The “Hotspur Football Club” (former name of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club), was formed by members of the Hotspur Cricket Club in early 1880’s. Most of them were the alumni of St. John’s Presbyterian School and Tottenham Grammar School. As no cricket games were played during winter, for stamina maintenance reasons, the members proposed the setting up of a football team. At the very beginning, the meetings were held under a gas street lamp in the Tottenham High Road, as they did not have a fixed meeting place.
It is possible that the name “Hotspur” was associated with Sir Henry Percy, who was "Harry Hotspur" of Shakespeare's Henry IV (Part 1). In the drama, the Hotspurs, a noble family in north London, owned land in the neighbourhood in Tottenham area. Harry Hotspur is named as he wore spurs when he rode horses. Because of this, most of the people believed that the crest featured on the cockerel of the club crest has the same meaning too – a spur was added on the “fighting” cockerel later.
| Year |
Event |
| 1882 |
Hotspur Football Club was established on 30th of September. |
| 1884 |
The name was changed to Tottenham Hotspur Athletic Club. |
| 1885 |
First match – versus St. Albans in London Association Cup. |
| 1887 |
First London derby – versus Arsenal. The match was abandoned 15 minutes before it was due to end “owing to darkness, with Spurs leading 2-1. |
| 1895 |
The club was transformed to professional club. |
| 1896 |
Joined the Southern League. |
| 1898 |
White shirts and navy blue shorts were used, as a tribute to Preston North End, the most successful team of the time. |
| 1899 |
Moved to White Hart Lane, won 4-1 against Notts County in the first home match. |
| 1900 |
Won the Southern League title. |
| 1901 |
Spurs becomes the first and the only non-league club to win the F.A. Cup – won 3-1 against Sheffield United in the final. |
| 1908 |
Joined the Second Division of the Football League, won 3-0 against Wolves in the first league match. |
| 1909 |
Promoted to the First Division. |
| 1921 |
Won the second F.A. Cup – defeated Wolves 1-0 in the Final. |
| 1951 |
Won the First Division League title, with 25 wins, 10 draws and 7 loses. |
| 1958 |
Bill Nicholson was appointed as Manager – the start of Spurs glory years. |
| 1961 |
Won the first “Double” (First Division League & F.A. Cup), scored a record of 115 goals in the league. |
| 1962 |
One of the few clubs on winning the F.A. Cup in a succeeding year, won 3-1 against Burnley in the Final. |
| 1963 |
Became the first British football club to win a UEFA club competition – won 5-1 against Athletic Madrid in the Final of European Cup Winners’ Cup. |
| 1967 |
Won it’s fifth F.A. Cup, defeated Chelsea by a score of 2-1. |
| 1971 |
Won it’s first League Cup with 2-0 win against Aston Villa in the Final. |
| 1972 |
Defeated Wolves at 3-2 and won it’s first UEFA Cup. |
| 1973 |
Won it’s second League Cup trophy by defeating Norwich at 1-0 in the Final. |
| 1974 |
Defeated by Feyenoord (2-0) in the UEFA Cup Final. |
| 1977 |
Relegated to the Second Division. |
| 1978 |
Finished the season in third place and promoted to the First Division. Ossie Aridiles and Ricky Villa arrived White Hart Lane. |
| 1981 |
Won 3-2 against Manchester City in the 100th F.A. Cup Final, the sixth F.A. Cup trophy for the club. |
| 1982 |
100th anniversary of Spurs, although was defeated by Liverpool at 3-1 in the League Cup Final, the team won the F.A. Cup for the seventh time by defeating Queen’s Park Rangers at 1-0 in the F.A. Cup Replay. |
| 1983 |
Sponsored by Holsten (German beer brand) and it was the first time a sponsors logo was appeared on the Spurs football shirts. Spurs also became the first English club to float on the stock exchange. |
| 1984 |
Won the UEFA Cup again after penalty-shoot against Anderlecht. |
| 1985 |
The first home defeat in European match – lost 1-0 to Read Madrid with Steve Perryman’s own goal. |
| 1987 |
Though Clive Allen scored a record of 49 goals in a single season, Spurs lost 3-2 after extra time against Coventry City in the F.A. Cup. |
| 1988 |
Spurs signed Paul Gascoigne from Newcastle with a record transfer fee of 2,000,000 British Pounds. |
| 1991 |
Won the eighth F.A. Cup by defeating Nottingham Forest at 2-1 after extra time. |
| 1994 |
Due to financial irregularities, Spurs were penalised with a 6-point deduction in the Premier League and a ban of playing in the F.A. Cup, but was successfully appealed later. Jurgen Klinsmann was signed. |
| 1999 |
Won the Worthington Cup Final by defeating Leicester City at 1-0, in which George Graham was appointed as Manager five months prior the Final. |
| 2001 |
Spurs were acquired by ENIC, and Glenn Hoddle was appointed as the Manager. |
| 2002 |
First time to lose in 90 minutes in a Cup Final – lost 2-1 to Blackburn Rovers. |
| 2006 |
Spurs were pipped to a Champions League place by losing to West Ham in the final Premier League match – a number of players succumbing to an intestinal illness the night before. Lasagne-Gate. |
| 2008 |
Won the Carling Cup by defeating Chelsea 2-1 after extra time in the Final. |
| 2009 |
Lost to Manchester United after penalty shoot-out in the Carling Cup Final. |
| 2010 |
First time to participate in the Champions’ League by finishing 4th place in Premier League, but lost to Real Madrid in the quarter-final. |
| 2015 |
Lost to Chelsea in the Capital One Cup Final |
| 2019 |
The new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium opens in April. Son was the first scorer in the inaugural game against Crystal Palace. Lost 2-0 to Liverpool in our first ever Champions League Final. |
| 2021 |
Lost to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup Final |
