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Futbol: The North London Derby, A History

By Tim Donnellon

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Tottenham Hotspurs made the short trip over to The Emirates to play in the first league North London Derby of the year. While Arsenal have already taken one at White Hart Lane for a Capital One Cup matchup this season, the first league derby of the year ended in a 1-1 draw in which the Spurs largely controlled the match.

The weekend's outcome is one which Spurs are usually somewhat content with, as they have only won a total of two matches while away at Arsenal in the history of the Premier League (1992). It was a good game consisting of two very nice goals and an electric atmosphere. However, the story that followed the match changed slightly as Spurs fans completely destroyed an Emirates bathroom shattering urinals, sinks, and toilets, and making it feel like a true North London Derby.

The history of this rivalry, however, stems from far earlier than they start of the Premier League, as all English Football rivalries do, to a time where the sides were just actual football clubs.

A friendly took place in Plumstead, in the south of London in 1887 between the men of a south London munitions factory, and a club football team in the north. While Tottenham were up 2-1 in this matchup, darkness ended the game early – an action that still has implications today. However, their first actual matchup wasn't for another 30 years where 2nd division Arsenal took a 1-0 victory over Spurs – who were in the top division.

In a rivalry that has seen a lopsided 78 victories and 49 draws for Arsenal in the 180 North London Derbies played to date, what is it about this – and all English Football rivalries – that holds such violent undertones?

As Americans, we have all seen and heard the violent rumors about English Football; we have seen the movies and all have a special place in our hearts for West Ham United and their role in the film "Green Street Hooligans." But, what truth do movies like that bring to these rivalries, and more importantly, what are they leaving out?

While Arsenal played Spurs for the first time in the League in 1909, the rivalry didn't actually set in until 1921 when the two teams met again in a regular schedule in the First Division. While the league was changing and figuring itself out prior to this matchup, the rivalry had already been set.

In 1913, Arsenal Football Club, which at the time were newly graduated from just being a club team for a local munitions factory, were gaining traction and so needed to move into a stadium. So instead of just building one in place of where they were, in the south, they moved up to Highbury in North London to build their new stadium – Highbury Stadium.

The problem with this move, however, was that there was a First Division team already in place just four miles away.

Yup, you guessed it. White Hart Lane and Highbury were right on top of each other and therefore creating a competition for fans in a time when remote support was not nearly as common as it is today.

This move is usually the main contributing factor many people attribute to the cause, but in quick succession another main event took place. Already-ruffled Spurs fans, who on top of feeling invaded, had to deal with a dismal 1919 season in which they finished in last place behind fellow London club Chelsea, were en route to relegation out of the first division. However, following WWI, the league decided to expand and so add two teams to the first division. Votes concluded that 19th placed Chelsea, who were en-route to relegation out of the top league as well, and 2nd Division Arsenal F.C. would take the additional 2 spots even though Arsenal was only ranked 6th in the second Division. This meant that, while Tottenham fans couldn't complain about Chelsea being selected over them, they had to get relegated due to a mid-level second division team being voted in based on – and here's the kicker – their location and potential market as a North London team.

Since Tottenham's brutal origin, both teams have embraced their side, as there are chants, songs, events, and players who have repeatedly fueled this historical rivalry. It's the reason for many strained friendships and violence in London as well as the destruction of signs at White Hart Lane and of course, toilets at the Emirates this year. It's something we don't get in America; something that contains real history. Something cool and romantic; fun and enthralling; something violent and scary, and while this is a serious and most contemporarily relevant rivalry, it is only one of the biggest ones in English Football.

 

Tim Donnellon is a graduate of Rutgers University and works for SportsRadio 94WIP. Donnellon, an avid soccer, has traveled and studied the game abroad. 

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