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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - COMPLETE HISTORY 1882 - What was to become
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club was formed by boys from Hotspur cricket club
and from St. John's Presbyterian local grammar school, who used to meet under
a street lamp on Tottenham High
street close to the site of the current ground. The first name used
was 'Hotspur FC' , named after the Duke of
Northumberland's son Percy, who went by the nickname "Harry
Hotspur" and who's fearless heroics would come
to symbolise the character of the club. The first
match was against the Radicals and saw the team lose by two goals on 30th
August 1882, the only other match that season saw Spurs score their first goal, but lost 8-1 to Latymer. The scorer
was not recorded. 1883 - The club was run by
John Ripsher. The team played on the Tottenham
Marshes and wore Navy Blue. Spurs recorded their
first win on the 6th October 1883 with a 9-0
thrashing of Brownlow Rovers, and later that month Buckle was the first
reported Spurs scorer in a 3-1 defeat by Grange Park. 1884 - The club was renamed
"Tottenham Hotspur Football and Athletic club". 1885 - Spurs played their
first ever competitive match - against St Albans in the London Association
Cup on 17th October 1885, and ran out 5-2 winners
(scorers unrecorded) . A good start to what was to
become a famous cup tradition. The kit had changed to light blue and white
halves. 1887 - November 19th 1887 to be precise was the first meeting with Arsenal.
The scum going under their original name of Royal Arsenal we being hammered
2-1 when they whinged to the officials and the game
was abandonded 15 minutes from time, thus
establishing their place in history as cheats, and second best to Tottenham. 1888 - Spurs moved to play
home matches at Northumberland Park and charged an attendance fee for the
first time, 3d! 1890 - A moment of madness, or
the first gooner infiltrator!,
as the kit changes colour once again -this time to Red shirts and Navy shorts! 1895 - Spurs became a
professional club 1896 - Spurs were elected to
the Southern League, thankfully changing our colours
from Red, this time to Chocolate and Gold stripes. 1897 - The first of many cup
finals - although unlike many of the subsequent ones, Spurs lost 2-0 to
Wellingborough in a local charity Cup 1898 - The club changed its colours for the last time to the lilywhite
shirts used by the team of the day Preston North End, but
retained the Navy blue shorts. The club also became
a limited company and a record attendance of 15,000 saw the match against
Woolwich Arsenal. Typically enough, boring Arsenal
spoilt the day by grinding out a 0-0 on 8th April 1898. 1899 - The Club moved to present site which had a capacity of 35,000. The ground
was almost named 'Gilpin Park' but, having never been officially names,
gradually became known as 'White Hart Lane'. The first match was a friendly vs Notts County, and after taking
gross receipts £115 , Spurs ran out 4-1 winners with
an opener from Pratt, followed by a hatrick for
Copeland. 1900 - Spurs become
Champions of the Southern League. 1901 - After victories
against Preston 4-2 after a replay 1-1, Bury 2-1, Reading 3-0 after a replay
1-1 and West Brom 4-0 in the Semi's, Spurs won the FA Challenge Cup by
beating Sheffield United 3-1 after a replay at Burnden
Park, Bolton to become the only non-League club, ever to achieve this honour. Spurs were unlucky not to have won the first
match at Crystal Palace which ended 2-2 as the referee wrongly awarded
Sheffield United an equaliser. Star of the cup run
was Sandy Brown, who scored in 7 of the 8 matches,
including a hatrick in the away win at Preston, all
four in the 4-0 Semi final win against West Brom
and in both finals to register 15 goals overall - a record which will surely
never be broken. 1902 - Runners up in both the
Southern and Western Leagues 1901 - Winners of the Western
League and runners up again inthe
Southern League 1908 - Despite only
finishing 7th in the Southern League, Spurs were elected to the Second
Division of the Football League. 1908 - The club had gone on
a tour of Argentina. on the ship on the way home one of the amusements was a
fancy dress contest, which was eventually won by two of the Tottenham squad
dressed as Robinson Crusoe and Man Friday. Suffering from some understandable
confusion with the story of Long Kevan Silver, they borrowed the ship's pet
parrot. In recognition of their success the bird was presented to the club by
the captain. It survived happily at the club for ten years, dying on the day
that Arsenal were given Spurs' place in the first
division in 1919. 1909 - Spurs win their first
ever league match 3-0 against Wolves and take the division by storm finishing
runners up and gaining promotion to First Division
at the first attempt. 1909 - The cockerel and ball
first appeared in 1909 when a former player W J Scott cast a copper centrepiece to perch on the new west stand. Our
world-famous ball-and-cockerel emblem is believed to have its origins in cock-fighting, because combative cocks were fitted with
tiny spurs. 1915 - After finishing
15th, 15th, 12th, 17th 17th, Spurs finally are relegation to Second Division after finishing 20th, BUT
