Why Tottenham are known as Spurs and the Lilywhites
Tottenham Hotspur are often referred to as ‘Spurs’ or ‘the Lilywhites’ – but what is the meaning behind these affectionate nicknames?
Daniel Levy has turned Spurs into a commercial powerhouse over the past decade.
The Lilywhites are now one of the richest clubs in the whole of European football, and Thomas Frank will be looking to build on the North London club’s UEFA Europa League win under Ange Postecoglou this season.
However, despite all the glitz and the glamour which now surrounds the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the club comes from humble beginnings, and it is those humble beginnings which inspired the nicknames that are still used today.
Where does ‘Hotspur’ come from in ‘Tottenham Hotspur’?
Tottenham Hotspur were founded in 1882. The nickname ‘Spurs’ is quite simply a shortened version of ‘Hotspur’ – but where does that name come from?
The ‘Hotspur’ in Tottenham’s name is a tribute to Sir Henry Percy, a medieval English nobleman who earned the nickname ‘Harry Hotspur’ due to his speed on horseback during battles, which left the Scots believing that he used “hot spurs” on his boots to make his horse run faster.
Percy’s family owned land in the Tottenham area where the club first played.
Why are Tottenham referred to as ‘the Lilywhites’?
In perhaps a rather unsurprising reveal, the nickname ‘the Lilywhites’ stems from the fact that Tottenham play in white, something they have done since 1898. However, why do Tottenham play in white?
In the late 19th century, Preston North End were one of the dominant forces in English football, going unbeaten during the 1898/99 season. As a result, Spurs adopted their colours to emulate the now-Championship outfit.
During the 1960s, arguably Spurs’ most successful period, the late great Bill Nicholson decided that Tottenham should wear an all-white kit for European matches.
This is a tradition which continues to this day. However, the reason for the decision might surprise some supporters. Rather than having anything to do with traditions or aesthetics, the decision was purely practical, as wearing all-white meant the visibility of players improved under the floodlights.
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