Gilberto Silva (far left) and Ledley King (far right), the matchday captains of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, before the North London derby at White Hart Lane, on April 21, 2007. The match finished 2-2.

The North London derby is the name of the football local derby between the two major teams in North London – Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. It specifically refers to individual matches between the teams, but can also be used to describe the general ongoing rivalry between the clubs. Listen to this article ( info) in media player in browser This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2007-03-02, and may not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... Ledley Brenton King (born October 12, 1980 in Bow, London) is an English football player of Antiguan descent and first choice central defender and club captain for Tottenham Hotspur. ... Arsenal Football Club (also known as Arsenal, The Arsenal or The Gunners) are an English professional football club based in Holloway, north London. ... Tottenham Hotspur Football Club is an English professional football club which plays in the Premier League. ... For the railway station of the same name, see White Hart Lane railway station. ... is the 111th day of the year (112th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Soccer redirects here. ... In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby (pronounced der-bee in American English and dar-bee in British English after the English city) means a sporting fixture between two (generally local) rivals, particularly in Association Football. ... North London is that part of London which is north of the River Thames. ... Arsenal Football Club (also known as Arsenal, The Arsenal or The Gunners) are an English professional football club based in Holloway, north London. ... Tottenham Hotspur Football Club is an English professional football club which plays in the Premier League. ...

History

The first meeting between the two sides was a friendly on November 19, 1887, when Arsenal were located in Plumstead (then part of Kent but now in Greater London), and known as Royal Arsenal. The match was abandoned 15 minutes before it was due to end "owing to darkness" with Spurs leading 2-1.^[1] The first League match between the clubs was in the First Division, on December 4, 1909; Arsenal won 1-0.^[2] is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Plumstead (founded circa 980) is a district in the London Borough of Greenwich, with the eastern end of the site of the former Royal Arsenal at its northern boundary and Shooters Hill to the south. ... For other uses, see Kent (disambiguation). ... Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ... From 1889 until 1992, this was the highest division overall of organized football in England. ... is the 338th day of the year (339th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

However, a proper rivalry between the two teams did not begin until 1913, when Arsenal moved from the Manor Ground, Plumstead to Arsenal Stadium, Highbury, just four miles from Tottenham's White Hart Lane; by doing so, they became Tottenham's nearest neighbours and thus began a natural local rivalry. The two teams first faced each other as "north London" clubs (although Tottenham was actually in Middlesex until incorporated into Greater London in 1965) in a War Relief Fund friendly on August 22, 1914 at White Hart Lane; although Arsenal were in the Second Division and Tottenham in the First, Arsenal won 5-1.^[3] They would go on to meet regularly during World War I in the London Combination, the regional wartime competition of the time. The Manor Ground in Plumstead, south east London was a football stadium that was the home of Woolwich Arsenal (later renamed Arsenal) between 1888 & 1890, and 1893 & 1913. ... Plumstead (founded circa 980) is a district in the London Borough of Greenwich, with the eastern end of the site of the former Royal Arsenal at its northern boundary and Shooters Hill to the south. ... Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in North London, the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006. ... Highbury Clock is located just north of Highbury Fields, near the junction of Highbury Barn and Highbury Hill. ... For the railway station of the same name, see White Hart Lane railway station. ... The Middlesex Guildhall at Westminster Middlesex is one of the 39 historic counties of England and was the second smallest (after Rutland). ... is the 234th day of the year (235th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... The Football Combination (commonly referred to as the Pontins Holidays Combination for sponsorship reasons, and formerly known as the Avon Insurance Combination) is a football competition for the reserve teams of English Football League clubs from Southern England and Wales. ...

The rivalry escalated in 1919 when, after World War I, the First Division was to be expanded by two teams, and the League held a meeting of the clubs to decide the two clubs by means of a vote. 19th-placed Chelsea, who would otherwise have been relegated, were allowed to stay and thus they took the first of the two spots. The second spot could have been awarded to 20th-placed Tottenham, or Barnsley, who had finished 3rd in the Second Division, but Arsenal (along with four other clubs) also bid for the place, despite their only finishing 6th in Division Two - although an error in the calculation of goal average meant Arsenal had actually finished fifth, an error which was corrected by the Football League in 1975. “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously The Pensioners) are an English professional football club based in west London. ... Barnsley Football Club are an English football league team, based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire and nicknamed the Tykes (a Tyke is a traditional Yorkshire character rugged, hardworking and with great pride in their roots). ...

