Tottenham Hotspur: Club History

In 1882 the boys from local grammar school and cricket club formed Hotspur FC. They played their matches on Tottenham Marshes and adopted the colours of navy blue as their strip. A year after the club was formed it was reorganised my Mr John Ripsher who took over the presidency of the club. In 1884 the club was renamed ‘Tottenham Hotspur and Athletic Club’.

Three years after the club was formed they played their first competitive match and won 5-2 against St. Albans in the London Association Club. After that they changed the club colours to light blue and white halves. The first credit balance was announced as 9 shillings (not very much.)

In 1887 the club took part in the first north London derby against Royal Arsenal (Now Arsenal Football Club.) The match was abandoned 10 minutes from the end because of bad light. Spurs were leading 2-1. One year after that the club moved to a private ground in Northumberland Park. The first admission charge of 3d was bought in.

For some strange reason the club colours were changed to red tops and navy shorts in 1890 with the club then adopting professionalism in 1895. A year after that a record 6,000 people watched a friendly with Aston Villa. Spurs were then elected to Southern League division one and the colours were changed to the current 3rd kit – chocolate and gold.

In 1987 the club lost their first cup final 2-0 to Wellingborough in the local charity cup competition. A year later the club becomes a limited company and attracts a crowd of 14,000 against Woolwich Arsenal (now Arsenal Football Club.) Now the club changes its colours again to the traditional white and navy blue.

In 1899 the club moves to 35,000 seater Gilpin Park, which slowly becomes known as White Hart Lane. The club got gross receipts of £115 for a friendly against Notts County in the first match at the new stadium.

In 1900 success starts for the club. The club become champions of the Southern League and win the challenge cup a year later making them the first team in history to win the challenge cup while being outside the football league.

In 1908 the club secures entry to the football league division 2. The team secured promotion to division 1 in the first attempt. The club stayed in division 1 for 6 years before getting relegated back to division 2. They got promoted again at the first attempt with a record breaking 70 points under the old point system with 2 points for a win.

Now in 1921 the club secure their second FA cup triumph by beating Wolves at Stamford Bridge. In 1928 the club are relegated to division 2 with only 38 points but get promoted straight away as runners-up.

In 1934 the building work of the east stand is completed. A year later the club are relegated to division 2 again. In 1935 a crowd record of 75,038 spectators established for the visit of Sunderland in the sixth round of the FA Cup.

After 15 years in division 2 the club are promoted to division 1 and become football league champions in 1951, only one year after getting promoted. 10 years later (1961) Spurs complete the league and cup double. The first club to complete the 'Double' since Preston North End and Aston Villa did so in 1889 and 1897 respectively.

A year later they retained their FA cup title. In 1963 they became the first British club to win a major European cup with Jimmy Greaves also becoming Spurs’ highest league goal scorer with 37 goals. The club became FA Cup winners for the 5th time in 1967.

In 1971 the club won the football league cup and then won the UEFA cup in 1972. In 1973 Spurs became the only club to have won the football league cup twice. And in 1974 the club became the first team to play in 3 major European finals.

In 1977 the team were relegated but promoted on first attempt in 1978. In 1980 the old West Stand was demolished to make way for a more modern structure. A year later the club become FA Cup winners for the 6th time and Steve Perryman sets a new club record of most appearances for the club by passing Pat Jennings previous total of 472.

A year after the club were formed the club won the FA cup for the 7th time and the new west stand was complete. In 1983 the club finished 4th in the league qualifying for UEFA cup football for the first time since 1973/74. The club also became the first club to float shares on the stock exchange. Spurs won the UEFA cup for the second time in 1984.

In 1985 the club changed its strip to complete white. In 1986 Steve Perryman leaves for Oxford United after making a record 655 league appearances for the team. In 1987 Spurs reach their 8th FA cup final. Clive Allen sets a new Club record with 49 goals in a single season. Kit returns to the traditional white shirts and navy shorts.

In 1988 the club made their first over million signing by securing the services of Paul Stewart from Manchester City for £1.5 million. In 1989 the East Stand was refurbished. In 1991 Spurs become FA Cup winners for eighth time and back in European competition. Alan Sugar becomes Chairman and steers the club away from impending bankruptcy. A year later the club are instated into the new FA Premier League and Paul Gascoigne (Gazza) leaves for a record £5.5 million to Lazio

The new south stand is completed in 1995. Chris Armstrong becomes our record signing from Crystal palace for £4.5 million. In 1996 New Rights Issue raises £10.9 million to redevelop North Stand, complete hospitality areas in South Stand and reconstruct pitch. In 1997 Les Ferdinand becomes a new record signing from Newcastle for £6m. A year later the New North Stand is completed giving White Hart Lane a capacity of 36,257. In 1999 Spurs win the league cup for the 3rd time with Alan Neilson scoring with a diving header against Leicester City.

