Roger Cross came to Spurs as a coach when Gerry Francis took over as manager at the club.
Cross started playing for West Ham in the 1960s but only played a few games in six years in the first team squad, before he moved Fulham and then to Brentford where Roger made his name as a prolific striker netting 70 times in over 200 games.
In 1977 he transferred to Millwall aged 28 only to suffer a hamstring injury in his first match for the Lions that led to him ending his career at Cold Blow Lane. He went out to the US to play for the Seattle Sounders where the hamstring became detached from the pelvis and although he made about another 20 appearances he could not continue playing and took a role as youth and reserve team manager. One of his charges was a 14 year old Teddy Sheringham and a young Neil Ruddock also played under him.
Roger left Millwall in 1989 following a disagreement with manager John Docherty and got an offer from Trevor Francis to become Reserve team manager at QPR. He then became assistant manager when Don Howe took over in the hot seat and worked with Les Ferdinand, Clive Wilson and Andy Sinton.
Another change in management saw Gerry Francis come in during 1991 and brought in his own number two meaning a move back to reserve team manager for Cross. However, three years later when Gerry became Spurs manager he asked Roger to be his assistant.