Hotspur Towers - The Spurs Collection

The Spurs Collection draws together various artifacts and suchlike relating to Tottenham Hotspur. Apart from the famous ones like the 'Nicholson' gates and The Cockerel there are many other items gathered over the years which are worthy of your inspection.

Today's assortment  includes some brought back from the club's travels and others presented to players. As well as a couple which may raise a smile or just be of passing interest.

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This trophy shown above was presented to Spurs by the Uruguayan FA when Spurs played the one and only game in their history in Uruguay during the South American tour of 1909. The match was played at the Grand Parque in Montevideo on 10th June when we beat a team from the Uruguayan League 8-0.  The story of that  tour can be found in the recent – Hotspur Towers – Spurs in South America.

The trophy which stands 15” tall is inscribed with the match details and was auctioned in 2015.

Next we have some medals – these are Rob Burgess’s back to back Championship winner’s medals from the second division 1949/50 and the 1950’/51 first division title.

Ron was described by Bill Nicholson as the best player he ever played alongside.

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The victorious players from the Double season were presented with a variety of items. Including the club giving them each a watch suitable inscribed.

Right  we have Bobby Smiths.

These items and various tickets etc,  what a friend insists on calling ephemera, meaning of short term relevance, whilst some of these are not valuable or 'relevant' I still think there are worth persevering. 

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I first started this idea during the old Talking Tottenham era. This resulted in the previous article

http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/talking-tottenham-101-objects

Which is well a few moments of your time.



A regular sight outside White Hart Lane in those days. was boards providing ticket information for forthcoming games.

Long before telephone sales and the internet fans would often be required to head to the ground on a Sunday morning when tickets would go on sale.

Queuing for hours in all weathers to purchase their tickets. As you will see no queuing was allowed more than three hours before the ticket office opened.

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The police tended not to be too concerned as long as the pavements were not blocked. However at times it did involve people walking one way up the high street for fifty yards

and then reversing and traveling in the other direction, and them, repeating the process. Until it was safe to station yourself in the doorway.


No we are not planning on putting Steve Perryman in a display case.

The next object to add to the Collection are the gates behind him. 

Often referred to as the 'backgate'  Even though they permitted access to the front of the ground and car park. 

They  stood between the old Dispensary building (recently demolished) and Warmington House which will remain and become part of the new structure'

This pic dates from 1975 and the next object connects us to his old teammates from three years later.

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We like to have a few ‘odd mementos’ here at the collection. When  Ossie Ardiles and Ricki Villa signed for Spurs they did a photo session at the ground and then were taken around to the Spurs shop to collect a few gifts before traveling back to Argentina.  

Upon arrival they found the shop locked and while trying to gain access the alarms went off.  This of course drew crowd and the local children’s crossing man ended up with his ‘lollypop’ being autographed by Ossie.

While Ricki received a pat on the back to welcome him to N17.

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Our next exhibit also fulls under the  'unofficial'
heading. Its the sheet music to Ezra Read's tune "The Football march."

Written in 1908 and as you can see was dedicated to Tottenham.

It was featured in
Talking Tottenham - Juke Box.


I suppose we better have n 'official' item up next and what more official than a letter on headed note paper.

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We dip into the stationary cupboard and pick out this letter we sent to Everton regarding the game we played at Goodisum Park on 20th April 1963.



Tottenham were looking for a speedy getaway and asked if the hoists could liaise with the local police to ensure they caught their train back to London.



Tottenham had to travel to Belgrade where they met OFK in the semi-final of the European Cup Winners Cup on the Wednesday.


THE ECWC campign has been featured previously and the OFK game is featured at –
http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-ofk-belgrade

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This in-memorial card dates from the late Victorian  / early Edwardian age. It was common to have these cards when a team lost a big game, especially a cup-tie. With various poems commending the passing of that teams cup hopes. All the big teams were featured. Cards would also depict grave sides or a horse drawn hearse. You could also buy these cards with blanks so you could fill in the name of the team and a date.

one in the current exhibition is another poster.

The poster is advertising the game we played in Ostend Belgium  in 1907 when we met Fulham.

Both sides were in the Southern League at that time.

Link – The Early Tours


http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-the-early-tours


Well if you enjoyed your visit to The Collection let us know and we will dig out some more trophies, loads of medals
and various curios for your pleasure in the future as we await the next match day..

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COYS
Keith Harrison.
t- Keith 16024542
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