Tottenham double-winner Terry Dyson dies aged 91 after decade of glory at Spurs

Terry Dyson, the Tottenham winger who helped the club become the first 20th-century English side to complete the First Division and FA Cup double, has died aged 91. Spurs confirmed his passing on Thursday, paying tribute to a player who made 209 appearances and scored 55 goals across a decade at the club.

Dyson was a central figure in Bill Nicholson’s celebrated 1960-61 side, scoring in the FA Cup Final as Spurs claimed their historic double. Two years later he delivered one of the most memorable individual performances in the club’s European history, netting twice in a 5-1 demolition of Atletico Madrid in the 1963 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final.

In a statement, Tottenham said: “The club is extremely saddened to learn of the passing of our former player Terry Dyson at the age of 91. Terry was a key part of our double-winning side in 1961, scoring in the FA Cup Final. He also scored twice in the 1963 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final. Our deepest condolences are with Terry’s family and friends at this incredibly sad time.”

The Yorkshireman also holds a unique place in north London derby folklore as the only Spurs player ever to score a hat-trick against Arsenal, a feat he achieved at the start of the 1961-62 season that has never been matched since. Reflecting on the achievement in 2020, Dyson recalled the moment with characteristic honesty: “One of them hit my hand. It bounced up, hit my hand and I lashed it in and the Arsenal players went mad. I didn’t do it deliberately but it hit my hand and I just lashed it in. To get a hat-trick was brilliant and nobody has done it since.”

Dyson described the celebration that followed with equal warmth, noting that even the famously reserved Nicholson offered rare praise. “His praise wasn’t brilliant, he didn’t throw it out willy-nilly, but he said well done and I was like ‘oh thanks Bill!’ We went out that night and had a few drinks, so it was good,” he said.

After leaving Spurs, Dyson went on to play for Fulham, Colchester, and Guildford before retiring from the game.