Synopsis

‘His life will always be committed to the love of the game’ – Sir Alex Ferguson

David Pleat has lived a life at the heart of football, from his debut as an England Schoolboy International in 1960 to his time as a scout for Tottenham Hotspur up to 2024.

At Luton Town, he is perhaps remembered for his dancing on the pitch, after a win over Manchester City secured the club’s top-flight survival in 1983. However, his fifteen years at Kenilworth Road were about much more than that.

In 1986, Pleat was given his shot at the big time at Tottenham Hotspur. But for a fabricated tabloid scandal, his sole season as manager, which featured a third placed finish, an FA Cup Final and a League Cup semi-final, might have been the start of a transformation at White Hart Lane.

After spells at Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday, Pleat twice returned to Tottenham Hotspur, in 1998 as director of football under the chairmanship of Alan Sugar, and from 2002 scouting for the best emerging talent, Deli Alli being just one of the fine footballers he brought to the club during the period when Mauricio Pochettino was head coach.

For this Evening with David Pleat, he is joined by two of the many players who excelled under his astute coaching and who enjoyed their own respective successful football careers. Brian Horton, Pleat’s captain, was later manager himself at Luton Town during their successful seasons during the 1980’s, and Clive Allen scored a record 49 goals for Tottenham Hotspur during the 1986/87 season under David Pleat’s management.