Tottenham Hotspur legend and long-time Redbourn resident Ron Henry died on Saturday (28) aged 80.

A member of the famous double-winning team, he played as a left back and won the league and FA Cup double with Spurs in 1961.

He was also with the team that went on to win the FA Cup in 1962 and the European Cup Winners Cup in 1963.

A twin - his brother Vic still lives in the village - Ron’s links with Redbourn went back to when he and his family were evacuated from the East End of London during the war.

He attended junior school in Redbourn and the then Manland Secondary Modern School in Harpenden where his footballing talent and all-round sporting prowess was spotted - he played at outside left for the school, district and county boys’ football teams.

He signed amateur forms for Luton Town where he was spotted by a scout from Tottenham who invited him for a trial. He worked his way up through the divisions with Spurs until he became a regular first team member in 1959, making the left back position his own until 1965.

Ron’s family had opted to stay in Redbourn after the war instead of returning to London and he and Vic bought land in Lybury Lane where they set up a successful market garden which they ran for many years.

Ron’s lifelong passion was breeding and showing Yorkshire canaries and the acres of land at the market garden enabled him to pursue his hobby.

He married a local girl, Edna, who died several years ago. Her funeral was attended by the surviving players from the Spurs’ double winning team.

The couple had a son Steve who played for the Spurs junior team and their grandson Ronnie played for the Tottenham youth teams, making a three-generation link with the team from the same family.

In recent years Ron had lived in a care home in Hemel Hempstead and he died in hospital in Harpenden.

Long-time friend Peter Fox said: “He was a great chap and he never forgot his connections with Redbourn. He helped with the football club and also coached other teams in the county league.”

Spurs confirmed his death on their official website and a minute’s silence in his memory preceded their game against Manchester United on Sunday.