In his own words, Alfie Conn reminisces about an memorable incident: entering the Leeds players' dressing room, briefly addressing them with an apology, and promptly exiting.
With a dash of courage and a heap of audacity, Alfie Conn, ex-Rangers midfielder, was no stranger to ruffling feathers, especially when it came to the formidable Leeds United in the '70s.
At Tottenham Hotspur, Conn quickly became a fan favorite, taking over the iconic White Hart Lane title from Alan Gilzean. His electrifying debut, a 5-2 win against Newcastle United, saw him score a hat-trick, a memory he still cherishes, despite a surprising incident on the return train journey.
"We all had a few drinks on the train trip back. When the ticket inspector came round, my grandad said we were celebrating my hat-trick and then ended up taking over his duties!" Conn reminisces to our website.
The fans adored him, and he reciprocated the affection. "I couldn't believe it the first time I heard it - that sort of thing makes your chest stick out," he says. "I got on great with the fans. I still think of Tottenham as my club."
As the season reached its climax, Spurs found themselves in a precarious position, needing a win to stay afloat. Their final opponent? None other than the reigning champions, Leeds United, a team who had recently eliminated Barcelona to advance to the European Cup final and had almost signed Conn as a teenager.
With Jimmy Armfield's men determined to come out victorious, the stage was set for an intense clash. Conn took control of the game, setting up three Spurs goals and putting the home team in the driver's seat.
However, the scrappy Scotsman didn't stop there. With Leeds's formidable captain, Billy Bremner, watching, Conn decided to taunt the Leeds squad by casually sitting on the ball in their face.
"Nothing!" he chuckles, when asked about his thought process. "I don't know why I did that. But as soon as I looked round and saw big Pat Jennings shaking his head, I thought, 'What have I done?'"
The Leeds team, in a relegation battle, suddenly turned up the heat. It was a close call for Spurs, but Conn's heroic efforts paid off, securing a 4-2 victory and ensuring their survival.
"I thought I'd better apologize to the Leeds players," he adds, sharing a story of his attempt to make amends. The reception? "I don't know - I popped my head around the dressing room door, said, 'Sorry, lads,' and got out as quickly as I could!"
Jeff Holmes' book, 'What's It All About? The Alfie Conn Story,' is now available for football enthusiasts who crave more tales from this dynamic, unconventional player.
Sports conversations are still a cherished topic for Alfie Conn, as he recalls his time with Tottenham Hotspur in the European leagues. After impressing fans with his hat-trick in a match against Newcastle United, he found himself in an intense clash against his former nemesis, Leeds United. In the midst of a heated game, Conn, known for his audacity, decided to taunt his opponents by casually sitting on the ball in their face. This unexpected move, followed by a close call, secured a 4-2 victory for Spurs, further cementing his place as a fan favorite and an entertaining figure in the sports world.
