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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. |
