Post by QPR Report on Jul 21, 2009 18:23:35 GMT
Never saw in play live or on TV at the time, but one of those names everyone had heard of when I was growing up.
PFA's Give Me Football
On this day in history: July 21
Tribute to a Tottenham Hotspur legend: John White
By John Harding July 21, 2009
Tottenham Hotspur’s John White is killed by lightning while sheltering under a tree during a thunderstorm at Crews Hill golf course, Enfield. A Scottish international midfielder and part-time inside right, John played a significant role for Spurs during their ‘Double’ winning season of 1960-61.
His success mainly lay in a combination of skills: his passing, his ball control which helped sustain the attacking momentum, but so too his runs to find space off the ball, often arriving unexpectedly in the opposition’s penalty area earning him the nickname ‘The Ghost’.
Cliff Jones, a Welsh international and Spurs teammate, said of him: “He was like Glenn Hoddle. But he was different to Glenn in some ways. Glenn was someone who you had to bring into a game, whereas John White would bring himself into a game.
“If you’re not in possession, get in position; that was John White. He was always available if you needed to pass to someone.”
Teammate Jimmy Greaves said of John: “Had he lived he could have been one of the greatest footballers of all time."
John made 22 appearances for Scotland and his portrait now hangs in the entrance to the Scottish Football Association’s Hall of Fame.
PFA's Give Me Football
On this day in history: July 21
Tribute to a Tottenham Hotspur legend: John White
By John Harding July 21, 2009
Tottenham Hotspur’s John White is killed by lightning while sheltering under a tree during a thunderstorm at Crews Hill golf course, Enfield. A Scottish international midfielder and part-time inside right, John played a significant role for Spurs during their ‘Double’ winning season of 1960-61.
His success mainly lay in a combination of skills: his passing, his ball control which helped sustain the attacking momentum, but so too his runs to find space off the ball, often arriving unexpectedly in the opposition’s penalty area earning him the nickname ‘The Ghost’.
Cliff Jones, a Welsh international and Spurs teammate, said of him: “He was like Glenn Hoddle. But he was different to Glenn in some ways. Glenn was someone who you had to bring into a game, whereas John White would bring himself into a game.
“If you’re not in possession, get in position; that was John White. He was always available if you needed to pass to someone.”
Teammate Jimmy Greaves said of John: “Had he lived he could have been one of the greatest footballers of all time."
John made 22 appearances for Scotland and his portrait now hangs in the entrance to the Scottish Football Association’s Hall of Fame.