An interview with Paul Miller

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   Paul Maxi Miller came through the ranks at Spurs and was a legend of the lane in his time there. He played in some of our biggest games and played in some our greatest teams. Paul was kind enough to respond to my random request for an interview and also gracious enough for some of you to ask him some of your questions as well. This is the first one I've done over the phone, all the others, apart from Ledley King which we filmed, have been by email. Paul was funny and brutally honest with his answers, it was a real pleasure to talk to him and it gave me a real insight into what it was like for him and the moments he treasures from his time with Spurs. I hope I've managed to convey his answers in a way that you realise how much playing for Spurs meant to him. Please read on and enjoy an interview with Paul Maxi Miller.
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3. AH: You signed schoolboy forms with Spurs, was there anyone else interested in you at the time?
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5. PM: Arsenal, West Ham, QPR, Ipswich, Man Utd, Coventry, Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
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7. AH: So with all those clubs interested why Spurs?
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9. PM: I liked Bill Nicholson but also because I met my school boy hero Bobby Moore and he told me to sign for Spurs as he thought that would be the best place for me and he was absolutely right. There was a good atmosphere there I and got on with the boys there. I trained at all the other clubs, spent a week at Old Trafford but they didn't suit me as well as Spurs did.
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11. AH: What do you remember about your debut, you came through the ranks at Spurs, what was it like getting that chance.
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13. PM: Id been knocking on Keith's door every Friday asking why I wasn't playing for about 6 months previously, the reserve team we had was very good back then. Two and half hours before we played Arsenal, Keith said "Im going to make a change from Saturday, Maxi keeps telling me how good he fucking is so now let him prove it" and that was it I was in the team and played from then on.
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15. AH: You played in the 1981 and 1982 Fa Cup Finals, which we won, which one do you think was the better game and why?
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17. PM: The first one is always the best one, getting your first medal and the way we won it with Rickys best ever goal was special nothing will beat that. The second season we were knackered we played 72 games and I had six injections through the season to get through it. Four other players had injections as well. We were playing on shit pitches, the ball was heavy and it took its toll over the season. The second final we got over the line, we could have done the treble that year, got beat by Liverpool in the Milk Cup Final in the last minute, Barcelona kicked us off the pitch in the Cup Winners Cup Semi Final. We were going well in the league as well but the games took its toll in the end. It was a great season but your first trophy is always the best one.
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19. AH: What memories do you have from before and after those games?
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21. PM: The build up to the games, when we beat Wolves at Highbury in the first one was probably the greatest atmosphere I've ever played in, in my life, the build up then to the final is great Top of the Pops, Blue Peter, signing the song and everything that goes with it. Meeting the Queen Mum at Wembley she was a lovely lady, and you know its what its all about isn't it. Why did we start playing football as a kid? Its because of the Cup Final, you go out with a ball and try and emulate what you saw the players do in the final. So to play in one was surreal, I was luck to play in 4, including the replays, so yeah it was very special.
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23. AH: You scored our opener against Anderlecht in the 1984 UEFA Cup Final First Leg, how confident were you going back to White Hart Lane after drawing 1-1?
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25. PM: We were gutted after the game, as they equalised in the last minute and we felt we should have won 4/5-1. Archie and Mark Falco missed some good chances. We pulverised them, absolutely pulverised them in that first game and we knew they would have to pick up in the second game which they did. We played quite well but they improved massively on the first leg, Saying all that though we were extremely confident we would beat them even though we had three of our world class players missing in Clemence, Hoddle and Ardiles we were never short of confidence in my time at Spurs.
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27. AH: That confidence comes from winning things though doesn't it?
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29. PM: Yes it does, we won 3 but we should have won 5 or 6, its never easy winning a trophy by the way but each one is special.
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31. AH: Apart from that goal what other goal was special to you?
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33. PM: The 25 yarder against Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals of the Cup winners Cup in 1982 was a good one, that one was special I was on top of my game then, I enjoyed that one.
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35. AH: How hard was it seeing Keith Burkinshaw leave after that Final, and how did it affect the players at the time?
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37. PM: Not bad to be honest we knew Keith was going and we accepted it. The problem was the Chairman (Irving Scholar) who wanted to run the show and he ruined it really. Saying that though the club carries on and the team carries on.
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39. AH: Who was the best player you saw play in a Spurs shirt during your time at the club?
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41. PM: Ossie without a doubt the best player I ever played with.
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43. AH: You played alongside Steve Perryman and Graham Roberts during your time at Spurs, what were they like to play alongside?
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45. PM: Steve was our leader, the baby faced assassin, he could make you feel two inches tall with his one liners. Graham a different personality but between he three of us we were winners and we could be quite nasty, which you had to be back then. We all got on though, we had a great camaraderie back then amongst us all. Chrissie Hughton was the Rolls Royce on the other side of us.
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47. Thanks for answering my questions Paul, the following questions are from some followers of the page.
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49. Rob Marlow: You were one of the toughest centre backs that has played for Spurs that I have watched, how many games do you think you would play in the current game in a season due to the current rules, and how many centre backs would last in your era?
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51. PM: You just adapt to the era your playing in, we had the back pass rule changed when we were playing. (Before this rule you could pass the ball back to the goalkeeper and he could pick it up, it was decided to make the game more attacking that you could still do it but the goalkeeper would no longer be allowed to pick the ball up. A major change for a number of teams that used this method to either alleviate a bit of pressure or to launch a quick counter attack by the goalkeeper kicking the ball down the field) If I was bought through the ranks today Id be like Jan and Toby, I wouldn't be as physical because the games changed and you change with it. We all joke about how we would of got sent off in the tunnel but you adapt. People say Bobby Moore wouldn't have been able to play today but half his game was in his head and the way he read the game. You adapt, you can only be great when you played, in the era that you were in, you cant be great in a different era if you didn't play in it.
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53. Julie Sujeewon: If there was one player who we could buy and money was no object from your era who would it be and why?
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55. PM: Kenny Dalglish, Kenny was top draw so if money was no object then him without a doubt.
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57. Ryan Lewis: If you could play with any player from a Spurs team not from your era who would it be and why?
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59. PM: Gareth, Gareth Bale, he was exciting. he has pace and scores great goals. I played with great players but off the top of my head I would say Gareth. Jurgen was another exciting player they would have been great additions to the team I played in.
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61. Stephen Owers: How does this team compare with the one you played in? I know we haven't won anything yet?
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63. PM: There's your answer, you cant compare teams that haven't won things. Saying that, the first on is the hardest one.
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65. Steve Shepherd: What was your favourite game for Spurs not including the Cup Finals?
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67. PM: Easy when we beat Arsenal 5-0 and should have been 8. The day Mark Falco got the wonderful volley, we had seven home grown players in the team that day so yeah that was special. Beating Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield for the first time in 70 odd years was special but also beating Arsenal 3-1 at Highbury on January 1st 1985 to go top of the league. That was a great day and a great evening we had a great dinner at the Ritz that night as well.
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69. Thanks again to Paul for taking time out of his day to do this for me. They are hard to get but hopefully will provoke some wonderful memories fro those reading it as it did for me asking those questions. I real honour and pleasure to do. Anthony
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