Today sees the birthday of former Spurs midfielder, winger, forward Darren Anderton.
He first came to prominence with his dazzling form in Portsmouth’s great FA Cup run in 1992 – including his goal in the Semi Final vs Liverpool. A number of clubs were linked, but he signed for Spurs for £1.75 million in the summer of 1992.
After a relatively slow start for the club, he partnered Teddy Sheringham and Nick Barmby in an exciting attack and grew in confidence and affection in the Spurs fans as he adjusted to the step up from Division 2. He helped Spurs reach the FA Cup Semi Final in his first season, but unfortunately, like the previous year with Portsmouth, Darren would see his team fall at the penultimate hurdle.
A regular over the coming seasons, including part of the Famous Five attackers at the start of the 1994/95 season – it was Darren’s accurate cross that led to Jurgen Klinsmann’s debut headed goal (followed by dive celebration). Again, he featured strongly in Spurs journey the FA Cup Semi Final in 1994/95 – despite Spurs originally being banned from cup. Sadly, once again, Darren would experience that losing semi final feeling.
Injuries and a downturn in the club’s performances would follow for most of the rest of the 1990’s with mid-table finishes and not much to shout about in the cup’s until 1998/99, when he played in all but one of the club’s successful 1999 League Cup Final victory, playing the whole match in final to collect his first winners’ medal. Also featured and scored a couple en-route to yet another FA Cup Semi Final.
He helped the club, scoring along the way, to the 2002 League Cup Final, where the club sadly fell at the final hurdle.
During his time at the club, he played 30 times for England – including Euro 96 & 1998 World Cup – scoring 7 international goals. He was a prominent member of the Euro 96 England team, featuring in all matches to the semi final – hitting the post in Extra Time, which a few inches to the left would have been the golden goal that took England to the final. But for injuries, he would have had many more international caps and would have featured at Euro 2000 and 2002 World Cup.
After 12 years loyally serving the club, he moved on finishing his career with Bournemouth in 2008, having has a season each at Birmingham and Wolves.
He played 358 for Spurs, scoring 48 goals – 1999 League Cup Winners medal and 2002 League Cup Runner Up.
A real fans favourite.