terry dyson - pocket attila

This article originally featured in MEHSTG Vol. 2. Issue 19 - February 2001

Spurs have had some small but really good players ... Ardiles, Gibson, Rebrov, but one of the most influential in Spurs' history was Terry Dyson.  He was the son of the famous jockey Ginger Dyson and he had the same red hair as his father.  The winger became a professional at Spurs In 1955, but played mostly in the reserve team for the first five years until he broke into the first team to replace the out of form Terry Medwin In the 1959-60 season.  He had made 12 appearances in the first team during 1957-58 and seven outings in 1958-59, but it was the six appearances during 1959-60 that convinced Bill Nicholson that he should be his first choice.  With Cliff Jones and Terry Medwin as competing wingers, Terry had to be at the top of his game to keep his place. 

Terry's style was all-out effort as he used his pace to good effect on the left wing sending in crosses for his big pal Bobby Smith to feed on.  Dyson loved playing in front of Dave Mackay, who gave him the freedom to fly down the wing and terrorise defenders.  He also switched wings with Cliff Jones to make sure that opposing defenders did not settle and used to drop deep to support Ron Henry by giving him a chance for playing a one-two out of defence.  Terry played with his heart, always trying to give his best and was a lively character off the field.  He was given a roving role in the team, as he saw to it that it was his job to switch wings and to provide crosses as well as score as many goals as he could. 

In the fabulous side of 1960-61, he was the first choice left winger, scoring 12 League goals in 40 games. It was in the FA Cup that Terry really made his mark that season scoring five goals including one in the Final against Leicester, so he scored 17 goals in the Double season, a great return for the winger.  He started well in 1961-62 but lost his place to Terry Medwin in the FA Cup Final win over Burnley, making 23 League appearances that season scoring six goals whilst Medwin managed five goals from 20 league starts. Terry Dyson only made 13 appearances in the League in 1962-63, but again he played his greatest ever game for Spurs in the final of the European Cup winners' Cup scoring two great goals in the 5-1 win over Atletico Madrid.  His second goal included a thirty yard run with the ball, a dummy right and left and then a 25 yard screaming shot.  Bobby Smith told his pal as they were walking off the pitch that he should retire now as he would never play better, but Terry went on to play for Spurs to great effect for two more seasons, in 1963-64 he scored 11 League goals in 39 games as Spurs finished fourth, and in 1964-65 he managed 5 goals from 32 league games.  He left for Fulham in June 1965 and then went on to play for Colchester. 

Terry had made a total of 209 appearances for Spurs and scored 55 goals. He gave Spurs great service with his trademark of all-out effort and was a real trier.  He was a great servant to Spurs for over 10 years and he was an exciting sight when he was in full flight tearing down the wing.  Dyson never gave up and he must rank as one of Spurs' all time great wingers and he would be a rarity these days as put up with being dropped in favour of Terry Medwin but won his place back through hard graft.  It is hard to think of a smaller player for Spurs who has been so successful and influential over such a long period of time.  He had a hard shot and even scored with his head in the Cup Final win that clinched the Double.

RICHARD PORTER

Back to homepage