Tottenham bury Bill Nicholson’s ashes where old and new stadiums intersect

Tottenham Hotspur buried the ashes of legendary Spurs manager Bill Nicholson under the pitch at White Hart Lane after he passed in 2004. Before the demolition of Spurs’ historic stadium this past spring, they were moved for safekeeping.

Now they’re back home. According to a report on Spurs’ website, Tottenham officials re-interred Nicholson’s remains, along with those of his wife Darkie, underneath Spurs’ new stadium in a private ceremony attended by Bill and Darkie’s living descendants.

Bill’s ashes were laid to rest at a point under Spurs’ new ground “below where the new pitch will overlap the old,” returning the manager who last won a league title for Spurs to his rightful place in north London.

Nicholson’s daughter Jean told the club that the ceremony was extremely meaningful to the family, and that it’s exactly what Bill and Darkie would have wanted.

“Dad’s dream was always for his beloved Spurs to be the best in the world and it is clear that this new stadium project is a giant step towards that aspiration. We are proud that Dad played a major role in developing the club’s history and that his contribution is being remembered in this way.

”We’re sure Dad would have enjoyed watching the current team play, in the way that he always advocated. The fact that the Spurs are taking him with them into the future means so much to us all.”

Spurs have a long and distinguished history in English football, much of it built upon what Nicholson did for the club, both as a player from 1938-1955, and as a manager from 1958-1974. Tottenham is still in many ways the club that Bill built, and it’s wonderful to see his remains handled by the club in such a respectful and honorable manner.