After an endorsement by League President and chairman of Liverpool John McKenna on account of their longer membership of the League, Arsenal won the vote by eighteen votes to Spurs' eight (Barnsley got five, Wolves four, Nottingham Forest three, Birmingham two and Hull City one) and were thus elected to the First Division.^[4] It has been frequently alleged that Arsenal chairman Sir Henry Norris used underhand dealings in order to bring this about, although nothing has been proven.^[5] The decision infuriated Tottenham and their supporters, although eleven years previously, Tottenham themselves had been elected to join the Football League Second Division despite only finishing 7th in the 1907-08 Southern League,^[6] at the expense of Southern League champions Queen's Park Rangers, who had also applied and had resigned from the Southern League in expectation of promotion.^[7][8] Liverpool Football Club are an English professional football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside, who play in the Premier League; they are historically the most successful club in the history of English football, having won more trophies than any other English club. ... John McKenna (1855 – March 1936) was an Irish self-made businessman and former rugby player. ... Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. is a Wolverhampton-based football club playing at Molineux. ... Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English professional football club based at The City Ground in Nottingham, England. ... Birmingham City Football Club are an English professional football club based in the city of Birmingham. ... Hull City Association Football Club is an English football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire. ... Sir Henry Norris (1525-1601) was a trusted early member of the circle of Elizabeth I, having been assigned to her household when she was at Woodstock. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... For other uses, see Southern Football League (disambiguation). ... Queens Park Rangers are an English football team, from Shepherds Bush, London. ...

Despite the setback, Tottenham were soon promoted back into the top flight after taking the 1919-20 Second Division title,^[9] and the derby was once again regularly contested. The first fully competitive derby match after Arsenal's 1913 move to North London was a First Division match that finished 2-1 to Tottenham, on January 15, 1921 at White Hart Lane. The early matches between the two were noted for their bitterness - a particularly vicious match in September 1922 led to both clubs being censured by the Football Association and threatened with being forced to play behind closed doors.^[4][10] The 1919-1920 season was the 45th season of competitive football (soccer) in England, and the first following the end of World War I. Honours Category: ... is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Football Association (The FA) is the governing body of football in England and the Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. ...

Tottenham played in the Second Division between 1928 and 1933, and 1935 and 1950,^[9] which naturally led to a drop in the number of matches between the two clubs in this period and a cooling of passions. Relations between the two clubs improved somewhat after the Second World War, after Tottenham allowed Arsenal to play their home matches at White Hart Lane while Highbury was requisitioned as an ARP station and subsequently bombed. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Air Raid Precautions (ARP) was an organisation in the United Kingdom dedicated to the protection of civilians from the danger of air-raids. ...

Since 1950 there has only been one season (1977-78^[9]) where Spurs and Arsenal have not been in the same division, meaning fixtures between the two are regular and this has maintained the rivalry to the present day; there have been many notable matches where the course of a title or the journey to a cup final has relied on the outcome of a derby match. As with most major football rivalries, there is much banter and gloating between the two sets of fans, many of whom work and even live together, and players who transfer between the two teams receive a bad reception from their former fans; the most recent example was defender Sol Campbell, who was nicknamed "Judas" by Spurs fans after he crossed the divide in 2001. The 1977-1978 season was the 98th season of competitive football (soccer) in England, from August 1977 to July 1978: // Overview Wimbledon play their first season in the Football League, replacing Workington. ... This article deals with major football (soccer) rivalries around the world. ... Sulzeer Jeremiah Sol Campbell (born 18 September 1974 in Plaistow, London) is an English footballer. ... Judas (Greek: Ιούδας) is the anglicized Greek rendering of the Hebrew name Yehudah (Hebrew: יְהוּדָה), also rendered in English as Judah. ...

