The Cock and Ball Stories - Ep3
The Woolwich Wanderers – an obsession. But who’s really obsessed with who?
It really is no secret that there exists a mutual loathing for each other. As Son Hueng-min was recently briefed on the rivalry and it is quickly pointed out that he should not buy a red car, we are once again reminded of the dislike we have for that lot in N5. Drawn in our first foray in the Capital One Cup against our old foe, we add another episode in the long-running derby with our neigbours. I’m sure the ‘Mickey Mouse Cup’ references are being bandied about by the red half as they jockey for position in the banter stakes. Let’s face it, they’ve won back to back FA Cups as we continue to make League Cup final appearances with mixed success. A moment that is not lost on Tottenham supporters after having some leverage in recent years taunting a trophy-less Wenger Squad until they returned to winning way. “Always in our shadow…” yes, we are reminded yet again.
As much as this blog hopefully resonates with supporters like myself who are mired in Tottenham’s rich history and simply grow up hating the South Londoners because that’s what you do, it’s as much for the many new Spurs fans that I reside with on weekends in booze-soaked early morning pub ventures. I introduce you to the only London rivalry that matters and why it’s more important than ever.
I am not a fan of the word ‘hate’. There are so many negative connotations surrounding the word, especially in today’s media-scrutinised society that it is embarrassing to type at times when all we need is love. BUT, I hate them. I really hate them. Their stadium. Their colours. Their kit. Their glib supporters. That pirate fella. Everything about Arsenal FC, I hate. Despise. Loathe. There, it’s been said. Out of the system.
So let’s have a look at Dial Square and how their history blends in with Tottenham's successes throughout this timeline. Without spending too much time than necessary on their history, but their back story is interesting and sets the tone for the rivalry, despite their dodgy dealings when they crossed the Thames in 1913. Founded in 1886 in Woolwich, SOUTH LONDON as Dial Square by workers of the Royal Arsenal, they changed their name to Woolwich Arsenal when they became a limited company and joined the Football League in 1893. Despite promotion in 1904, their attendances were poor and the club were on the brink of extinction amid dire financial problems just six years later. Enter the villain of the hour: businessman Henry Norris. The man singlehandedly responsible for generating the rivalry that exists today. Norris immediately sought to move the club and recognising the generous attendances that Tottenham Hotspur reveled in, put his marker down in Highbury N5. Mere miles from Tottenham’s manor.
Now after the Great War, things become interesting: Arsenal (having dropped the ‘Woolwich’ in the name, despite a year in North London) only finished fifth in the Second Division in the 1914-15 season but once competitive play resumed in the first season after World War One, they were elected to the First Division… at the expense of Tottenham. Much has been said that ‘dubious means’ and ‘unscrupulous dealings occurred’ resulting in the vote that left Tottenham mired in the lower tier whilst their new rivals enjoyed top flight football. Much more of Norris' shenanigans can be explored by reading chapter six: "Heroes and Villains", from the brilliant Julie Welch tome: The Biography of Tottenham Hotspur'. His work is elaborated upon at great length. He was a nasty piece of work.
From that point, the club went from strength to strength particularly after hiring a former Spurs player, Herbert Chapmen who quite rightly should be credited for his revolutionary training and tactics in English football at the time. His tenure generated Arsenal’s first period of major success, even after his untimely death. The 1930s belonged to Arsenal FC. Chapman was also instrumental in the renaming of Gillespie Road station to ‘Arsenal’, making it the only Tube station named after a football team.
Although they faded prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, they won two more League titles and an FA Cup prior to Tottenham’s first League Championship in 1951. Another revolutionary manager and coach – Arthur Rowe – had the white half of North London gleaming and had the country paying attention, paving the way in just a few short years for Bill Nicholson to mark his place in Spurs history.
By this time, both clubs were well established in the top flight of English football. The Sixties belonged to Tottenham, the 70s were neck and neck. Spurs reaching four finals and winning three of them. However Arsenal did ‘The Double’ in 1971 whilst Spurs were relegated six years later, much to the chagrin of the Gunners’ supporters. Handing us a 5-0 Liam Brady-inspired drubbing at White Hart Lane upon Tottenham’s immediate return to the First Division did little to reassure Spurs fans the future was Lilywhite. Of course the 70s were awash with crowd disturbances and hooliganism was rife in the game, worsening as the decade made way for the 1980s. Tottenham’s ascendancy was for all to see as Burkinshaw brought stylish football back to North London and Spurs were once again, the Big-Time Charlies. Arsenal, despite losing every other cup final, shrank in N5.