ONLY BECAUSE ARSENAL BRIBED THE FA. After the First World War, the Football
League decided to expand the two divisions from 20 to 22 clubs. Derby County
and Preston North End, the top two Second Division clubs, were automatically
promoted. Chelsea, who had finished above Spurs in 1914-15, were told that
they could remain in Division 1, as a match between Manchester United and
Liverpool had been fixed in 1915. No case was made out for Spurs, and Arsenal
(who had finished sixth in Division 2 in 1914-15, behind Barnsley, Wolves and
Birmingham) were promoted at spurs’ expense. BASTARDS. 1920 - Shenanighans
with Arsenal's first division status cannot over shadow
Spurs storming to their first league championship, the second division title,
with a record 70 points. 1921 - The year ends in one
again and so it brought our second FA Cup triumph, Spurs beating
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 at Stamford Bridge with a Jimmy Dimmock winner on
a rain sodden pitch. Spurs had accounted for Bristol
Rovers 6-2, Bradford City4-0, Southend United 4-1, Aston Villa 1-0 and
Preston 2-1 in the semi all at the first attempt. 1928 - Relegation to Second
Division with 38 points. 1933 - Promotion again,
this time as Division Two runners-up. 1934 - Building of the East
Stand completed. 1935 - Relegation to Second
Division. 1938 - The existing crowd
record of 75,038 spectators established for the visit of Sunderland in the
sixth round of the FA Cup. Spurs spoil
the show by losing 1-0. 1950 - Led by Arthur Rowe,
Spurs finally gain Promotion to the First Division by winning the second
division championship for the second time. 1951 - One of the greatest
seasons in Spurs history, as the push and run side claim
the Football League Championship for the first time. 1957 - Our club shield is
believed to date from 1957 when the club celebrated its 75 anniversary.
It was made to decipt the enviroment
of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. 1961 - The DOUBLE: Football
League Champions and winners of the FA Cup, with a 2-0 win over Leicester
City. 1962 - Spurs retain the FA
with a 3-1 win against Burnley 1963 - Winners of the European
Cup-Winners' Cup. The first British club to win a major European competition.
Jimmy Greaves becomes Spurs' highest League scorer
in one season with 37 goals. 1967 - FA Cup winners for
the fifth time, with a 2-1 win over Chelsea. 1971 - Winners of the
Football League Cup for the first time, with two goal
from Martin Chivers enough to defeat Aston Villa. 1972 - Spurs
won the UEFA cup for the first time with a 3-2 aggregate win over Wolves. Spurs won the first leg at Molyniex
2-1 with a couple from Chivers, before a Mullery
goal was enough to get us a 1-1 draw back at White Hart Lane. 1973 - A late goal from Sub
Ralph Coates is enough to win the Football League Cup for the second time
against Norwich City 1974 - Defeat and disgrace as
Spurs lose 4-2 on aggregate to old rivals Feyernoord,
as supporters go on the rampage in the stadium. Spurs are handed a life ban
from Europe, overturned in 1980. Bill Nicholson resigned in the autumn of the
next season, and a young 4 year old watches his
first match, as Spurs go down 3-2 at home to Burnley, with John Pratt scoring
his first Spurs goal. 1977 - Relegation to Second
Division. 1978 - Promotion again secured
at first attempt, despite a jittery last week which saw us lose at home to
Sunderland 3-2, beat Hull 1-0 at home with a late handballed goal from
Perryman and a 0-0 draw at already promoted Southampton. 1980 - Old West Stand
demolished to make way for new modern structure. 1981 - FA Cup winners for the
sixth time. Steve Perryman sets a new Club record of League appearances by
passing Pat Jennings' previous record total of 472. 1982 - New West Stand
opened. FA Cup winners for the seventh time in the Club's Centenary year. 1983 - By finishing fourth
in the League, qualified for the UEFA Cup for the first time since season
1973/74. First football club to float shares on the London Stock Exchange. 1983 - The current badge
depicting the two lions plus cockerel and ball, incorporating our initials
was introduced in 1983 and updated in 1992, the latter version - excluding
the lions - appears on the club kit. 1984 - Winners of the UEFA
Cup for the second time, after a penalty shoot out
with Anderlecht. 1985 - Playing strip
changed to white shirts and white shorts. 1986 - Steve Perryman
transferred to Oxford United after making a record 655 League appearances for
Spurs. 1987 - Spurs reach eighth
FA Cup Final. Clive Allen sets a new Club record with 49 goals in a single
season. Kit returns to white shirts and navy shorts. 1988 - First million plus
signing Paul Stewart from Manchester City for £1.5 million. 1989 - The shelf is removed
to make way for executive boxes on the East Stand. Somebody forgot to remove
the two massive pillars which blight the stand to
this day. 1991 - Batter Arsenal 3-1
on 14th April 1991 in the unofficial North London Cup with Gazza's free kick
and a couple from Lineker. FA Cup winners a month later for the eighth time
with a 2-1 extra time win over Forest. Gazza, who had been instrumental in
getting us to the final was injured early on and Lineker missed a penalty as
well as having a goal disallowed before we evenually