Notable derby matches

Notable derby matches, such as cup semi-finals and title deciders, include:

• Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal (May 3, 1971) – The final match of the 1970-71 league campaign, and Arsenal needed a win or a goalless draw to take the First Division title (a score draw would have meant Leeds United won on goal average). The game was tight with few real chances on goal, until the very end. With three minutes to go, John Radford's shot forced Pat Jennings into a good save; George Armstrong got to the rebound and chipped the ball across goal and Ray Kennedy headed home the winner. Spurs desperately tried to get a goal back but to no avail; Arsenal held on to win the title (the first half of the Double that season).

• Tottenham 1-2 Arsenal (March 4, 1987) – Arsenal and Spurs had drawn 2-2 on aggregate in the League Cup semi-finals; with no away goals rule in force, the match was replayed at White Hart Lane. Spurs went 1-0 up through Clive Allen but Arsenal substitute Ian Allinson equalised and David Rocastle scrambled home the winner to take Arsenal through to the Final, where they won their first trophy since 1979.

• Tottenham 3-1 Arsenal (April 14, 1991 at Wembley) – The first FA Cup semi-final between the two sides. Arsenal were chasing a second Double, but Tottenham's Paul Gascoigne scored after just five minutes with a free kick from 30 yards out. Gary Lineker made it two, and although Alan Smith pulled one back for the Gunners before half-time, Lineker scored again in the second half to make the game safe. Arsenal's Double dream was dashed, though they still won the League that season; Spurs went on to lift the Cup a month later.

• Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham (April 4, 1993 at Wembley) – The second FA Cup semi-final between the two, in which Arsenal gained revenge over their North London rivals for the 3-1 semi final defeat two years earlier. Tony Adams scored with a header from a Paul Merson free kick for the Gunners in the 79th minute; Arsenal prevailed despite Lee Dixon's sending-off, and went on to win the FA Cup in May, adding it to the League Cup to complete the first ever cup Double.

• Tottenham 2-2 Arsenal (April 25, 2004) – Arsenal were unbeaten in the Premiership and only needed a point to secure the title. The Gunners were 2-0 up after 35 minutes thanks to Patrick Vieira and Robert Pirès' goals. A famous win looked to be on the cards, but Spurs restored some pride by denying Arsenal victory; in the second half Jamie Redknapp scored from long-range, before Robbie Keane converted a 90th-minute penalty. Nevertheless, Arsenal still won the title at their rivals' home ground, repeating their triumph of 1971.

• Tottenham 5-1 Arsenal (January 22, 2008) - Tottenham's first victory over Arsenal since November 1999, with the largest winning margin since 1983, in a League Cup semi-final second leg match. After a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium, Tottenham were 2-0 up by half time with Jermaine Jenas' strike and a Nicklas Bendtner own goal. After half-time Spurs added two more from Robbie Keane and Aaron Lennon; Emmanuel Adebayor (a substitute) pulled one back for Arsenal^[11], before Steed Malbranque scored a fifth goal in injury time, to put Tottenham into the 2008 League Cup Final, 6-2 on aggregate.