The dawn of the Premier League and ‘Modern Football’ saw both clubs on equal footing until a certain Frenchman took over the reins of Arsenal and has remained at the helm since, leading the club to numerous successes. I think this point in recent history is not lost on the reading audience but simply drives home their superiority over Tottenham as they have racked up titles and cups whilst we have won two League cups.
So there is a three minute timeline of the Woolwich invasion of North London. Arsenal have clearly flourished from the move across the river and seen unbridled success after almost going bankrupt. Spurs on the other hand have shown sustained growth down the years and despite the smaller trophy cabinet, have one that is not to be sniffed at nevertheless. One of only two clubs in English history who can claim to have won a trophy in each of the last six decades, Tottenham Hotspur can also proudly boast a number of firsts in football: the first club to win the FA Cup as a non-League side in 1901 (the club also produced the tradition of tying club coloured ribbons to the cups prior to presentation that year). The first club to the do ‘The Double’ in the Twentieth Century in 1961 (not to mention that during that season they set records for the most league wins to start a campaign: 11 in the 1960-61 season, along with the most wins in a season with 31 out of 42). The first BRITISH club to win a European trophy in 1963. The first winners of the UEFA Cup and the first English club to win two European trophies in 1972. In more recent times, Spurs set some other firsts and records: first top goal scorer in the Premier League (Sheringham in 1992-93), first club to score an average of two goals or more in Champions League group play, first British club to win eight consecutive major European matches and the first club to win a major trophy at the new Wembley. Sadly we own the dubious record of being the first club to concede 1,000 goals in the Premier League. A statistic not lost on the irony of our mid-table mediocrity of the formative Prem years. Whilst other charter clubs were relegated, we chose to plod on shipping in boatloads of goal. But, we remain one of only charter seven clubs to never be relegated from the Premier League.
So despite slightly lagging in the trophy count, Tottenham have had their fair share down the years of setting records and more importantly, entertaining the supporters. Our noisy neighbours have a reputation of playing boring, one-dimensional football. ‘1-0 to the Arsenal’ became a chant that even their own fans sung… when winning 1-0. Imagine our disbelief when the architect of that numbing brand of football crossed the suburbs of North London. And his name shall not be uttered other than declaring him: ‘The Man in the Raincoat’. Then add in the auspicious departure of a certain club captain the other way and the flames became fanned just a little bit higher. The ‘relationship’ around that era despite the gap in league position, was intense and somewhat incendiary. It exists today.
All of these occurrences over time have created what although may not be a Manchester United/Liverpool or Rangers/Celtic rivalry, surely makes for the most eagerly awaited fixture on the footballing calendar in London. The Gooners may kid themselves that Chelsea might give them a run for their money, they know they’re scanning for us above all else. The last time Tottenham faced Arsenal three times in a season, we lost all three without even getting on the score sheet. That was just two seasons ago. Redemption was won last season, going unbeaten and also playing arguably one of our best games of the campaign in the home match.
All signs lead to an intense first meeting on September 23rd at The Lane in the Capital One Cup. A repeat of our last meeting in this competition when Harry Redknapp put the youngsters out is not acceptable. Pochettino knows what this means to the fans and should be inspiring the team to return to Wembley. With the first of the two league meetings about six weeks after the Cup match, an early marker is key. With many years since a ‘double’ over them, this would be a fine time to gain that scalp.
So the question has to be asked: who’s more obsessed? Are we? Is it jealousy, envy at their success relative to ours? I smart every time I see them above us or winning a trophy when we don’t. The bragging of ‘Mind the Gap’ in 2012 or highlighting the almost ten years of going trophy less (as we can see that mark over the horizon, I may add) doesn’t help our argument. Those were inevitably going to bite us on the backside. But why do Spurs supporters insist that the Arsenal fans are obsessed over us? Is it that they adopted Lilywhite in their kit out of respect for us (not sure if that one is fact or fiction)? Is it their accomplishments in football that pale into insignificance to ours? Not that I’ve yet met one that would even begin to confess to any obsession but clearly there is something about our club that irritates them dearly.
Oh I have it. That one first that can never be forgotten: first professional club in North London.