White Hart Lane

:For the railway station of the same name, see White Hart Lane railway station

History

Tottenham Hotspur F.C. moved to White Hart Lane in 1899, and the first game was played in the September of that year resulting in a 4-1 home win against Notts County. 5,000 were there to witness the victory. Between 1908 and 1972, White Hart Lane was one of very few British football grounds that featured no advertising hoardings at all.

Related Topics:
Tottenham Hotspur F.C. - 1899 - Notts County

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By 1923 the ground was enlarged to host 50,000 covered spectators overlooked by a copper fighting cock (the club mascot) that still keeps an eye on proceedings from the roof of the East Stand. In the 1930s football was a tremendously popular passtime, and despite Tottenham's relative mediocrity, 75,038 souls (and bodies) squeezed into White Hart Lane in March 1938 to see Spurs lose to Sunderland in the FA Cup. 1953 saw the introduction of floodlights (which were then renovated again in the 1970's).

Related Topics:
1923 - Fighting cock - March - 1938 - Sunderland - 1953 - 1970

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The West stand was built in the early 1980s and the project was so poorly managed that it was completed late and cost overruns had severe financial implications for the club. This side of the ground is parallel with Tottenham High Road and is connected to it by Bill Nicholson Way.

Related Topics:
1980s - Bill Nicholson

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The East Stand (on Worcester Avenue)is a three tier structure built by noted stadium architect Archibald Leitch in the 1930s. Its middle tier was until the eighties a standing terrace offering very good views of the playing pitch at reasonable admission prices. The banter among home supporters was marked and the entire terrace was nicknamed The Shelf. By the end of the 1980's both East Stand was upgraded to its current condition, but roof supports lacking from modern stand constructions betray its true age.

Related Topics:
Archibald Leitch - 1930 - The Shelf - 1980

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The 1990's saw the completion of the South Stand (on Park Lane) and the introduction of the first Jumbotron video screen, of which there are now two, one above each penalty area. The renovation of the Members' (North) Stand which is reached via Paxton Road was completed in 1996 leaving the ground in its present state.

Related Topics:
1990 - Jumbotron - 1996

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