is the 123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ... // First Division Arsenal won the league championship at the end of a season which would soon be followed by their FA Cup final tie with Liverpool. ... From 1889 until 1992, this was the highest division overall of organized football in England. ... Leeds United Football Club is the only professional association football club in the city of Leeds in West Yorkshire. ... In sports such as ice hockey and soccer, goal difference (that is, goals scored less goals conceded) is often the first tie-breaker used to rank teams which finish a competition with an equal number of points. ... John Radford (born 22 February 1947 in Hemsworth, Yorkshire) is a former English football player. ... The Pat Jennings mural on the Northern Ireland wall of heroes outside Windsor Park Patrick Anthony Jennings OBE (born June 12, 1945 in Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland) is a former football player. ... George Geordie Armstrong (August 9, 1944 – November 1, 2000) was an English football player and coach, primarily associated with Arsenal. ... Ray Kennedy (born Northumberland, England, 28 July 1951) was a top footballer of the 1970s who won every domestic honour in the game with Arsenal and Liverpool. ... The Double is a term in football, which refers to winning a countrys top division and its main cup competition in the same season. ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an English football competition. ... The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each teams home ground. ... Clive Allen (born Stepney, London, May 20, 1961) was an English international football player and a prolific scorer for a number of clubs. ... Ian James Robert Allinson (born October 1, 1957) is an English former football player and manager. ... David Carlyle Rocastle, nicknamed Rocky Rocastle, (born 2 May 1967 in Lewisham, London - March 31, 2001) was an English football player, who spent the majority of his career at Arsenal F.C. He was cousin of now Oldham Athletic midfielder Craig Rocastle and his brother Stephen was on the books... Categories: | | | ... is the 104th day of the year (105th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... For the old stadium, see Wembley Stadium (1923). ... This article is about the English FA Cup. ... Paul John Gascoigne (born 27 May 1967 in Dunston, England), often referred to as Gazza, is a retired English football player who is widely regarded as one of the most gifted footballers of his generation. ... A free-kick in football describes the situation where a player on the opposing team has committed a foul, and you are given the ball to play from the position where the offence took place. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Gary Lineker Gary Winston[1] Lineker, OBE (born 30 November 1960 in Leicester) is a former English international football striker who scored ten goals in two World Cups for the England national team and is currently a sports broadcaster for the BBC... Alan Martin Smith (born November 2, 1962 in Bromsgrove) is a former English footballer, most notably associated with Arsenal. ... is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... For the old stadium, see Wembley Stadium (1923). ... This article is about the English FA Cup. ... For other persons named Tony Adams, see Tony Adams (disambiguation). ... Paul Charles Merson (born Harlesden, 20 March 1968) is a retired English football player, and former player-manager of Walsall. ... This article is about the footballer. ... The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an English football competition. ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Scottish equivalent see Scottish Premier League The FA Premier League (often referred to as the Barclays Premiership in England and the Barclays English Premier League or just simply The EPL internationally) is a league competition for football clubs located at the top of the English football league system... Patrick Donalé Vieira (born June 23, 1976 in Dakar, Senegal)[1] is a French football midfielder who currently plays for Internazionale Milano. ... Robert Emmanuel Pirès (born October 29, 1973 in Reims, France) is a French international football player, of Portuguese and Asturian descent. ... Jamie Frank Redknapp (born 25 June 1973 in Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire) is a well-known former English footballer of the 1990s and early 2000s and current football pundit with Sky Sports. ... Robert David Robbie Keane (born 8 July 1980 in Tallaght, Dublin) is an Irish footballer, who currently plays as a striker for Tottenham Hotspur . ... is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an English football competition. ... The Emirates Stadium is a football stadium located on Ashburton Grove in Holloway, north London, and the home of Arsenal Football Club since it opened in July 2006. ... Jermaine Anthony Jenas (born February 18, 1983 in Nottingham) is an English football midfielder currently playing for Tottenham Hotspur, in the English Premiership. ... Nicklas Bendtner (born January 16, 1988) is a Danish professional footballer, who plays as a striker for English club Arsenal in the Premier League. ... Robert David Robbie Keane (born 8 July 1980 in Tallaght, Dublin) is an Irish footballer, who currently plays as a striker for Tottenham Hotspur . ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Emmanuel Adebayor (born February 26, 1984 in Lomé, Togo) is a Togolese football player who currently plays for Arsenal. ... Steed Malbranque (born January 6, 1980 in Mouscron, Belgium) is a Belgian-born French footballer, currently playing for Tottenham Hotspur. ... The 2008 Football League Cup Final will be the first to be played at the new Wembley Stadium. ...

Statistics and records

As of January 22, 2008, there have been 159 competitive first-class meetings between the two teams since the first league meeting in 1909, of which Arsenal have won 66 and Tottenham 50.^[12] The most goals in one game were scored in the closely contested 5-4 Arsenal Premiership victory at White Hart Lane on November 13, 2004. The biggest winning margin was 6-0 to Arsenal on March 6, 1935, although Tottenham have twice won 5-0 (December 25, 1911 and April 4, 1983).^[2] is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 65th day of the year (66th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ...

