1984 UEFA Cup: Tony Parks

Sport has a habit of creating heroes from the ranks of the previously unknown. In football, one such example was the tale of Nigel Spink. A 23-year-old goalkeeper, who had previously only played one game for Aston Villa, played a significant role in their 1982 European Cup triumph. Two years later, another young English keeper would take centre stage in a European final.

Tony Parks’ rise from reserve to UEFA Cup final star was, to use the words of the young man himself, “the sort of thing you read about in comics.” Born in Hackney, Parks had been at Tottenham since 1979, but had only started three times for the first team. Given a one-year contract in the summer of 1983, Parks knew that he had reached make or break time at the club he supported.

Playing understudy to Ray Clemence, it would take a lucky break, or dislocation, for Parks to get into the team. In January 1984, a dislocated shoulder suffered by Clemence away at Fulham in the FA Cup third round opened the door, giving Parks the chance to earn a new contract.

“He won't let us down,” assistant manager Peter Shreeves declared, as Parks prepared to take his place between the sticks for the Fulham replay. “He's very sharp and his handling is excellent.” Keeping a clean sheet in Tottenham’s win was a confidence booster, and soon Parks was seemingly making the number one shirt his own.

Another shutout followed against Ipswich, and for the next two months Parks earned praise for his performances. Despite Clemence returning to full training, manager Keith Burkinshaw was not guaranteeing the former England international a place back in the starting eleven.

“In some clubs an international player gets back automatically but not here. Tony is showing the benefit of a long spell in the team. He has growing confidence and more of an understanding with the rest of the defence. It wouldn't be fair if I left him out.”

But just as an injury had provided Parks with the opportunity to challenge Clemence, it looked as if the status quo would be restored after Tottenham’s 2-0 win over Austria Vienna the UEFA Cup quarter final first leg. Parks may have gained his seventh clean sheet in his twelve-match run, but a deep wound that saw him receive three stitches in his knee spelled danger for his prospects.

Clemence returned, and would play in Tottenham’s next four matches. Yet fate was about to play a part in Parks’ life once more. When Clemence severed a finger tendon in training at the end of March, Parks’ path to UEFA Cup glory had opened again. As the news broke that Burkinshaw would be leaving at the end of the season, Parks was given the chance to do just the opposite.

Parks played his part as Tottenham reached the UEFA Cup final, a crucial save towards the end of the first leg away at Hajduk Split ultimately helping Tottenham to progress on away goals. As the final approached it was becoming evident that Clemence would not be fit enough to play. From nowhere in January, Parks was now playing in Tottenham’s first European final since 1974.

Tottenham tried to get their match at Southampton two days before the first leg of the final switched, but the Football League refused. Playing a weakened team, Burkinshaw risked sanctions from the authorities. A 5-0 defeat followed; Clemence was selected even though he was clearly unfit.

The importance of Parks became clear by the fact that he was not be risked before the final. Burkinshaw certainly could not take any chances with the class of opposition awaiting in the two-legged affair. Anderlecht may have reached the final in dubious circumstances, but their quality was unquestionable.

UEFA Cup holders and full of internationals such as Morten Olsen, Erwin Vandenbergh, Franky Vercauteren, Frank Arnesen, and the emerging Enzo Scifo, Anderlecht were playing in their fifth European final since 1976. Tottenham had beaten Feyenoord and Bayern Munich on the way to the final, but Anderlecht would be another huge test.

Parks had very little to do in the first leg in Brussels, with Tottenham creating the best openings, Mark Falco spurning several chances. Paul Miller did give the visitors the lead just before the hour, but when Parks was unable to hold an Arnesen drive with five minutes to go, Olsen tapped in for a crucial equaliser.

There was a feeling of slight disappointment after the away leg; the missed chances; captain Steve Perryman’s booking leading to a suspension; Parks’ inability to hold Arnesen’s shot. But Tottenham were at least boosted when news broke the day before the return leg that Vandenbergh would miss the match.

Winning without the experience of Clemence, Perryman, and Glenn Hoddle would not be easy, however, and on a night of nerves, finger nails would be chewed furiously in the crowd of over 46,000 at White Hart Lane. After a goalless first half, the match would spring into action.

The pin that you could have heard drop once Anderlecht took the lead on the hour through Alex Czerniatinski had seemingly punctured the Tottenham balloon. Although the home team laid siege to the opposition goal, with just five minutes remaining, Anderlecht looked like holding on to their trophy.

Graham Roberts had other ideas, though, and after Ossie Ardiles somehow struck the bar from a few yards out, the replacement skipper slotted home calmly to send the match into extra-time. With no further goals, the dreaded penalty shootout became a reality. Roberts would score Tottenham’s opening penalty, before Parks faced Olsen.

“Not an easy job for the ice-cool Olsen,” commented the excellent Brian Moore on the live ITV coverage. “Can he beat Parks? SAVED IT,” he yelled in excitement. “It’s not over yet. Five for each side, remember,” Moore added, demonstrating the relatively new concept of penalties to the viewing public.

The following six penalties were scored, leaving Tottenham 4-3 up and on the brink of victory. However, full back Danny Thomas missed, and as a chant of “One Danny Thomas” filled the night sky, at 10.33pm Parks was about to write himself into Tottenham folklore.

Arnor Gudjohnsen (Eidur’s father) stepped forward and hit his penalty to Parks’ right. “With the first, the Anderlecht player told me where he was going to put it,” Parks would later comment. “I could see in his eyes where it was going. With the next three I just guessed and got it wrong. On the last, I changed my mind and went the other way and got it right.”

“And he’s saved it,” Moore screamed, as Parks sprinted off in celebration. “Spurs have won it. Tony Parks is the hero.” Swamped by jubilant team mates, Parks had delivered the perfect going away present to Burkinshaw.

“It was a poignant moment that demanded moral courage, intense concentration and the reflexes of a gunfighter,” Steve Curry wrote about Parks in the Express under the headline ‘Parks sparks Tottenham party’. The hero of the day was now a man in demand. And, to top it all, he had earned himself a new two-year deal.

“At the start of the season I wasn't even sure I had a future here,” Parks admitted. “I did not think they would be keeping me on, so it's fantastic for something like this to happen.”

Although he did stay on at Tottenham until 1988, Parks never did establish himself as number one at the club. But he will forever be remembered for that night on May 23, 1984. David Bowie obviously knew his stuff. Tony Parks was a hero, even if it was just for one day.