Tottenham Hotspur are one of the biggest – and most historic – clubs in England.
The north Londoners can boast two First Division titles, eight FA Cups, four League Cups, two UEFA Cups and many other pieces of silverware – the most recent of which came in 2008 under Juande Ramos.
However, Tottenham Hotspur have not always been known as this – with the side from N17 originally down as Hotspur before a small name change back in 1884.
Why did this happen? Let’s take a look.
How postal confusion led to the birth of Tottenham Hotspur
Back in September 1882, Hotspur Football Club was created by a group of schoolboys – led by Bobby Buckle – who were members of the Hotspur Cricket Club and in need of a different sport to play during the winter.
However – fewer than two years later – the group learned about the existence of another side in London named Hotspur, who were located in Battersea Park but kept having their post delivered to Hotspur Football Club in north London by mistake.
As such, the group of schoolboys opted to amend their club’s name to Tottenham Hotspur.
Why was Hotspur chosen in the first place?
You might question why the name Tottenham wasn’t included in the first place, and may also wonder where the term Hotspur even came from.
Interestingly – as documented on the club’s official website – the name Hotspur was chosen to pay homage to Sir Henry Percy, better known as Harry Hotspur.
The English knight – who fought in wars against the Scottish Army and in the Hundred Years’ War against France – owned land in Northumberland Park and Tottenham Marshes, where the club played their first ever games.
As the story goes, Percy was called Hotspur by the Scottish, who were left in awe at how quickly he could ride his horse. Legend has it, the Scots said he must have had hot spurs on his boots for the horse to move so fast, which is where the nickname originated from.
