In what can be described as one classy move this, Tottenham Hotspur have decided to move their legendary manager, Bill Nicholson’s ashes under the White Hart Lane pitch. What further followed was even more heartwarming. The club’s hierarchy decided to re-inter Bill’s and his wife Darkie’s caskets under the place where the new pitch would be formed.
Bill Nicholson is the most successful coach in the club’s history, having guided the Lilywhites to three FA Cups, two League Cups, one UEFA Cup and one First Division title.
Nicholson spent a successful tenure with Spurs as a player as well, winning the league in 1951 under Arthur Rowe. The former gaffer sadly passed away on October 23, 2004, and in his honour, the club had then decided to bury his, and his wife Darkie’s ashes under the White Hart Lane pitch so that his legacy goes on forever.
Now that the club are closing in towards their new stadium, the couple’s ashes were temporarily moved to another place as the demolition of the site was proposed. With that being done now and the work in full throttle, the club have announced they have placed the ashes below the area where the pitch will be laid. This was preceded by a private ceremony attended by the couple’s immediate family.
The spirit of Bill Nicholson lives on.
The ashes of our legendary former manager have now been re-interred at a specially selected location below where the pitch at our new stadium will overlap the old.https://t.co/CqGbcx51ls pic.twitter.com/6gWTzmTKdi
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 10, 2018
Bill’s daughter Jean is delighted that her father has “returned home,” and that her parents remain together.
“My sister Linda and I are so grateful for the respect and affection that everyone at the club continues to show towards our father”, said Nicholson’s daughter Jean, as quoted by the Tottenham official website.
“There is no more fitting memorial than for him to rest below the new pitch, and having Mum by his side makes it even more special.
“Dad’s dream was always for his beloved Spurs to be the best in the world and it is clear that this new stadium project is a giant step towards that aspiration. We are proud that Dad played a major role in developing the club’s history and that his contribution is being remembered in this way.
“We’re sure Dad would have enjoyed watching the current team play, in the way that he always advocated. The fact that the Spurs are taking him with them into the future means so much to us all.”
This is such a classy move by the club to honour a legend like Bill Nicholson. Well done!
