..

Back to TOPSPURS home

..

 

 

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.
The origin of the cockerel symbol has never been satisfactorily been explained. Harry Hotspur after whom the club was named wore spurs while leading his troops into battle. The spurs which were attached to the legs of fighting cocks were similar and the club's badge in the nineteenth century was a simple spur. Somewhere along the line a link was made between the fighting cock and the cockspur and the cockerel took over as the symbol. It became firmly established as the symbol in 1910 when the cockerel and ball were erected on the roof of the main stand. The two lions rampant are taken from the crest of the northumberland family who feature heavily in hte history of the local area.
Our motto "Audere est Facere" is Latin inscription, the litreral translation meaning "to dare is to do". In other words unless you try you will never achieve.

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.
Bruce Castle which is shown on the top left-hand side is a 16th century building which currently houses the local history and achieve collection of the London Brough of Haringey. On the right are the seven trees planted at Page Green by the seven sisters of Tottenham thus the district known as Seven Sisters.

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.
The colours of our shield were further amended to ensure consistency with a darker blue background to match the badge. The castle and ball switched from yellow to brown, the trees were given greater definition with the club initials now black on a white backdrop as opposed to light blue.

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 London clash in the final against Chelsea

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

2010 – A 1-0 away at Manchester City guarantees Spurs a top four finish in the Premier League for the first time and Champions League Football, capping a remarkable turnaround in the clubs fortunes by Harry Redknapp

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

2014 – The summer departure of Bale leads to a quick decline in fortune and AvB early exit. A chaotic 2nd half of the season under Sherwood still good enough for European Football again at Spurs. Pochettino appointed in the summer to begin his glorious reign

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.