In 2000, a new and current record signing, Sergei Rebrov, joins from Dynamo Kiev for £11m. In 2001 Glenn Hoddle took over as manager from George Graham. ENIC completed takeover, Daniel Levy became non-executive chairman and David Buchler vice-chairman. Teddy Sheringham rejoined the club from Manchester United and joined new arrivals Christian Ziege and Gus Poyet.

A year later We reached the final of the Worthington Cup in Glenn Hoddle's first season as manager but lost out 2-1 to Blackburn Rovers at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. Jamie Redknapp signed in April before the £7m capture of Irish star striker Robbie Keane from Leeds United in August. In 2003 We finished 10th in the Premiership in 2002-03, successfully toured South Africa, signed Helder Postiga and Bobby Zamora, Jamie Redknapp was named captain. We parted company with Glenn Hoddle in September. David Pleat took over in a caretaker capacity.

In 2004, after a premiership finish of 14th, everything changed. David Pleat left in July 2004 as we formed a new management structure. Frank Arnesen arrived from PSV as Sporting Director, Jacques Santini as Head Coach, Martin Jol as First Assistant and Dominique Cuperly as fitness coach. We also appointed a new medical team headed by Head of Medical Facilities Dr Charlotte Cowie and new physio Dean Kenneally, formerly with the British athletics team at the Olympics. Santini left in November and Jol took over as Head Coach.

We signed Jermain Defoe in January and Paul Robinson in May and Defoe went on to earn his first England caps and, in October, England started with three Spurs players (Defoe, Ledley King, Paul Robinson) for the first time since 1987. A number of new players joined including Sean Davis, Michael Carrick, Noureddine Naybet, Thimothee Atouba, Erik Edman, Reto Ziegler, Noe Pamarot and Champions League winner Pedro Mendes.

Near the end of the 2004/2005 season we were in the running for European qualifcation via the Premier League until defeat at Middlesbrough in the penultimate game of the season. We ended up ninth. We still had one last chance for Europe as England's representative in the UEFA Fair Play draw but, alas, we weren't one of the two picks of six. Edgar Davids signs on a 2 year deal.

Frank Arnesen departs to become academy director at Chelsea. Damien Comolli takes over as sporting director.
The 2005/06 season finished with our best ever premiership finish of 5th qualifying for the UEFA cup. We missed out on Champions League at West Ham where a number of the squad went down with a mystery stomach bug, a 'dodgy' Lasange was rumoured, but an investigation found no evidence of this. In the close season Dimitar Berbatov and Didier Zokora join the club.

2006/07 was another great season for Spurs, the club pushed on again and after a slow start finished 5th again and reaching the semi-finals of the Carling Cup, going out in extra time to Arsenal at the Emirates, and the quarter finals of the UEFA cup to a certain Juande Ramos' Sevilla side, who were to be the eventual winners for the second consecutive season.

The 2007/08 season was a to be a massive season in Spurs recent fortunes. The pre season spending was bigger than ever. A reported £40m was spent on record signing Darren Bent (£16.5m), Gareth Bale, Younes Kaboul, Kevin Prince Boateng joining the sqaud.

After a slow start to the campaign, unrest high up led to adraw out saga which would ultimetely see Martin Jol and Chris Houghton being sacked and a three man coaching team led by Juande Ramos put in place.

Ramos, Poyet and Alvares immediatly got the club moving in the right direction with a 2 - 0 win over Blackpool in the Carling Cup. A cup run that would end in a Wembley final against Chelsea. Spurs ran out 2 - 1 winners after being 0 - 1 down to a Drogba free kick. Berbatov leveled from the spot to take the game into extra time. Jonathon Woodgate (a january signing from Middlesbrough) scored the winner from a Jenas set piece and Spurs walked up the 107 steps to collect their first silverware for 9 years.

Woodgate was joined in january by three other defensive players, Alan Hutton from Rangers, Gilberto from Hertha Berlin and Chris Gunter a young Welsh international from Cardiff City.

As the season progressed in the latter stages, Ramos had his eyes set on more silverware but as Spurs moved though into the last 16 of the UEFA cup they met their match in PSV. After two tight games with both sides winning by a single goal away from home. The match was decided on penalties. Jenas and Chimbonda missed their spot kicks for Spurs and PSV went into the draw for the quarter finals.