Hotspur Towers 57

We previously looked at the badge and how it developed over the decades (1). Alongside this we featured some of the earlier kits that the club had used. This took us up to the mid 1960’s. Before we move on to the next stage of the kits development it might be interesting to go back and look at some of the change / away kits from our past. Up to the same date.

We can surmise that the club would of changed kit to avoid clashes at various times. The first  away / change kit  I can find a mention of appears to be when we worn what was a chocolate/brown strip with long blue shorts that date back to 1899-1900 (fig 1).

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fig 1

After the war we again tended to use mostly dark/navy blue strips. Although again in the period leading to the era covered by the ‘Tottenham and the Roaring 20’s’ mini series red again became the second choice.

It has been suggested to me that this could have been due to the clubs budget requirements. Knowing the team would need a ‘third’ kit on some occasions the club simply cut out the first change strip. This is purely a suggestion. Another point to remember is that the FA Cup ruling requiring both teams to change their strips.

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fig 2

1901 to 03 brings us a change kit slightly more like we would expect, (fig 2). By this point the first choice kit was the famous white shirt and blue shorts. This stripped approach to the change kit lasted for the most of the period up to the 1920’s. The width and shade of blue varying from a navy to lighter/ brighter shades. Various other kits were used mostly for specific games. In 1908 a red strip replaced the blue for the game at Fulham.  The exception to this was 1912-14 when we wore a red shirt and blue shorts, (fig 3). 

fig 3

A example of this was previously discussed in Hotspur Towers 10. When we had Len Duquemin in stripes playing at White Hart Lane. See picture below. Remember this photo is from 1953.

The 1922 FA Cup semi final V Preston saw us wear a blue and white strip when red was the usual change colours. 

The years through 1925 to 1946 we changed to blue and white hoops. Again their were several instances of a different  or third kit  used.

You will notice in that top picture which is the Tottenham laundry wash in 1935 that half of the washing line is white shirts the other half are hooped.

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fig 4

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Hoops appeared regularly during the 1920's- 1930's. The cockerel is thought to have first appeared on the change strip
around 1928. On a strip very similar to this replica shirt shown, (fig4).

During this time again we would change to a 'third' strip at times sometimes in red stripes. In the mid 1930's we certainly wore a pale blue shirt in several games.

1950 saw the a strip much closer to what we would expect to see, a dark blue shirt and white shorts. (fig 5 right - a replica version).

Then below (fig 6) the more modern cockerel has appeared.

1958 and the club introduced a strip that would become a main stay on and off ever since the yellow / amber kit.  At first this was worn in friendlies and in floodlight matches such as the London Challenge Cup. This kit (fig 7) was used on and off until 1960.

The dark blue shirt and white shorts remained the first change kit of choice up until the 1969-70 season

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fig 6

fig 7

Although  occasional changes were still required, especially in Europe games when some 'wonderfully creative combinations' appeared . This one was from the game away to Olympique Lyons game in 1967, (fig 8).

Which brings us on par with the first article. At a  future date we will look at the next stage of the kits development and  thankfully have colour photography to help illustrate the way.

I will close with one last image, (fig 9). This is another replica version and would of appeared in the mid 1950's. 

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fig 8

A massive thanks to the several people whose memories are longer and more reliable than my own, you know who you are. Once again  I must also offer my thanks to Phil Sour and Bob Goodwin. In addition to Andy Porter, Tony Sealey and John Matthews and those excellent chaps at Historical kits and at Toffs. Without whose amazing efforts this article would of  been close to impossible. 

notes -1- Hotspur Towers 41.

COYS
Keith Harrison.
t- Keith 16024542
f- peter shearman (old non de plume reserved for THFC matters)

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fig 9