Martin Chivers, a towering figure on the football pitch, has left us at the age of 80. The former Tottenham Hotspur and England striker was an unlikely giant, standing at 6ft 1in tall and weighing just 13st, yet he used his natural strength to outmaneuver opponents with ease. His impressive aerial ability, smooth movement, and exceptional finishing skills made him a fan favourite, and his ratio of 174 goals in 367 matches places him fourth on the Spurs' all-time list.
Chivers rose through the ranks at Southampton before making a record-breaking £125,000 transfer to Tottenham in 1968. He quickly became an integral part of the team, forming a deadly partnership with Jimmy Greaves and Alan Gilzean. The arrival of Martin Peters proved to be a smart move as well, allowing Chivers to maintain his goal-scoring form.
The 1970s were a golden era for Chivers, who played in every Spurs match during the 1970-71 season and scored an impressive 34 goals, including two in the League Cup final. His subsequent seasons saw him continue to excel, scoring 42 times in 62 matches in the 1971-72 campaign.
Chivers also represented England, although his international career was marked by disappointment. He appeared in several European Championship qualifiers, but the team's inability to qualify for the 1974 World Cup meant that Chivers never got to experience the tournament with his country. A two-legged defeat against West Germany in the quarter-finals was a harsh reality.
Despite this setback, Chivers found success in club football, winning the League Cup twice with Tottenham and a cup double with Swiss club Servette in Geneva. After retiring from professional football, he went on to become a successful businessman, running the Brookmans Park hotel/pub in Hertfordshire for nearly two decades.
Chivers was a devoted family man, marrying his second wife Julia and having four children between them. He remained involved in the Spurs community until his passing, hosting charity matches and working with veterans teams. His legacy as one of Tottenham's greatest strikers will live on through his impressive goal tally and his unwavering dedication to the club he loved.
Chivers rose through the ranks at Southampton before making a record-breaking £125,000 transfer to Tottenham in 1968. He quickly became an integral part of the team, forming a deadly partnership with Jimmy Greaves and Alan Gilzean. The arrival of Martin Peters proved to be a smart move as well, allowing Chivers to maintain his goal-scoring form.
The 1970s were a golden era for Chivers, who played in every Spurs match during the 1970-71 season and scored an impressive 34 goals, including two in the League Cup final. His subsequent seasons saw him continue to excel, scoring 42 times in 62 matches in the 1971-72 campaign.
Chivers also represented England, although his international career was marked by disappointment. He appeared in several European Championship qualifiers, but the team's inability to qualify for the 1974 World Cup meant that Chivers never got to experience the tournament with his country. A two-legged defeat against West Germany in the quarter-finals was a harsh reality.
Despite this setback, Chivers found success in club football, winning the League Cup twice with Tottenham and a cup double with Swiss club Servette in Geneva. After retiring from professional football, he went on to become a successful businessman, running the Brookmans Park hotel/pub in Hertfordshire for nearly two decades.
Chivers was a devoted family man, marrying his second wife Julia and having four children between them. He remained involved in the Spurs community until his passing, hosting charity matches and working with veterans teams. His legacy as one of Tottenham's greatest strikers will live on through his impressive goal tally and his unwavering dedication to the club he loved.
but martin chivers was like a giant on the pitch, no one expected him to be that good 
he played with heart and soul, and scored those goals like nobody's business 
that partnership with greaves and alan gilzean was pure magic 
i'm glad tottenham won some cups with him leading the charge 
and it's sad that england didn't qualify for the 74 world cup, but he still had an amazing club career 
Martin Chivers is such a legend 
! I mean, can u believe he scored 174 goals in just 367 matches?! 
That's insane for a guy who was only like 13st and 6ft 1in tall 
. And to think he formed that deadly partnership with Greaves and Gilzean... their chemistry on the pitch must've been 
! 
. He may not have won any major international trophies, but his achievements at Tottenham are still up there 
! Anyway, my thoughts and prayers go out to his family... RIP Martin 
Can you believe it's been over 40 years since Martin Chivers was dominating the football pitch? I mean, the guy was only 6ft 1in but he looked like a giant out there! His record of 174 goals in 367 matches is insane and still holds him high up on Tottenham's all-time list. 
80s football legend Martin Chivers is gone 
. Can't say I'm surprised, considering how tough that sport can be on people's bodies. He had a pretty decent career, scoring all those goals for Spurs and England 
. Anyway, it's all over now, so RIP Martin Chivers 
. Guess we'll just have to see how his family does without him 
.
And let's not forget about the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, it's sad news indeed that he was battling the illness while in hospital 
. His passing is a loss for football fans worldwide and his family must be going through tough times right now 
his legacy will live on through the fans who grew up watching him play and the next generation of spurs players who can learn from his example 
. But did you see his stats on the England side? 4 Euro qualifier games and nothin'. Not even makin' it to the World Cup 
. Still, can't deny the man was a legend on the pitch 
. Guess that's what happens when you live life at 6ft 1in tall and weigh just 13st 
. Anyway, Spurs fans are gonna miss him, wish 'im all the best 
.
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. And did I mention he had a successful business stint too? The guy was like a Swiss Army knife - versatile and accomplished in everything he did 
.
Martin Chivers might've been a bit of an underdog on the pitch but he definitely left his mark, you feel? I mean, 174 goals in 367 matches for Tottenham is still crazy! He was more than just a tall guy with a strong build, he had skills and class. His partnership with Jimmy Greaves and Alan Gilzean was pure magic. The way he scored those goals, it's like he was untouchable on the pitch 
i feel 4 him because i'm a massive football fan too 
anyway i read that he had 174 goals in 367 matches & thats insane!!! 
I'm so glad he got to enjoy some success with Spurs, especially that League Cup win