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Tottenham Hotspur FC were founded in 1882 as Hotspur FC, the name apparently taken from the Shakespeare character "Harry Hotspur" in Henry IV (Part I).

Name change to Tottenham Hotspur FC

In 1884 the name was changed to Tottenham Hotspur, to avoid confusion with London Hotspur.

They played their first competitive fixture in 1885 and in 1893 turned professional. They were elected to the Southern League in 1896.

In 1899 they moved into White Hart Lane and a year later they won the Southern League championship.

Non League Spurs lift the Cup

The following year they became the only non-League side to win the FA Cup since the formation of the Football League.

Spurs applied to join the Football League in 1908 but were rejected. However when Stoke FC resigned from the league, a second ballot elected them to Division Two.

A year later Tottenham Hotspur FC won promotion to Division One.

The Roots of the Tottenham - Arsenal Rivalry

In 1915 Spurs were relegated to Division Two. The league was then suspended for the duration of the First World War and when competition resumed in 1919 it was decided to extend both divisions by two clubs.

Initially it was suggested that the relegated clubs should retain their status, but Sir Henry Norris, chairman of Woolwich Arsenal, persuaded members that there should be a vote.

As a result Tottenham's relegation was confirmed and Woolwich Arsenal, who had finished fifth in Division Two, were promoted.

Spurs won promotion at the first attempt, but the injustice of their relegation fuels the north London rivalry to this day.

In 1921, Tottenham won the FA Cup for the second time and the following year they were Division One runners-up.

They were then relegated in 1928, promoted in 1933, and relegated again in 1935.

Arthur Rowe was appointed manager in 1949, and got Spurs playing in the pioneering "push and run" style. They were promoted in 1950, and were League champions in 1951.

The Double and a first European title

A decade later under Bill Nicholson, a member of the 1951 championship team, Spurs won the first League and FA Cup double of the twentieth century.

They won the FA Cup again in 1962, and a year later they became the first British team to win a European trophy when they lifted the European Cup-Winners' Cup.

In the years that followed Spurs continued to be a formidable cup side - winning the FA Cup in 1967, the League Cup in 1971 and 1973 and the UEFA Cup in 1972.

Relegation and Revival

After a brief stay in Division Two (1977-1978), Spurs, inspired by Argentine World Cup winners Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa, won the FA Cup in 1981 and retained it in 1982.

In 1984 Spurs won the UEFA Cup for the second time and in 1987 they were beaten FA Cup finalists.

In 1991 Terry Venables was recruited as the new manager. Spurs won a seventh FA Cup in 1991 before Venables was controversially sacked by Executive Chairman Alan Sugar in 1993.

In 1999 ex-Arsenal boss George Graham became manager. Graham's appointment was hugely unpopular with Tottenham's support but he did win the League Cup in 1999.

After Graham's departure, a succession of managers, notably Glenn Hoddle, tried, and failed, to restore Spurs to former glory.

In October 2007, Juandre Ramos was appointed manager, and in his first season delivered the Carling Cup, after Spurs defeated Chelsea 2-1 after extra time, at Wembley.

Ramos was fired after a poor start to the 2008/09 season. His replacement was Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp.

Spurs again reached the Carling Cup final in 2009, but were beaten on penalties by Manchester United.

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