Terry Dyson, a member of Tottenham’s historic 1961 Double-winning team, has passed away at the age of 91. The Premier League side announced the death of their former winger on Thursday. Dyson made 209 appearances and scored 55 goals during his decade with Spurs.
Dyson played under Bill Nicholson in the 1960-61 season, when Tottenham became the first English club of the 20th century to win both the First Division title and the FA Cup in the same campaign. Another memorable performance came two years later, when he scored twice in a 5-1 victory against Atlético Madrid to help secure the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
“Everyone at the club is deeply saddened by the death of our former player Terry Dyson at 91,” Tottenham said. “He played an important role in the team that completed the Double in 1961 and found the net in the FA Cup final. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends at this very difficult time.”
After an outstanding period with Tottenham, Dyson went on to represent Fulham, Colchester and Guildford. Born in Yorkshire, he remains the only Spurs player to have scored a hat-trick against Arsenal, achieving the feat early in the 1961-62 season. Recalling one of those goals in 2020, Dyson said the ball struck his hand after bouncing up before he fired it into the net, prompting furious protests from the opposing players.
“They chased after the referee, but he had not noticed what happened. There was no intention to handle the ball; it simply struck my hand, and I hit it into the goal. Scoring three times was a wonderful achievement, and no Tottenham player has repeated it since. The goals came from a header, my left foot and my right foot, which made it a perfect hat-trick.”
Dyson also remembered receiving rare approval from Nicholson, who had a reputation for demanding the highest standards. “He was not someone who handed out compliments freely, but he told me I had done well. I thanked him, and we went out for a few drinks that evening.”
“Looking back, it is remarkable. You do not fully appreciate such moments when they happen, but that achievement has since become part of football history.”
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