Spurs legends Glen Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles became household names in SA after their phenomenal performances in the Tottenham FA Cup final victories of 1981 and 1982 (picture: dailymail.co.uk).
In South Africa the third most popular English premiership team behind Manchester United and Liverpool is without doubt Tottenham Hotspur and this was likely due to the early days of television in South Africa having coincided with the wonderful Spurs teams of the early 1980s, which made two successive FA Cup finals, winning both of them after replays.
Those Spurs sides included legends like Glen Hoddle, one of the most creative players in football history, and the Argentinian wizard Ossie Ardiles, who had a range of breathtaking skills and tricks.
A lesser known member of the 1980s Spurs team was the forward Alan Brazil, who made his name as a member of the great Bobby Robson-managed late 70s-early 80s Ipswich Town team, who finished second in the top flight twice, third twice and they also won the FA Cup in 1978.
Hoddle and Ardiles had spells with Spurs as both players and managers.
Today Hoddle, Ardiles and Brazil are teammates once again as an owning partnership in a couple of thoroughbred racehorses in the U.K.
They have two horses together and one of them was due to run at Salisbury today, but the meeting was abandoned.
The Mirror wrote the below article about the former teammates and now racing partners on July 26:
Tottenham Hotspur legends Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles are teammates again as owners of a winning racehorses.
The duo, linchpins of the Spurs midfield during the 1980s, have been joined by another former player Alan Brazil to head a racehorse syndicate.
They became winning owners together for the first time when the two-year-old filly Miss Fascinator captured the first race at Ascot on Friday.
On her third start for trainer Roger Varian, the 77,000gns juvenile pulled clear of newcomer Musical Angel to score under Silvestre De Sousa by two and three quarter lengths.
Back in fourth was Pearl Of Windsor, who is owned by Ify Madueke, whose son is the Chelsea star Noni Madueke.
Hoddle, Ardiles and Brazil were all absent for the victory but were informed of the success by racing manager Gary Coffey.
“This is a fun racing syndicate made up of mainly Spurs supporters,” said Coffey. “Our boss Graham Smith-Bernal, who owns Newsells Park Stud, is a Spurs enthusiast.
“So Glenn, Ossie and Alan are unfortunately not here but they are on the phone and are thrilled we’ve scored our first goal, if you like. It’s onwards and upwards from here.
“She is a lovely filly which we bought at the Breeze-ups with Jamie Piggott, She got stuck in the mud the last day at Newmarket but today the quicker ground suited her perfectly.”
Argentina World Cup winner Ardiles has visited the Tattersalls sales with Smith-Bernal while TalkSport presenter Brazil has owned a number of horses since hanging up his boots.
“Ossie has freely admitted this is a new world for him and he is enjoying every minute of the ride,” said Coffey. “It’s only since Graham set up the syndicate that he’s got involved.
“Alan has always followed racing and Glenn is very involved as well. He was in touch this morning about today’s race.”
