All Our Yesterday’s
By John Riddle

Nice one Cyril
Nice on Cyril,
Nice one son,
Nice one Cyril,
Lets have another one!

Cyril Knowles was the inspiration for the popular record "Nice one, Cyril" which peaked at number 14 in the singles charts in March 1973. But Cyril wasn’t a pop star. He was widely regarded as the greatest left-back in the history of Tottenham Hotspur by both supporters and critics.

In my ever increasing search for material I researched Cyril’s life because for me not only was he a brilliant left back but a manager to be respected as he helped Hartlepool United to automatic promotion in the last days of his all too short life.

But Cyril’s life started in the South Yorkshire village of Fitzwilliam where I worked as a Probation Officer under the guidance of Doug King, a great friend even though he is a Doncaster Rovers supporter.

Cyril was born in 1944 and played local league football for Hemsworth one of the other villages in my probation patch. Very soon his performances attracted the attention of scouts and but following trials with Manchester United, Wolves and Blackpool he decided to join Middlesbrough in 1962.

Cyril thought at one stage that maybe he just wasn’t good enough to make a professional footballer.

But he was so very wrong!

Through his own hard work and dedication he impressed many people in his 39 first team appearances for the Boro. One man to see the obvious potential in the 20 year old Knowles was the legendary Spurs manager Bill Nicholson who forked out a massive £45,000 (a week’s wages for some today). Nicholson signed Knowles as a replacement for Ron Henry a member of the Tottenham team which famous won the double in 1960/1, the FA Cup in 1962 and the European Cup winners cup. It was a big act for the Yorkshireman Knowles to follow.
But follow he did and in some punters eyes surpassed Henry.
Cyril made his debut for Spurs on the opening day of the 1964/5 season when Spurs beat Sheffield United 2-0 at White Hart Lane.
In Cyril’s eleven year career with Spurs he was famed for his crossing ability and creating many opportunities from open play and set pieces. He developed a relation with his Irish left back Joe Kinnear and his contribution was acknowledged as he introduced overlapping by a full back in the modern game.

Between 1965 and 1969 he missed only one league match. He represented England at U23 level on six occasions, player for the Football League against the Scottish League twice and made his full international debut against the Soviet Union in December 1967. He was to play four times in the England shirt. I hazard a guess the consistent performances of the Leeds United full back Terry Cooper restricted Cyril’s international caps.

Cyril’s playing career ended prematurely in December 1975 following a recurring knee problem. His final appearance was in a 2-2 draw with Everton but Spurs rewarded his loyalty with a testimonial match against Arsenal. Many fans recall Cyril saving Spurs.

Needing a victory to avoid relegation Spurs face the reigning First Division champions and 1975 European cup finalists Leeds United. The record shows - Knowles scored TWICE in the 4-2 victory.

Spurs avoided the drop!

In all Cyril Knowles played 507 times for Spurs, scored 17 goals. He won the FA Cup in 1967, the League Cup in 71 and 73 and the UEFA Cup in 1972. A glittering career by any standards.

Following retirement Knowles worked as a scout in his native Yorkshire for Spurs followed by a brief spell as manager of a non-league team Hertford Town. Between 1977 and 1981 he was first team coach at Doncaster Rovers a period my old mate Doug King remembers very well. However in the summer of 1981 his life came full circle when he was appointed assistant manager at Middlesbrough where he started his career.

He resigned two years later to become manager of fourth division strugglers Darlington. (don’t you just love saying that - fourth division strugglers Darlington). His second season was a great success and he guided Darlo to automatic promotion. He stayed with them until 1987 and resigned as the team were relegated. He soon returned to management with Torquay United and is credited with developing the talents of a young lad, Lee Sharpe, winger who would later star for Manchester United, Leeds United, Sampdoria and “I’m a Celebrity get me out of here!”

Cyril Knowles transformed Torquay and saved them from relegation, took them to the play offs and the final of the Sherpa Van Trophy (now called the LDV - I think).

At the start of the 1989 season after a poor start he resigned but was only out of work two months before joining Hartlepool United. At the time Pools were described as “a basement club” but Cyril helped the team avoid relegation by 12 points. The team progressed under Knowles and in 1990/1 Pools gained automatic promotion.

Sadly in the February of 1991 Cyril was diagnosed with a brain tumour and player coach Alan Murray too temporary charge and we went up. At the end of the season Cyril Knowles announced his retirement and Murray took over full time.

On 30th August 1991 at the relatively young age of 47 years Cyril died.

A memorial match was played at White Hart Lane and in 1995 the stand I now occupy at each home game was renamed in his honour.

Cyril Knowles wasn’t just the inspiration for a popular chart hit, Nice One Cyril which peaked in the Top Twenty in March 1973.

Cyril in fact hated the song!

He was regarded as the greatest left back in the history of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

Here is Hartlepool we will never forget the contribution he made to our club.

Not because we have a stand named after him but because he laid the foundations for promotion something of a rarity in these parts in the 1990’s.

Those foundations I believe led to further promotions and that magnificent appearance in 2005 in the play off final in Cardiff.

We should never forget the contribution he made.

Nice one Cyril.