A lesson for Spurs from forgotten heroes

Jurgen Klinsmann, David Ginola and Ledley King may have reached iconic status in N17, but none of the modernday Tottenham glitterati can match Danny Hill's claim to White Hart Lane fame. The 30-year-old Hornchurch midfielder has played for a victorious Spurs side in a north London derby at Highbury.

It is a source of much frustration to the club's fans that the last time they claimed bragging rights at their rivals' home was a 3-1 win in May 1993.

Aged 18 at the time, Edmonton-born Hill was making only his second start for Spurs after being asked by manager Terry Venables to fill in for Nicky Barmby in the big grudge match. It turned out to be one of the memorable moments of his career.

Even though Arsenal had already beaten Spurs in the 1993 FA Cup semi-final and Gunners manager George Graham had decided to rest players ahead of the final with Sheffield Wednesday, Hill insists the achievement was not diminished in anyway.

He said: "Ian Wright wasn't playing, nor was Tony Adams and there were some fringe players in their team. I remember the Arsenal fans making excuses afterwards saying the result was meaningless because of the missing players but it didn't matter to us. It was a Spurs victory over Arsenal at Highbury.

"When we got back in the changing rooms, you could see what it meant to the senior players. They were shouting and hollering and banging on the changing room doors. We were so pleased to have won."

The victory was especially poignant for Hill, who was born in North Middlesex Hospital - which is less than a mile from White Hart

Lane - and had been on his hometown club's books since the age of 10.

He said: "A couple of weeks before the game, I made my debut against Chelsea and then got my first start at Liverpool. Although we lost 6-2, Terry Venables spoke to me afterwards and told me I would keep my place against Arsenal.

"George Graham had warned the fans in advance that he would be resting players so there was not a huge crowd, but it felt big enough. Fortunately, everything fell into place. We got an early goal and in the end we could have scored four.

"I remember Teddy Sheringham scoring - he was chuffed because it helped him win the Golden Boot that year. John Hendry scored the other two goals. The atmosphere was incredible, it was a great day."

Hill remained a bit-part player at Spurs for five further seasons before switching to Cardiff and then returning to London with Dagenham. He now works two or three days a week as a plumber to supplement his "petrol money" wage at hard-up Hornchurch.

Hendry also ended up in the non-League - with Glasgow club Pollok following three years at Motherwell.

The 35-year-old, who is now retired from football and works in business development for a communications company, remains proud of his record as the last Spurs player to

score the winner at Highbury. Hendry said: "It's nice that people remember me for that game, but, for the sake of the fans, I would love to see them win on Monday. The best times were at Spurs."