Newport County play Spurs in an FA Cup fourth round tie at Rodney Parade on Saturday (5.30pm) in front of 10,000 spectators. The clash will be broadcast live on BT Sport 2, while there is live coverage on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and Radio 5 live.
Newport manager Billy Lucas looked left-back Bryn Jones in the eye and spoke with real venom, saying: “No brotherly love today – clatter him the first chance you get.”
Swansea-born Bryn was about to mark his brother, Spurs winger Cliff, in an FA Cup tie at Somerton Park.
Tottenham, led by Danny Blanchflower, were a year away from winning the Football League and cup double and rated among the best teams in Europe.
Bryn followed instructions and launched himself at Cliff with a series of hard challenges designed to put the speed ace off his game.
Hard-Man Lucas also wanted Tottenham playmaker Tommy Harmer dealt with and ordered Portsmouth-born Les Riggs, a tough tackling half-back to hit him hard.
“Both my parents were at the game and mam had a go at Bryn for kicking me,” said Cliff after Spurs had won a bruising third round clash in 1960.
“Bryn never took any prisoners my brother and at one stage he took me right out, big time.”
“I told he ‘It’s alright mam, that is just part of the game.’
“We had a little smile about that afterwards and I was pleased to have the chance to play against my brother. It wasn’t pleasant at the time because he made sure it wouldn’t be, but good memories looking back.
“We had boys who could give it and take it and the current Spurs team have their little share of players who can do that as well.
“Pochettino is a winner,” the 82-year-old added.”I’m sure there won’t be any resting of players.
“He’ll be taking this game seriously, big time, and will pick a team to do that.”
The Jones brothers played against each other in Newport v Spurs FA Cup ties in 1959 and 1960. Tottenham won both, 4-1 at White Hart Lane and 4-0 at Somerset respectively.
County players, including 19-year-old Cardiff man Keith Fry, were excited to play against the Spurs stars and went into the away dressing room at Somerton Park after the game to ask for autographs.
“I had seven Tottenham signatures,” recalls Fry.
Manager Bill Nicholson, who was born 99 years ago today, and his Spurs players were building towards becoming Football League champions in 1961. They were able to relax and prepare thoroughly, while Newport players had some non-football work to get through.
They trained every morning and then went back after lunch to work on the Somerton Park pitch.
Mud was scraped off the pitch surface and lorry loads of sand delivered – up to 140 tonnes in total. The Newport squad pushed wheelbarrows full of sand over planks laid around the pitch and spread it with shovels.
“It was a difficult match and conditions were not the best,” said Cliff. “I don’t think too many of today’s footballers would have relished it very much.”
County manager Billy Lucas said: “Somerton Park does not look like Wembley, but we had a lucky break with the weather this week and are able to play.”
In 1960 Newport were hoping to make a profit of £1,250, but the South Wales Argus reported at the time: “Because of the waterlogged, churned-up state of the pitch, help had to be called in to get Somerton Park ready for the tie.
“For a week a squad of workers – at times more than 20 of them – toiled hard, turning quagmire into a playable surface.”
The cost of that work was around £600 and County’s net profit was less than £700.
On Saturday, Newport, who have progressed from the first round, can relax in the knowledge that their Rodney Parade playing surface is in excellent condition. Their players can focus on preparing for the match and the club have made a total £432,800 from FA prize money, broadcast, commercial and television fees so far.
This weekend Harry Kane and his fellow Tottenham stars swap the luxury of Wembley to play at a stadium County share with two rugby clubs – Dragons and Newport RFC.
Cliff Jones, 82, is a Spurs man through and through, regularly working on the hospitality side at Wembley and the Welshman says: “Newport will sneak a goal at some stage and that might make it extremely interesting.
“The home team will be totally committed and it won’t be 4-0, but there will be goals.”
1960: Newport County 0, Spurs 4 at Somerton Park.
Attendance: 22,655.
Goalscorers: Blanchflower, Smith, Allen (2).
Spurs manager: Bill Nicholson.
Spurs team: Bill Brown, Maurice Norman, Dave Mackay, Peter Baker, Ron Henry, Danny Blanchflower, Les Allen, Bobby Smith, Cliff Jones, Tommy Harmer, John White.
Newport manager: Billy Lucas.
1959: Spurs 4, Newport County 1 at White Hart Lane.
Attendance: 50,561.
Goalscorers, Spurs: Dave Dunmore (2), Bobby Smith (2).
County: Cardiff-born Ken Hollyman played for the Bluebirds and County.
Spurs manager: Bill Nicholson.
Spurs team: John Hollowbread, Mel Hopkins, Maurice Norman, Peter Baker, Bill Dodge, Jim Iley, Dave Dunmore, Bobby Smith, Cliff Jones, Johnny Brooks, Tommy Harmer.
Newport manager: Billy Lucas, who scored the only goal for Wales in a 1-0 win against England at Ninian Park in 1942.
Attendance: 30,000
Wales team:
George Poland. From Penarth, rejected by Cardiff City as an outfield player, but became highly rated goalkeeper.
Bert Turner. Merthyr Tydfil-born, played for Charlton Athletic. Served with the Welch Regiment.
William Hughes. Carmarthen-born, Wales captain. Played for Chelsea, later in career helped Flint Town win the Welsh Cup, beating Cardiff City in the semi-final and Chester in the final.
Donald Dearson. Ynysybwl. Played for Barry Town, Birmingham and Coventry. Completed apprenticeship as electrician at Aberthaw Cement Works before becoming a professional footballer.
Thomas Jones. Born Connah’s Quay. Played for Wrexham, Everton and later became manager at Pwllheli and Bangor. Nicknamed ‘TG’ because his second name was George. Everton goals ace Dixie Dean described Jones as the best all-round footballer he had ever seen. ‘TG’ ran the Tower Hotel, Pwllheli and became a journalist at the Liverpool Daily Post.
Douglas Witcomb. Born Cwm. Played alongside fellow miner Ron Burgess, who later won the First Division title with Spurs, for Ebbw Vale Schools. The two pals joined Spurs together, but moved on and played for West Brom.
Idris Hopkins. Born Merthyr Tydfil. Played for Crystal Palace, later worked as a steeplejack and at an aeroplane factory.
Frank Squires. Born Swansea. Played for Merthyr and the Swans.
George Lowrie. Born Tonypandy. Played for Swansea, Preston North End, Coventry and Newcastle.
William Lucas. Born Newport. Played for Newport County, had three spells as manager. Was captain of Swansea when they won the Third Division South title and two Welsh Cups.
Leslie Jones. Born Aberdare. Was apprentice in his father’s butchers shop before joining Cardiff City. Also played for Coventry and Arsenal, where he helped the Gunners become Division One champions. Was also Swansea and Barry manager.
England: George Marks (Arsenal), Edris Hapgood (Arsenal, capt), Cliff Britton (Arsenal), George Mason (Coventry), Frank Soo (Stoke), Alfred Kirchen (Arsenal), George Hall (Spurs), Tommy Lawton (Everton), Maurice Edelston (Reading), Leslie Smith (Brentford).