won. Alan Sugar becomes Chairman and steers club away from impending
bankruptcy. 1992 - Founder members of
the new FA Premier League. Paul Gascoigne joins Lazio for £5.5 million - a
record. 1994 - 'The Shelf' becomes
an all-seater enclosure. 1995 - New South Stand
completed. Record signing of Chris Armstrong from Crystal Palace for £4.5
million. 1996 - New Rights Issue
raises £10.9 million to redevelop North Stand, complete hospitality areas in
South Stand and reconstruct pitch. 1997 - Record signing,
£6million for Les Ferdinand from Newcastle United. 1998 - New North Stand
completed. Increased capacity to 36,257. 1999 - Winners of the
League Cup for the third time with a last minute
winner from Allan Nielsen against Leicester City. 2000 - New record signing,
£11million for Sergei Rebrov from Dynamo Kiev 2001 - Gooner
Graham sacked and the dark clouds rise from the
Lane. Heavenly choirs accompany his replacement Glenn Hoddle as Spurs embark
on a new era ................. 2002 - Spurs reach the
League Cup final with a fantastic 5-1 semi final
win over Chelsea but a below par performance and a host of missed chances saw
Spurs beaten 2-1 by Blackburn Rovers with Christian Ziege
scoring Spurs goal. Later that season, Ziege was to
become the first serving Spurs player to appear in a World Cup final when
coming on as sub for Germany in their defeat to Brazil. 2003 - Hoddle sacked and
Spurs left to drift under crass mismanagement of Levy and Pleat 2004/5 - After 9 months of
waiting, Santini appointed as manager but then
"walked out" a few months later. New director of Football Frank
Arnesen sees his man Martin Jol replace him as manager, and Frank Arnesen
himself leaves for Chelsea in the summer 2006 - Spurs suffer final
day heartache (or should that be gutache) as a
poisoned squad loses 2-1 to West Ham and with in
the 4th position held since Nov that season but a 5th place guarantees the
highest premier league finish and a return to the UEFA cup next season 2007 – Campaigning on four fronts
for most of the season, Spurs suffered springtime knock outs of the league
cup (semi against Arsenal), FA Cup against Chelsea and in the UEFA against
Sevilla both in the QF stage and both against the eventual winners, but a
late rally in the league lifts Spurs to another 5th place and UEFA
qualification. 2007 – Martin Jol sacked
and replaced by Juande Ramos 2008 – Spurs beat Arsenal
5-1 in the semi final of the League Cup, the first
win over the Gunners since 1999 to set up another all 2008 - Winners of the
Football League Cup for the fourth time, coming from a goal down to beat
Chelsea 2-1 after extra time with goals from Berbatov (pen) and Woodgate, his
first for the club 2008 – Juande Ramos sacked
and replaced by Harry Redknapp 2009 – Spurs reach the
League Cup final but fail to retain the cup by losing out 4-1 on penalties to
Manchester United after a goalless 120 minutes 2011 – A memorable first
Champions League campaign sees Spurs progress to the last 8 in Europe,
falling to Real Madrid having already beaten AC Milan and current holders
Inter along the way. The European run took their toll towards what had been a
strong league campaign but Spurs
still managed to finish 5th and guarantee another year of European
football & it is a measure of Spurs progress that a finish which earned
Jol the plaudits in 2006 was perceived by some to be disappointing in 2011 2012 – Another strong
Premier League season in the Redknapp/Bale era see Spurs record record 4th place finish for 2nd
time in 3 seasons but incredible bad luck in the Champions League final
ensure Spurs miss out on the Champions League and Redknapp sacked after the
end of the season ending the most successful period in Spurs recent history. 2013 – Levy reverts back to foreign tactical manager and Director of
Football with AvB, where Gareth Bale’s goals ensure
a record premier league points total but only 5th place 2015 – Spurs reach the
League Cup final but go down to a couple of deflected goals to Chelsea 2016 – Spurs reach the
Champions League and record a new record home attendance against Bayer
Leverkusen. Like the previous highest attendance game against Sunderland in
1938, Spurs again lost 0-1 2017 – The most complete
Spurs side of the modern era achieve a magnificent 86 points and finish
runners up in the League for first time since the 60s. This included a near
perfect 17-2-0 home record which was a fitting tribute to old White Hart Lane
which saw Spurs beat Manchester United 2-1 in the final game of its 116 year history. 2019 – The miracle of Ajax
and Lucas Moura’s late winner get Spurs in the Champions League final, and
while it was not to be in Madrid, reaching the final of Europe’s most
prestigious trophy was a great achievement for the club, a few weeks after
the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium was opened 2021 – A mostly drab period
under Jose Mourinho ended in the week before the League Cup final against
Manchester City, where Spurs surrendered fairly meekly
to a 0-1 defeat, taking the sequence to four goalless cup finals. 2025 – Despite a record 22
league defeats and a 17th place finish, Spurs beat Manchester United
in Bilbao to win the 2025 UEFA Europa League 1-0 with a Brennan Johnson goal
and a Micky van der Ven clearance for a first trophy for 17 years under Ange Postecoglou. |
