Written by Ilch Tuesday, 13 April 2010 18:38

GunnerTalk Blog

Tottenham – yes our next game is against Tottenham

My boys can’t actually bring themselves to say the word T O T T E N H A M!!

Strange that they have so much dislike, disgust and detest for one team that they can’t actually say the name!! Now let’s be honest it is probably the other way round too!

I knew there was a history between the two teams but it wasn’t until the other day when I actually asked my son to explain, the history from hence the rivalry stemmed from, that I actually got the bigger picture. He explained it in great detail and I must say my mouth fell open and I was speechless. Now for those of you who know me – I am never speechless! 

I will attempt to explain what I learnt in “woman” language – probably won’t get it quite right so forgive me ……

Once upon a time there was a club called The Woolwich Arsenal who were based in Woolwich – South London. In North London there was only one team – Tot***ham (even I am doing it now!!)

The Woolwich Arsenal were in, let us call it the 2^nd division - Tot***ham were in the 1^st division.

World War 1 started and all football was banned – All men were called to fight for their country and Football Stadiums all over the country were closed as they would be easy targets for bombers!

Now we had a chairman at the time called Mr Henry Norris – fondly known as “Mr Fixit” ….. He could have been Del Boy’s great great granddad from what he managed to do! 

In about 1919-1920 the Football League voted to enlarge the 1^st Division from 20 teams to 22 – so far so good – at that time Tot***ham and Che**ea (can’t even say their name now either!) were the bottom two in the 1^st Division when the season ended before the war. So it would be easy to take the first two teams from the 2^nd Division and promote them thus having 22 teams!!

But NO!! Our Henry Boy had other ideas – he somehow managed to persuade the Footballing Powers above to take Arsenal – pop them into the 1^st Division …. Not only that he somehow persuaded them to take Tot***ham out of the 1^st Division and pop them gently into the 2^nd!! I did forget to mention that just before all this happened Arsenal were given a brand new Stadium – Highbury – where is Highbuy? – North London – who were the only North London before we, sort of invaded?  Tot***ham!!!  

So not only did we move to their territory but through our Henry’s wheeling and dealing (no doubt money did exchange hands) we got them demoted too! 

Since all this happened – many many years ago we have never left the top Division – we have grown in size, strength and are a very successful team with fans around the world.

Happy ending for us – not so happy for …… well you know who!!

Let us take a moment to think of Henry Boy and all he has done for us and yes it might seem a little unfair but hey if the shoe was on the other foot and they had a Henry like we had a Henry they would not have batted an eyelid!!!!

I am planning on a nice meal for the game – something special – practical that can be cooked in advance – but to be heated up properly when ready to eat …. Lasagne!!!!!!

Come on you Gunners!!!!!!!