London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Sep 02, 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
Cleveland Police Receive £2 Million to Tackle Serious Crime in Middlesbrough
Number of Young People in England Without a Close Friend Reaches Record Level
Five Arrested After Newborn Baby Dies From Stab Wounds in Sheffield
Nigel Farage Faces Questions Over Reported Second Parliamentary Standards Investigation
UK Retirement Funding Requirement Rises by £64,000 Compared With 2021
UK House Prices Rise for First Time Since April, Nationwide Says
FCA Chief Faces Allegations of Intimidating Consumer Group Over £9 Billion Car Loan Inquiry
Scottish Government Presses Ahead With Cap on Essential Food Prices
Burnham Government Moves to Overhaul Early Prison Release Scheme
UK Records Hottest Summer on Record in 2026, Met Office Says
UK Government Announces Major Reset of Diplomatic Policy Towards Israel
UK Pushes Back After Trump Reopens Falkland Islands Sovereignty Dispute
Keir Starmer Resigns as MP, Triggering Holborn and St Pancras By-Election
Andy Burnham Blames Brexit for UK’s Decade of Weak Growth in First Commons Address
England Faces Renewed Scrutiny Over Sewage Discharges and Water Quality
Victoria Beckham Business Reports First Operating Profit Since Launch
BT Expects £2 Billion From Copper Sales During Full-Fibre Rollout
UK Train Drivers Secure 3.6% Pay Rise and Avert Strike Action
FCA Chief Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Pressure on Consumer Group in Car Finance Case
Kemi Badenoch Names Andrew Griffith Shadow Chancellor in Conservative Reshuffle
UK House Prices Rise for First Time Since April
UK Shop-Price Inflation Accelerates to 1.5% in August
Met Office Data Point to Hottest UK Summer on Record
UK Announces Emergency Prison Release Measures and £110 Million Capacity Expansion
UK Launches Expanded Free School Meals and 1,400 Breakfast Clubs
Bank of England Governor Warns G20 of AI-Related Economic and Cyber Risks
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Calls for Greater Public Control of Water, Energy and Transport
UK Gains Full Access to £13 Trillion Trans-Pacific Trade Bloc
UK Long-Term Borrowing Costs Hit 28-Year High as Oil Shock Drives Global Bond Selloff
Royal Mail Keeps First-Class Stamps at £1.80 and Second-Class at 91p
Church of England Prepares Formal Apology Over Historical Forced Adoptions
UK Competition Regulator Caps Veterinary Prescription Fees at £21
UK Aviation Authorities Roll Out Airspace Changes to Reduce Flight Delays
England Makes School Allergy Policies Mandatory Under Benedict’s Law
England and Wales Tighten Child Safeguarding Checks by Removing Supervision Exemption
Cornwall Geothermal Plant Begins Commercial Power and Lithium Operations
UK Inflation Holds Near 2.9% as Energy Costs Remain a Risk
UK Productivity Growth Averages 1.1% Over Two Years, Resolution Foundation Says
England Introduces Nationwide School Smartphone Ban and Uniform Limits
UK Gives Border Officers New Powers to Seize Migrants’ Mobile Phones
Green Party Wins First Westminster By-Election in Gorton and Denton
UK and EU Advance Gibraltar Border Deal Allowing Spanish Guards to Conduct Arrival Checks
Robert Jenrick Joins Reform UK After Losing Conservative Whip
Andy Burnham Faces First Prime Minister’s Questions After Labour Cabinet Overhaul
ScottishPower Recycles Nearly All Materials From Historic Hagshaw Hill Wind Farm
Millions Travel Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland for Summer Bank Holiday
Met Office Issues Yellow Thunderstorm Warnings Across Southern England
Four Arrested After Bank Holiday Stabbing Violence in Kettering
Scottish Chamber of Commerce Warns Tax and Business Costs Risk Holding Back Scotland
UK Government Launches Youth Employment Drive With Major Retailers
×