Spurs legend Ossie Ardiles attends Bill Nicholson's blue plaque unveiling in Scarborough

Bill Nicholson was born on January 26, 1919 at 15 Vine Street, Scarborough, which is now part of Duggleby Auctioneers warehouse premises.

He left school at 16 to work for a local laundry. However, in February 1936, he received a letter out of the blue inviting him for a trial at the north London club.

He only played 11 games before his career was interrupted by the Second World War, which saw him enlist with the Durham Light Infantry.

He worked as an infantry training instructor and then in the Army Physical Training Corps, where he rose to the rank of sergeant.

While home on leave in 1942, he married Grace, a machinist, from Tottenham. He returned to Spurs in 1946 aged 27. With Bill playing at right-back, the club won the league championship for the first time in their history in the 1950-51 season.

Bill played only once for England, on May 19 1951, during the injury of Billy Wright who played in the same position. However, he scored after only 19 seconds with his first touch of the ball.

Bill’s playing career came to an end in 1955, and he joined Spurs coaching staff. Skills gained from his service in the army put him in good stead for the role.

He was later appointed assistant manager and Spurs asked him to take over as their manager in October 1958 at the age of 39.

In the 1960-61 season Spurs completed the double, winning the league title for the second time and the FA Cup. Spurs won the FA Cup again in 1961-62.

In 1963, Spurs had success in Europe, winning the Cup Winners Cup, beating Athletico Madrid 5-1.

They won the FA Cup for a third time in seven years at the end of the 1966-67 season, won the league cup in 1971 and 1973, and a second European trophy (the UEFA Cup) in 1972. Bill announced his retirement as manager in 1974.

Bill always remembered his Scarborough roots. Throughout his time as player and manager, he returned to the town every year to spend his summer holiday with his mother and sister Edith.

He lived in the same modest terraced house, within a ten-minute walk of the White Hart Lane ground throughout his playing and managing career. He named it Peasholm.

Among those who attended the unveiling were Tottenham’s Club Ambassador Ossie Ardiles, who played for Spurs between 1978 – 1988 and who managed them for a short period in 1993-4, Tony Stephens, Tottenham Hotspur Head of Corporate Communications, representatives from the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust, who sponsored the plaque, Bill’s daughters Jean and Linda, and his nephew Paul Nicholson.