On 21 August, Bale scored twice in a 2–1 win at Stoke City, the second of which was a head-high volley into the top right hand corner of the goal.[56] This was later awarded Goal of the Month for August 2010 by the BBC. On 25 August, Bale set up all four goals to help Spurs overcome Young Boys 4–0 (6–3 agg.) in a Champions League play-off at White Hart Lane.[57]Although Assou-Ekotto had already returned from injury, Bale continued his good form and cemented his place in the starting eleven, moving forward to left wing to accommodate Assou-Ekotto at left back. On 29 September 2010, Bale scored his first Champions League goal for Tottenham in a 4–1 home win against Dutch champions FC Twente in their second game of the group stages. In recognition, he was named Welsh Player of the Year by the FAW.[58]
On 20 October 2010, Bale scored his first senior hat trick against European champions Inter Milan at the San Siro in the Champions League. Tottenham lost the match 4–3, having been 4–0 down inside the first 35 minutes and playing with ten men for over 80 minutes of the match after goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes had been sent off in the eighth minute for aprofessional foul on Inter's Jonathan Biabiany.[59] In the return match at White Hart Lane on 2 November, Bale provided aman of the match performance, setting up goals for Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko to earn Spurs a memorable 3–1 win.[60]
In December, Bale was awarded the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year trophy.[61] On 4 November 2010, Bale stated that he intended to remain at Tottenham for the remainder of his recently signed four-year contract, despite reported interest from other clubs,[62] and on 19 March 2011, he extended his stay at the club until 2015.[63] On 17 April 2011, Bale was honoured with the PFA Player of the Year award, as voted for by his peers.[64]
2011–12 season
Bale scored his first goal of the season on 24 September 2011, in an away game against Wigan Athletic.[65] The game ended in a 2–1 victory for Tottenham. He added his second and third goals of the season on 30 October with two goals against Queens Park Rangers in a 3–1 home win.[66] He continued his good form with the first goal in a 3–1 victory over Fulham the following week, whilst also setting up Aaron Lennon who made it 2–0 on the stroke of half time.[67] The first goal against Fulham was later ruled by the "dubious goals committee" to be an own goal by Chris Baird.[68]
On 3 December 2011, Bale scored the first goal in Tottenham's 3–0 victory over Bolton Wanderers. He marked the goal with a tribute to Gary Speed by holding up his left boot, with "R.I.P Gary Speed" stitched on it, in front of the Bolton fans.[69] On 27 December, Bale scored twice to give Tottenham a 2–0 win against Norwich City.[70] On 5 January 2012, Bale was one of the players voted into theUEFA Team of the Year 2011. He scored his third brace of the season as he scored twice against Wigan on 31 January to take his tally to ten goals for the season.[71] In January 2012 he was the Premier League Player of the Month for the second time in his career, after three goals and two assists in the Premier League for the month.[72]
On 27 June 2012, Bale signed a new four-year contract, committing his future to the club until 2016.
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