Franco’s hot spur

TERRY GIBSON was desperate to win the FA Cup with Spurs – instead, he lifted the trophy with Wimbledon.

Gibson watched as the 1981 Spurs side, inspired by THAT brilliant goal from Ricky Villa, beat Manchester City and then retained the trophy by overcoming QPR.

“I remember thinking that, one day, I wanted that to be me,” said Gibson.

That ambition was realised in 1988 when Gibson emerged from Wembley with a winner’s medal. But it was the Crazy Gang of Wimbledon.

“A fantastic day, the most memorable I have had in football,” recalled Gibson. “I just didn’t expect it to be with Wimbledon.”

Today, fate brings Wimbledon back to the national stadium for their FA Cup clash with Spurs.

“This is a totally different Wimbledon,” said Gibson, who has witnessed their fall and rise. “It is a great story. I could not be happier for them. They captured that Wimbledon spirit that I knew. They had to start from scratch.

“But it is a real club. It was established by the fans and now they have moved all the way through the leagues. It is remarkable. I go down ERIK THORSVEDT has hailed Hugo Lloris as one of the world’s best keepers – but warns the Frenchman the time has come to help Spurs add silverware to the plaudits.

Thorsvedt believes Spurs should remember it’s 27 years since they last lifted the FA Cup. The Norwegian (far right) was in goal for a final best remembered for there as often as I can and it puts you in a happy place.

“I am always made to feel welcome and those fans never forget what we did for the club.

“They are in League One now. From nowhere. It is that famous spirit that got them up there. I love going to watch them and I hope they have a Paul Gascoigne’s madcap challenge on Gary Charles in a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest.

Since then, only two League Cups have been added to the White Hart Lane trophy cabinet.

“For me, you have to look at the trophies that players have won,” said Thorsvedt. “You can’t fantastic day out at Wembley.” And the memories come flooding back from that day on May 14, 1988 when, against all the odds, Wimbledon beat Liverpool 1-0, courtesy of a Lawrie Sanchez goal.

“If I remember anything from the build-up, it was that we were probably the most hated underdogs in an FA Cup Final,” said Gibson.

“Normally, people love the underdog, but, because of our style, our reputation and the way we feared no one, that wasn’t the case.

“Our style was fault Hugo for anything, qualitywise, but what people always talk about is winning things. “When it comes to quality, there’s no doubt that Hugo (left) is up there with Ray Clemence and Pat Jennings, but they got their hands on trophies. “That’s the next step for Tottenham. It’s such pretty basic and, OK, aggressive, but we made the best from what we had. No one liked playing us.

“I remember one article saying it would be a great day for football if Liverpool beat us.

“You see, we weren’t supposed to win anything. We were hated all over the country.

“My debut, after I joined from Manchester United, was against Derby.

“We were booed off the coach, during the game and then when we got back on the coach. So that was a great payback when we beat Liverpool. A great day that will stay with me for ever.

“And now I want to see more great days back there.

“The soul of the club is back.” a good time to be a Spurs fan, but they need to win something.

“If they keep going the way they are, then that’s going to happen and, when that does, Hugo will be mentioned in the same breath as those great keepers I mentioned.

“Hugo is a huge figure in that dressing room now – you can see how influential he is. I just hope he stays for another 10 years.”

CUP STUNNER 2: Villa (on the ground) after his belter against City WINNERS: Terry Gibson (right) with Sanchez CUP STUNNER 1: Lawrie Sanchez scores the winner against Liverpool MAURICIO POCHETTINO said the FA Cup was not a priority for Tottenham earlier this season – but Harry Winks is hoping he changes his mind.The Spurs’ boss made it clear the Premier League and Champions League were top of his agenda, with the cup a poor third.But with the title now a vanished dream and Euro glory a tough ask – especially with Juventus around – Winks is keeping his fingers crossed the manager will think again.The midfielder said: “For me, the FA Cup’s massively important. It is a magical trophy everyone wants to win in their career.”At every Spurs’ home game the ‘Ossie’s Dream’ anthem is played – a reminder of Spurs’ great heritage in the cup.“The cup is something we take very seriously,” Winks added. “As English players growing up, it is a bit more special.“When the foreign lads arrive, they understand how important the FA Cup is. They understand what it means to the club and supporters.” AFC WIMBLEDON’S George Francomb wants redemption for two broken hearts when he comes up against Tottenham at Wembley today.The midfielder, 26, was dumped by Spurs aged 15 and, even though he’s still a huge fan, he admits he’d love to net against them.He was also devastated to miss out on playing at the national stadium when an injury ruled him out of the League Two play-off final in 2016.Francomb said: “I’d done my knee just before the play-off, so I missed out playing at Wembley, that was a bit of a low point.“That’s almost a bigger thing for me than even playing against Spurs, to right that wrong.”