London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Oct 09, 2026

Football pays tribute to Jimmy Greaves

Football pays tribute to Jimmy Greaves

Tottenham and Chelsea led the tributes for their former player Jimmy Greaves, who has died aged 81.

A host of Spurs legends lined the pitch inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as a minute's applause was held before kick-off.

Martin Chivers, Steve Perryman, Micky Hazard, Paul Allen, Ossie Ardiles, Gary Mabbutt, Graham Roberts, Glenn Hoddle, Ledley King and Michael Dawson were all present.

During the applause, some Spurs fans held flags and banners to remember the club's record goalscorer.

Former Spurs and England striker Gary Lineker told BBC Sport: "Jimmy had a fabulous contribution to football, an incredible goalscoring record.

"He was devilishly funny as well with his wit and personality, so charismatic. But on the field of play people will remember him most. Those of us that are old enough to have witnessed his magnificence at times, he could score all sorts of goals and was a beautifully graceful footballer and a wonderful finisher.

"For me, Jimmy was one of my heroes as well. Growing up watching him play we didn't have the amount of games on television that we now do but I managed to see him play a few times.

"I also was fortunate enough to meet him on numerous occasions and he was always affable and fun and hugely knowledgeable. He was a great personality, a wonderful footballer and a man with huge charisma and fun and he will be much missed."

On an emotional day across football grounds, West Ham, another of Greaves' former clubs, also held a minute's applause before their Premier League match against Manchester United, as did Brighton and Leicester City.

Players from all six teams wore black armbands for Greaves, who holds the record for most goals in the English top flight with 357.

Spurs captain Harry Kane, who is second behind Greaves on the club's scoring list, told Sky Sports before facing Chelsea: "First and foremost our condolences to Jimmy's family and close friends. It's a sad one but hopefully a day we can celebrate.

"He played for Tottenham and Chelsea and hopefully we put in a great performance in his honour.

"Jimmy was an incredible player and goalscorer and a legend for club and country.

"It's frightening really how good a player he was. For someone like me to look at his numbers and one day go on to break those numbers would be incredible. I got to meet him back in 2017 and it's just a celebration of him today."

Greaves began his career with Chelsea and his 41 goals in 1960-61 remains a record in a season for the Blues.

Greaves won two FA Cups and one Cup Winners' Cup and scored 266 goals in 379 appearances for Spurs, where he is considered a club legend.


Some Spurs fans held flags and banners to remember the club's record goalscorer
West Ham displayed images of their former striker around London Stadium as a minute's applause was held
West Ham and Manchester United players wore black armbands
Brighton and Leicester players took part in a minute's applause and wore black armbands

Greaves was a member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad and scored 44 goals in his 57 senior international appearances.

Former team-mate Geoff Hurst was among those to pay tribute to Greaves.




Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK and Germany Finalize Kensington Treaty to Strengthen Defense and Technology Cooperation
Britain Maintains Diplomatic Mission in East Jerusalem Despite Israeli Closure Deadline
English Councils Push Government to Rethink Proposed Funding Cuts
Scottish Homebuilding Falls to Lowest Level in 11 Years
BBC Chief Matt Brittin Defends Restructuring as Staff Challenge Job Cuts
UK Finance Warns High Energy Costs and Bond Yields Are Complicating Fiscal Outlook
UK Adopts All 44 Recommendations on Regulating AI in Healthcare
Chancellor John Healey Prepares Autumn Budget as Borrowing Costs Strain Public Finances
UK Investigators See Strong Indications of Iranian Link After RAF Fairford Security Operation
Laura Trott Pledges Tighter Controls on Political Activism in UK Classrooms
Welsh Ministers Launch Long-Term Review of North Wales and Anglesey Crossings
Welsh Government Orders 18-Month Study of Road Solutions Around Newport
Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin Faces Scrutiny Over £800,000 Second Home Purchase
British Households Grow More Concerned About Fuel and Energy Prices
NHS Leaders Warn of Rising Winter Pressure on Emergency Departments
Kemi Badenoch Proposes £2.3 Billion Employer National Insurance Cut for Young Workers
Middle East Conflict Could Erase UK Fiscal Headroom, Economists Warn
Manchester City Found Guilty of Multiple Premier League Financial Rule Breaches
UK Security Services Find Strong Indications of Iranian Role in RAF Fairford Incident
Costa Coffee Returns to Operating Profit on Iced Drinks and Menu Changes
Asos Warns Customers After Unauthorized Access to Retail App and Data
Kemi Badenoch Puts Growth and Deregulation at Center of Conservative Conference
Campaigners Warn of Deepening Social Care Crisis for Disabled Adults
Study Finds Rising Early-Onset Cancer Rates Among Adults Under 50 in Britain
UK Coach Operators Warn High Diesel Prices Could Force Route Cuts
FCA Opens Independent Review Into Handling of Epstein-Linked Whistleblower Case
Argentina Vows to Block Falkland Islands Offshore Oil Development
UK Chancellor Prepares Fiscal Measures and Welfare Reforms Ahead of Autumn Budget
Sainsbury’s and Morrisons Explore Potential Multi-Billion-Pound Merger
UK Weighs Tariffs on Chinese Electric Vehicles to Align With European Union
UK Threatens Diplomatic Expulsions Over Planned Closure of East Jerusalem Consulate
UK Energy Price Cap Hits Three-Year High as Middle East Conflict Raises Costs
Seventh Arrest Made in Suspected Terror Plot at RAF Fairford
Systemic Education Collapse Sparks Mass Student Uprisings in France
Green Party Faces Backlash Over Resolution Equating Zionism With Racism
Conservatives Debate Scrapping Environmental Rules for New Homes
Cornwall Insight Warns UK Energy Bills Could Approach £2,000 This Winter
UK Coach Operators Warn of Service Cuts as Diesel Prices Exceed £2
Scottish Parliament Approves £68 Billion Budget With New Tax and Property Measures
FCA Opens Independent Review Into Handling of Epstein Whistleblower
UK Government Drops Plan to Suspend Jury Trials in England and Wales
Bank of England Holds Interest Rate at 3.75% as Markets Watch November
Two Iranian Nationals Charged Over Alleged Plot Targeting Manchester Jewish Community
UK Fiscal Headroom Halves to £11 Billion Ahead of Budget, EY Warns
US Bomber Withdrawal From RAF Fairford Prompts UK Security Review
Sarah Wakfer Appointed Chair of Northern Ireland’s Health and Care Regulator
Scotland Housing Completions Fall to 11-Year Low Amid National Shortage
UK Water Companies Face Tougher Oversight and Unannounced Regulatory Inspections
Middle East Conflict Pushes UK Fuel and Wholesale Energy Prices Higher
Andy Burnham Raises Prospect of Second Brexit Referendum in Review of UK-EU Relations
×