Five-a-side

Five-a-side

 

We select a five-a-side team of players who have lined up for both West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur - who would be in yours?

 

Tony Parks

Born in Hackney, Tony Parks spent eight years in the first-team squad at Tottenham Hotspur, mainly playing back-up to England international Ray Clemence.

However, Parks did get opportunities to play for Spurs, and his career-defining moment came in the 1984 UEFA Cup final, when his penalty save saw the north Londoners score a shootout victory over Anderlecht to lift the trophy.

After two years at Brentford and a spell at Fulham, Parks moved to West Ham United in summer 1991, making nine appearances in relief of Ludek Miklosko before joining Scottish side Falkirk in 1992.

Parks retired in 2002 and subsequently returned to Tottenham as goalkeeper coach.

 

Neil Ruddock

 

‘Razor’, as he is affectionately known, was a throwback to the days when defenders defended at all costs, regardless of the wellbeing of the striker they were marking!

Big, strong and uncompromising, Neil Ruddock could also play a bit, as was evidenced by his three seasons with Southampton, two with Tottenham Hotspur, five with Liverpool and two with West Ham United – all in the Premier League.

The Wandsworth-born centre-back was also recognised by England, for whom he earned his sole cap against Nigeria in 1994.

Ruddock has since forged a successful career in the media and corporate hospitality industries.

 

Scott Parker

A true warrior, Scott Parker emerged as a teenage star at Charlton Athletic before earning a big-money move to Chelsea.

However, with Roman Abramovich’s revolution in full swing, Parker moved to West Ham United in summer 2007 in search of regular football.

After overcoming initial injury issues, Parker became a star in the West Ham midfield under Gianfranco Zola’s management, winning three straight Hammer of the Year awards.

However, following relegation in 2011, and with his England ambitions in mind, Parker departed for Tottenham Hotspur, winning the club’s Player of the Year award in 2012.

 

Martin Peters

 

A visionary midfielder who could literally fill any position on the pitch, Martin Peters was hailed as being ‘ahead of his time’ by his West Ham United manager Ron Greenwood.

Peters came through the Academy of Football before establishing himself in the first team in time to win the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1965. A year later, he scored in the FIFA World Cup final as England defeated West Germany at Wembley.

After 364 appearances and exactly 100 goals, Peters moved to Tottenham Hotspur for a British record £220,000 fee – including Jimmy Greaves – in 1970. As a Spur, he won the League Cup twice and the UEFA Cup once.

 

Jimmy Greaves

 

The most-prolific English goalscorer of his generation, Jimmy Greaves was born in Manor Park in February 1940.

After four goal-filled seasons with Chelsea, Greaves made the move to Italian giants AC Milan, but his stay in Serie A was short-lived and he returned to London with Tottenham Hotspur in 1961. Over the next nine seasons, he would score an amazing 266 goals.

Greaves moved to West Ham United in 1970 as part of the deal which took his fellow 1966 FIFA World Cup winner Martin Peters to White Hart Lane, and he scored twice on his debut in a 5-1 win at Manchester City.