Skip to content

Plaque honour for Spurs and England footballer

Kate ReltonYorkshire
Chelsey Ward/BBC A crowd gathered outside a building with a circular blue plaque on the wall. The building on the left has a dark blue sign above the door that reads AUCTIONEERS - VALUERS, DAVID DUGGLEBY, MOVERS - STORERSChelsey Ward/BBC
Scarborough Civic Society unveiled its 23rd blue plaque on Vine Street, dedicated to footballer Bill Nicholson

A blue plaque has been unveiled in Scarborough to commemorate the life of a Tottenham Hotspur and England footballer.

Bill Nicholson was born at 15 Vine Street - where the plaque is installed - in January 1919.

Nicholson joined Spurs in 1936, and later as manager led them to a historic double in the 1960-61 season. He played for England on 19 May 1951 when they took on Portugal - scoring with his first touch of the ball after only 19 seconds.

The plaque, unveiled by the Scarborough Civic Society, was sponsored by the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust, and follows a campaign from Scarborough-born Spurs fan Jack Kirby-Lowe to have Nicholson recognised as part of the town's heritage.

Society president Adrian Perry said: "Spurs absolutely blossomed under his management and direction. It was just a career of success.

"We've got many other Scarborough people that have had just as glittering careers, and they all started out in Scarborough."

'Very loving dad'

Representatives from the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust and Nicholson's daughters Jean Bell and Linda Feldeisen attended the unveiling of the plaque at his birthplace - now the site of David Duggleby Auctioneers.

Feldeisen, who now lives in Boston in the US, said being back in Scarborough had brought back fond memories of building sandcastles and playing cricket on the beach with her dad.

"It's an honour and a privilege to be here," she said.

"We're really excited about the plaque. I think it will give a lasting memory of Dad for people.

"He was a very loving dad. He didn't want any of the limelight.

"Once when we went to see a film in London - the line for his autograph was longer than the line for the ice cream.

"After that he didn't want to go to pubs or anywhere like that, he just wanted to be Bill outside of the Spurs life, and just be with his family."

Chelsey Ward/BBC A woman in a blue top and trousers wearing a microphone headset making a speech, standing next to a man in a grey blazer and white shirt. They are standing in front of a white building.Chelsey Ward/BBC
Nicholson's daughter Linda Feldeisen travelled from her home in the US to see the plaque unveiled

Kirby-Lowe, who now lives in London, said he was surprised to find Nicholson missing from the blue plaques in Scarborough.

"He was a massively influential manager," he said.

"Not just for Tottenham Hotspur but the wider world of football.

"It surprised me that such a notable figure in the nation's favourite game hadn't been commemorated in his home town, so I got in touch with the civic society."

Nicholson family A man in a grey suit standing in the street in front of a cream and black building. The sign on the building reads DAVID DUGGLEBY VALUERS.Nicholson family
Bill Nicholson was born at 15 Vine Street - now David Duggleby Auctioneers

Nicholson received a letter inviting him for a trial at Tottenham Hotspur in February 1936.

He was later taken on as ground staff before playing his first professional match two years later, aged 19.

After serving in the Durham Light Infantry during World War Two he returned to Spurs in 1946, going on to manage the team.

He oversaw their success in the FA Cup, League Cup and the UEFA Cup before retiring in 1974.

He was appointed OBE in 1975, received the Freedom of Haringey in 1998 and was inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame in 2003.

He died in October 2004 aged 85.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

More stories like this
Related internet links