Tottenham's record for goals scored against Arsenal is shared by Billy Minter and Bobby Smith, with nine goals each.^[13] Arsenal's record is held jointly by Alan Sunderland & Robert Pires with eight each.^[14] Arsenal's long-time defender David O'Leary holds the record for most North London derbies played (35), while Gary Mabbutt and Steve Perryman shared the corresponding record for Spurs, with 31.^[14] Born William James Minter (April 16, 1988 - May 21, 1940), Billy Minter was a player, trainer, manager and assistant secretary at Tottenham Hotspur F.C. He began his playing career at Spurs when he was signed in March, 1908 and remained as a player their for 18 years until 1926... Robert Alfred Smith (born 22 February 1933, Skelton) was an English footballer. ... Alan Sunderland (born July 1, 1953) is an English former football player. ... Robert Pirès (born 29 October 1973 of Portuguese and Spanish descent) is a French international football player. ... David Anthony OLeary is an Irish football manager and former player. ... Gary Mabbutt MBE (born 23 August 1961 in Bristol) is an English former professional football player. ... Stephen John Steve Perryman MBE (born Ealing, London, December 21, 1951) is a retired English football player and current manager. ...

Summary of results

As of January 22, 2008 is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ...

Crossing the divide

Perhaps due to the rivalry between the clubs, relatively few players have played for both Arsenal and Spurs since 1913. The players who have done so are listed below.^[13][15]

Arsenal, then Tottenham

In addition, former Arsenal winger Joe Hulme managed Tottenham Hotspur between 1945 and 1949, while ex-Gunner Terry Neill was Spurs manager between 1974 and 1976, before crossing back to manage Arsenal between 1976 and 1983. Most famously, George Graham was first an Arsenal player, then managed the Gunners between 1986 and 1994, before being fired and later taking up the reins at White Hart Lane between 1998 and 2001. Jimmy Brain ( September 11, 1900 — 1971) was an English football player. ... Laurence Laurie Brown (August 22, 1937 - September 30, 1998) was an English former football player and manager. ... Rohan Ricketts, born Clapham, 22nd December 1982, is a professional footballer with Wolverhampton Wanderers. ... Joe Hulme ( August 26, 1904 – September 26, 1991) was an English footballer and cricketer. ... William John Terence Terry Neill (born May 8, 1942) is a Northern Ireland former football player and manager. ... George Graham (born November 30, 1944 in Bargeddie, Lanarkshire) is a Scottish former football player and manager. ...

Clive Allen played three matches in Arsenal's 1980-81 pre-season friendly campaign, although never played a competitive league match for them. Clive Allen (born Stepney, London, May 20, 1961) was an English international football player and a prolific scorer for a number of clubs. ...

Tottenham, then Arsenal

Additionally, Herbert Chapman played as an amateur at Spurs between 1905 and 1907, long before he was the Gunners' first title-winning manager between 1925 and 1934.^[16] George Samuel Hunt (February 22, 1910 – September 19, 1996) was an English footballer who played at inside or centre forward. ... Frederick James Arthur Freddie Cox DFC (November 1, 1920 – August 1973) was an English football player and manager. ... Victor George Vic Groves (born November 5, 1932) is an English former footballer. ... Jimmy Robertson Born 17 December 1944 in Glasgow, Scotland. ... Steve Walford (born 5 January 1958) is a former English footballer turned manager. ... For other persons of the same name, see Willie Young. ... The Pat Jennings mural on the Northern Ireland wall of heroes outside Windsor Park Patrick Anthony Jennings OBE (born June 12, 1945 in Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland) is a former football player. ... Sulzeer Jeremiah Sol Campbell (born 18 September 1974 in Plaistow, London) is an English footballer. ... Herbert Chapman (January 19, 1878 – January 6, 1934) was an English football player and manager. ...

Played for both teams in North London Derby

The following players have played in at least one North London Derby for both teams:^[17]

Jimmy Robertson is the only player to have scored for both teams in North London Derbies. Laurence Laurie Brown (August 22, 1937 - September 30, 1998) was an English former football player and manager. ... Sulzeer Jeremiah Sol Campbell (born 18 September 1974 in Plaistow, London) is an English footballer. ... The Pat Jennings mural on the Northern Ireland wall of heroes outside Windsor Park Patrick Anthony Jennings OBE (born June 12, 1945 in Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland) is a former football player. ... Jimmy Robertson Born 17 December 1944 in Glasgow, Scotland. ... For other persons of the same name, see Willie Young. ... Jimmy Robertson Born 17 December 1944 in Glasgow, Scotland. ...

Footnotes and references