Alan Peacock, meanwhile is called into the England squad. Peacock says: “Last season I probably played more to Brian than I should have. Now I am the man relied on to get the goals and I am more confident.” He’s already scored 25 for ‘Boro’. Clough has 20 thus far.

1974
PFA Chairman Derek Dougan says that if the club chairmen veto TV for next season, members of the PFA might withdraw their labour. They have collected £25,000 each year from this source and the money is used for the education of players in different trades. Dougan has complained that the PF A was not consulted concerning a possible TV black-out.

1982
Oxford United threaten Ian Greaves with legal action if he takes up a new post at Wolves. They also threaten to sue Wolves for ‘inducing’ Greaves to break his contract. Wolves deny the charges. Oxford Chairman Robert Maxwell says he is ‘saddened’ that Wolves have broken a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between clubs not to take another clubs manager during the season. Greaves signs a three-year contract worth £100,000. He says: “I wanted to serve notice, but how can you in football?”

1991
Arsenal lose their one and only league game of the 1990-91 season, 2-1 away at Chelsea.