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Article: Bill's brilliance sparked my love for Tottenham; Glenn Hoddle tells Steve Stammers of how Spurs great Bill Nicholson is an inspiration to him and why he deserves tonight's testimonial.
- Article from:
- The Evening Standard (London, England)
- Article date:
- August 8, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: STEVE STAMMERS
THE public perception of Bill Nicholson is of a gruff, no-nonsense Yorkshireman who settled for nothing less than perfection. That impression was totally accurate.
Witness his first words to the talented 16-year-old midfielder from Harlow, who had just signed apprentice forms for Tottenham Hotspur during the Nicholson era.
Today, signings of highly rated players are often high-profile affairs, complete with announcements on the PA before a home game and the approval of 30,000 supporters.
Times have changed. When Glenn Hoddle signed those forms it was a private matter and all Nicholson said was: "If you think you ...