History of Tottenham Hotspur: Part 2 - One Hotspur

Having followed Spurs since 1970 at home and away, Martin Cloake knows the history and traditions of this great club. He is the author of several popular books about the club and, in a series of exclusive articles for India Spurs, he’ll be telling the story of just what makes Tottenham Hotspur the most unique club in world football

Why the name Hotspur?

It’s a proud boast that, in a world of Citys and Uniteds, there is only one Hotspur. But where does such a distinctive name come from? The answer can be found with the group of schoolboys who founded the club.

The boys had been studying Shakespeare at school and their imagination had been captured by the exploits of a character immortalised in the great English playwrite’s Henry IV. Henry Percy was the teenage son of the Earl of Northumberland and so a member of one of the most noble and powerful families of the Middle Ages. The Percys had helped William the Conqueror subdue the Scots and were rewarded handsomely with money, title and lands. The family power base was in the north east of England in the county of Northumberland, but also owned land north of London – giving the area still known as Northumberland Park today its name. And the building in which the club first met was called Percy House.

Percy, to put it bluntly, liked a fight. He took part in his first battle aged 8, and was knighted by the age of 11. He was a hothead who relished combat, and when riding into battle used his spurs enthusiastically to urge his horse onwards, earning himself the nickname Harry Hotspur.

Percy’s hot-headedness would eventually lead to his downfall. He feel out with the English king and led a collection of rebellious lords into battle against Heny IV at the battle of Shrewsbury in 1403. After charging the king’s lines in typical style, he was thrown from his horse and killed in hand-to-hand combat. His body was beheaded and quartered and the corpse taken on a tour of the country as an example of what would happen to any man who dared challenge the king.

Shakespeare’s play helped fuel and romanticise Percy’s swashbuckling reputation, and clearly had some effect on the boys who formed first Hotspur Cricket Club and then Hotspur Football Club. This, together with the fact that the local area had close links with the Percy clan, led the boys to chose the name Hotspur.

Martin Cloake’s books about Tottenham Hotspur, including ebooks that can be downloaded directly to your computer or mobile device, can be ordered from his bookstore. His full bio can be seen here.

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