The History Of Spurs Football Club
In 1882 a group of North London teenagers formed Hotspur FC, named after the combative Henry Percy, “Harry Hotspur” of Shakespeare’s Henry IV (Part I) whose descendents owned land in the vicinity. The name changed to Tottenham Hotspur in 1884 to avoid confusion with London Hotspur. For a while the lads turned out on Tottenham Marshes and scuffles occasionally broke out with rival teams over the best pitches. In 1884 the club cancelled a fixture to watch the professionals of Blackburn Rovers win the first of three consecutive English Cup finals. So impressed were they that the club adopted Rovers’ blue and white halved shirts. In 1885 Spurs entered the London Association Cup and played their first competitory match against St Albans FC, winning 2-0 wearing their white football shirts
In 1888 Spurs moved to an enclosed ground on Northumberland Road and charged 3d (1p) admission price. In 1890, playing in red shirts and navy shorts, Spurs were a respected side and five years later, they turned professional. In 1896, Tottenham were elected to the Southern League and adopted a new coffee and old gold strip. In 1899 they moved into White Hart Lane.
There is some doubt over when they adopted their now illustrious white Tottenham home football shirt, a homage to the mighty Preston North End. Phil Soar in And the Spurs Go Marching On (1985) states the white shirts appeared in 1900 while Spurs. A account? of Tottenham Hotspur, (Julian Holland 1956) and Tottenham Hotspur: An Illustrated History, (Bob Goodwin 1995) suggest September 1899. However, the club’s historian, Andy Porter has provided HFK with a copy of an article published in The Golden Penny dated September 1898 which carries a photograph of the Spurs team wearing white shirts and navy knickers. At the time, no other team in the Southern League wore equivalent colors.
The white Totenham Hotspur shirt has been one of the most sought after football shirts for all Tottenham Hotspur football supporters.
Related Blogs
- Soult's Retail View» Blog Archive » Card Factory lined up for …
- Light Vs. Dark; In Pricing T-Shirts, It Makes A Difference | My Blog
- Help Ones Team By Way Of Football Flags! | Truck Side Advertising
- What to do with the Seattle Center? « On Street Level: Random …
- The Home Of Newcastle Football | Adventure and Traveling
- Transfer Speculation: Kreuziger, Horner to Astana; Cunego and …
- The Deserted Medieval Village of Wharram Percy |