The Hotspur Football Club was formed in 1882 by a group of grammar school boys from a bible class at All Hallows Church. It is thought the name Hotspur was associated with Sir Henry Percy who was ‘Harry Hotspur’ of Shakespeare’s play Henry IV, part 1. Sir Henry Percy lived locally to the area during the 14th century and his descendants owned land in and around the neighbourhood.
The club was renamed Tottenham Hotspur Football and Athletic Club in 1884 to differentiate itself from another team that had been set up called London Hotspur and turned professional in 1895 when they were admitted to the Southern League. Charles Roberts was appointed chairman in 1898 and was to hold this position until 1943.
After years of playing in a variety of colours, the club finally decided on a kit colour of white shirts and navy blue socks in 1899, as a tribute to Preston North End, the most successful team of the era. These are the same colours that Spurs, as they are also known, still play in today.
The same year the club moved to a new home, a former market garden in High Road, Tottenham, which in time was to be known as White Hart Lane and is still the clubs ground today.
Tottenham Hotspur win the FA Cup for the first time in 1901
By 1900, Tottenham had won the Southern League and followed up this achievement by securing their first FA Cup success in 1901, becoming the first team from outside the established Football League to do so. This was also the first year that the FA Cup was presented to the winning captain with ribbons in the colours of the successful team tied to the handles of the cup. This is a tradition that continues to this day.
Spurs were elected to the Second Division of the Football League in 1908 and immediately won promotion to the First Division as runners-up. However, when football was suspended in 1915 because of the First World War, the club was bottom of the league and would be relegated when football resumed.
In 1919, football recommenced and in the first season Tottenham were crowned Division Two Champions. The club again followed up a league title win by winning the FA Cup in 1921 by beating Wolves 1-0 in the final at Stamford Bridge.
Spurs were First Division runners-up behind Liverpool in 1922, but then endured years of decline culminating in relegation back to the Second Division in 1928 where they were to stay until football was again suspended because of World War Two.
Tottenham Hotspur win the First Division title
When football resumed Tottenham finished as Champions of the Second Division in 1950 and won their first Division One title a year later in 1951 with a team that included Alf Ramsey and Bill Nicholson. After finishing as runners-up in 1952 the remainder of the decade saw the club struggle, with them narrowly avoiding relegation in 1956. By 1958, Tottenham had appointed former player Bill Nicholson as manager and despite the club finishing in eighteenth place in his first season in charge, Nicholson was to lead Tottenham through their most successful era in their history.
Bill Nicholson guides Tottenham Hotspur to trophy success in the 1960’s
During the early 1960s Nicholson guided Tottenham to impressive trophy successes, winning the First Division title and FA Cup double in 1961, the FA Cup again in 1962 and the European Cup Winners Cup in 1963. the team at the time contained players like Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay and Jimmy Greaves.
Tottenham went on to win the FA Cup in 1967 beating Chelsea in the final and then added the League Cup in 1971 and 1973 and the UEFA Cup in 1972 to add to the impressive trophy haul. Nicholson resigned in 1974 with a record of 8 major trophies in 16 years.
With Nicholson departed, Spurs fell out of the top division for the first time in 27 years when they were relegated in 1977 but won promotion back to Division One immediately. The club then shocked the football world by signing two Argentinean World Cup stars in the shape of Osvaldo Adiles and Ricardo Villa, transfers which British football had never seen the like before.
Tottenham win the FA Cup twice in the early 1980’s
Spurs won the 1981 FA Cup final with victory over Manchester City in a replay; Ricardo Villa scoring the memorable winner and followed up that success by securing the FA Cup again the following year, this time by beating QPR in the final.
Tottenham tasted European success again in 1984 when they lifted the UEFA Cup but despite consistently high finishes in the First Division and an FA Cup final appearance in 1987, which they lost to Coventry City 3-2, they were not to achieve anymore silverware during the 1980s.
Terry Venables was manager of Spurs when they gained their next trophy success, winning the 1991 FA Cup, beating Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the final. By this time, Venables had teamed up with new Chairman Alan Sugar who had cleared the clubs debts of around £20 million.
Tottenham continued to struggle to make any impression in the league and a succession of managers tried and failed to get Spurs competing for the newly named Premiership.
Tottenham secured the 1999 League Cup by beating Leicester City in the final but frustrated by their lack of success in the Premiership, Sugar sold his controlling stake and left the club.
More managers came and went but Spurs best finish in the league was only fifth place in 2006 and 2007, before they gained the League Cup again when beating Chelsea 2-1 in the final in 2008.
