Relations between Spurs and Arsenal were already well strained before the teams met on September 23rd in 1922. That contest would not only intensify the bad feeling between the clubs and their supporters but result in the FA calling a commission to investigate the events, which unbelievably would be more controversial than the game itself. Tottenham had won the FA Cup two years before and been runners up the previous season. They drew bigger crowds and had a reputation for playing exciting football. Arsenal had started the season badly and on that day they delivered what the Sunday Times described as a ‘discreditable exhibition.'

’This is a story that I heard years ago and have tried with some difficultly to uncover what actually happened. In case you are expecting author bias I should state that this article is based on what news reports of the time I can find, although these tend to concentrate on comment rather than detail. The ‘facts’ contained are accepted by Arsenal historians, even though they have tended to try and shift the blame throughout on to Tottenham.

The furthest place from home Spurs have met a Scottish club is Japan. When we played Dundee United in the Japan Cup 1979. The competition was held over the end of May and early June.  The two clubs met in the final with Tottenham winning 2-0. Our goals coming from Gordon Smith and Ossie Ardiles. On that tour the team completed a circumnavigation of the world (2). The clubs would meet again in the August when we traveled to Scotland and United gained their revenge winning 2-3. Mark Falco and Ricki Villa being on target for Spurs. The very next day we traveled to Aberdeen and lost 0-2.
We returned to United the following year, Scotland being a popular trip for pre -season and this time lost 1-4. Garth Crooks scoring for us. Spurs having lost to Rangers 24 hours earlier.

It was 1983 before we ventured there again for a 1-1 draw (Tony Galvin). Having drawn with Celtic the day before and it was the same result on our next trip in five seasons later for our last meeting. This time Paul Walsh was our marksman.

When Talking Tottenham was launched on the 19th September two years ago. It seemed a good way of getting to know the members of the recently formed India Spurs and visa versa. A simple magazine type piece gathering together the pieces of news that might have slipped through the net. Well not all of us spend twenty three hours a day scanning every news outlet possible. It also pulled together trivia, stats and the quirky.
It was all done very firmly with a sense of fun, well every Spurs fan needs one of them. TT changed format and style several times to try and keep it fresh and different from the endless stream of other articles that appear across the web.

This image, from last year, was one of not just my favourites it also struck a cord with a number of readers. It just made me smile. Still don't know who the artist or model are. 

The second hurdle in Tottenham’s European campaign of 1963 saw Tottenham at their very best and worse and the supporters played their part to the hilt.  The tie took them back behind the iron curtain again, having played in Poland and Czechoslovakia the year before. This time the destination was Czechoslovakia again. Where we would play Slovan Bratislava who had overcome Lausanne of Switzerland in the last round.

The first leg was on March 5th away and Tottenham did not play well, losing 0-2.  The other game we failed to score in during the competition. Many observers feeling Spurs did well to restrict the home team to two goals. The hero that night was Scottish international Bill Brown who produced one of the best displays of his career.

 Over the years thousands of pictures of Spurs and its players have appeared in various magazines, newspapers and more recently been reproduced across endless internet sites. In this series I’ve tried to locate some of the great and unusual pictures from over the years that have not featured as often as they might have done. As well as where possible looking a little into the story behind the picture.

This top picture is action from the North London derby at White Hart lane. Our Kasey Keller looks on whilst Henry is denied. Keller was with us from 2001-05. In that time he played in two of those derbies at home, December 2002 and April 2003, both games ending in a draw

The second leg of the Battle of Britain would prove to be another titanic struggle between two teams determined to play good football. The game was not due to be played until 5th December and then it was rearranged for the 11th due to bad weather.
The only change to either side was Bobby Smith returning after missing 22 games in place of Les Allen. Nicholson revealed afterwards he had been thinking about bringing Smith back for the last week, but had kept it a secret. It's said Tottenham had missed a number of chances latterly and the pitch being heavy would suit Smith.

left - John White one of Tottenham's three 'Anglos'. The Scottish press suggested the best way to stop him was to handcuff him to Mackay.

Tottenham’s triumphant European Cup Winners Cup campaign began on October 31st 1962. The fact that it was a European game was almost overlooked as it was widely billed as the Championship of Great Britain. The game itself is remembered by those present as one of the greatest games played at the Lane during that glorious period. One reporter claimed he had never seen Spurs play better.  The following May we would be the first British side to win a major European honour, just eight years after the Football League tried to stop its sides even competing. This is the story of how that drama unfolded.

There have been connections between Tottenham and Scotland since the clubs earliest days. It might surprise some that Scotland although never making too much impact at international level have produced over the years a steady stream of top class players. Up to a few years ago every English club had one or two Scots in their ranks. Tottenham had three in their great Double winning side. In this series we will explore some of the links with our friends ‘north of the boarder.’

Our first fixture with a Scottish club was in 1901 when we met Hearts at White Hart Lane. That meeting has been discussed previously (1). After those two games we played Queens Park in
1903 (2). Over the years fourteen of our players have played for the country.  This figure includes Sandy Brown, who played one game for his country but the game was later deleted from the records. The reason for this will also be covered later in the series.