The football world is mourning the loss of Martin Chivers, the formidable Tottenham Hotspur and England striker, who has died at the age of 80. Chivers was a central figure in Spurs' successes during the early 1970s, instrumental in securing both UEFA Cup and League Cup glory for the North London club.
A Prolific Goalscorer for Club and Country
Standing at an imposing 6ft 1in and weighing 13 stone, Chivers was a classic, powerful centre-forward. Renowned for his natural strength, pace, and aerial ability, he was a superb finisher. His record for Tottenham was exceptional, scoring 174 goals in 367 matches, placing him fourth on the club's all-time scorers list behind only Harry Kane, Jimmy Greaves, and Bobby Smith.
For England, under manager Alf Ramsey, he maintained a fine strike rate of 13 goals in 24 appearances between 1971 and 1973. However, his international career was curtailed prematurely after England's failure to qualify for the 1974 World Cup, a campaign that ended with a fateful 1-1 draw against Poland in 1973.
Defining Moments in Lilywhite
Chivers' most important contributions came in cup finals for Spurs. He announced himself on the big stage by scoring both goals in the 2-0 victory over Aston Villa in the 1971 League Cup final, securing his first major trophy.
His prowess continued in Europe. The following year, he was the hero in the first leg of the all-English 1972 UEFA Cup final against Wolverhampton Wanderers, netting twice in a 2-1 win. Spurs went on to win 3-2 on aggregate, with Chivers' second goal a memorable long-range piledriver. He later won a second League Cup medal in 1973 when Spurs beat Norwich City 1-0 at Wembley.
From Southampton to Spurs and Beyond
Born in Southampton, Chivers began his professional career at his hometown club after writing to them for a trial as a schoolboy. His 30 goals in the 1965-66 season were crucial in firing Southampton to the First Division for the first time.
His performances attracted the attention of Tottenham, who signed him in January 1968 for a then British record fee of £125,000. After a serious knee injury disrupted his start, he flourished following the departure of Jimmy Greaves, forming a potent partnership with Martin Peters.
After leaving Spurs in 1976, he enjoyed a spell in Switzerland with Servette, winning a league and cup double, before returning to England for brief periods with Norwich City and Brighton & Hove Albion. Following retirement, he shunned management to focus on family life, running the Brookmans Park hotel in Hertfordshire for nearly two decades and later serving as a matchday host at Tottenham.
Martin Chivers is survived by his second wife, Julia, and their two sons, and by two daughters from his first marriage.