However the following season Tottenham made their worst ever start to a season and Harry Redknapp was appointed as manager in the hope he would be able to bring success back to White Hart Lane once again.
Author Sunil S.
The club was renamed Tottenham Hotspur Football and Athletic Club in 1884 to differentiate itself from another team that had been set up called London Hotspur and turned professional in 1895 when they were admitted to the Southern League. Charles Roberts was appointed chairman in 1898 and was to hold this position until 1943.
After years of playing in a variety of colours, the club finally decided on a kit colour of white shirts and navy blue socks in 1899, as a tribute to Preston North End, the most successful team of the era. These are the same colours that Spurs, as they are also known, still play in today.
The same year the club moved to a new home, a former market garden in High Road, Tottenham, which in time was to be known as White Hart Lane and is still the clubs ground today.
Tottenham Hotspur win the FA Cup for the first time in 1901
By 1900, Tottenham had won the Southern League and followed up this achievement by securing their first FA Cup success in 1901, becoming the first team from outside the established Football League to do so. This was also the first year that the FA Cup was presented to the winning captain with ribbons in the colours of the successful team tied to the handles of the cup. This is a tradition that continues to this day.
Spurs were elected to the Second Division of the Football League in 1908 and immediately won promotion to the First Division as runners-up. However, when football was suspended in 1915 because of the First World War, the club was bottom of the league and would be relegated when football resumed.
In 1919, football recommenced and in the first season Tottenham were crowned Division Two Champions. The club again followed up a league title win by winning the FA Cup in 1921 by beating Wolves 1-0 in the final at Stamford Bridge.
Spurs were First Division runners-up behind Liverpool in 1922, but then endured years of decline culminating in relegation back to the Second Division in 1928 where they were to stay until football was again suspended because of World War Two.
Tottenham Hotspur win the First Division title
When football resumed Tottenham finished as Champions of the Second Division in 1950 and won their first Division One title a year later in 1951 with a team that included Alf Ramsey and Bill Nicholson. After finishing as runners-up in 1952 the remainder of the decade saw the club struggle, with them narrowly avoiding relegation in 1956. By 1958, Tottenham had appointed former player Bill Nicholson as manager and despite the club finishing in eighteenth place in his first season in charge, Nicholson was to lead Tottenham through their most successful era in their history.
Bill Nicholson guides Tottenham Hotspur to trophy success in the 1960’s
During the early 1960s Nicholson guided Tottenham to impressive trophy successes, winning the First Division title and FA Cup double in 1961, the FA Cup again in 1962 and the European Cup Winners Cup in 1963. the team at the time contained players like Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay and Jimmy Greaves.
Tottenham went on to win the FA Cup in 1967 beating Chelsea in the final and then added the League Cup in 1971 and 1973 and the UEFA Cup in 1972 to add to the impressive trophy haul. Nicholson resigned in 1974 with a record of 8 major trophies in 16 years.
With Nicholson departed, Spurs fell out of the top division for the first time in 27 years when they were relegated in 1977 but won promotion back to Division One immediately. The club then shocked the football world by signing two Argentinean World Cup stars in the shape of Osvaldo Adiles and Ricardo Villa, transfers which British football had never seen the like before.
Tottenham win the FA Cup twice in the early 1980’s
Spurs won the 1981 FA Cup final with victory over Manchester City in a replay; Ricardo Villa scoring the memorable winner and followed up that success by securing the FA Cup again the following year, this time by beating QPR in the final.
Tottenham tasted European success again in 1984 when they lifted the UEFA Cup but despite consistently high finishes in the First Division and an FA Cup final appearance in 1987, which they lost to Coventry City 3-2, they were not to achieve anymore silverware during the 1980s.
Terry Venables was manager of Spurs when they gained their next trophy success, winning the 1991 FA Cup, beating Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the final. By this time, Venables had teamed up with new Chairman Alan Sugar who had cleared the clubs debts of around £20 million.
Tottenham continued to struggle to make any impression in the league and a succession of managers tried and failed to get Spurs competing for the newly named Premiership.
Tottenham secured the 1999 League Cup by beating Leicester City in the final but frustrated by their lack of success in the Premiership, Sugar sold his controlling stake and left the club.
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More managers came and went but Spurs best finish in the league was only fifth place in 2006 and 2007, before they gained the League Cup again when beating Chelsea 2-1 in the final in 2008.
However the following season Tottenham made their worst ever start to a season and Harry Redknapp was appointed as manager in the hope he would be able to bring success back to White Hart Lane once again.
Author Sunil S.
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