Skip to content

White Hart Lane: Tottenham's highs and lows at the stadium

23 May 1984:  Graham Roberts (left) and Gary Mabbutt (right) of Tottenham Hotspur hold the trophy aloft after their victory in the UEFA Cup final against A
Image: Graham Roberts (left) and Gary Mabbutt celebrate Tottenham's 1984 UEFA Cup win at White Hart Lane

Tottenham say farewell to White Hart Lane this week, after 118 years of playing at the famous stadium.

Manchester United will be the final visitors to the north London ground before Tottenham relocate to Wembley for 2017/18 while work is completed on their new ground next door to their current home.

Live Nissan Super Sunday

Here, we take a look at some of the highs and lows witnessed by the White Hart Lane faithful over those years…

HIGHS

Champions of England

Tottenham have celebrated two league title wins at White Hart Lane. They claimed their first-ever First Division championship in 1950/51 when a team featuring Alf Ramsey and Bill Nicholson beat Manchester United to top spot.

Ramsey went on to lead England to World Cup glory in 1966, but Nicholson became a Tottenham legend, later coaching the club to a league and cup double in 1961 - the first time one side had taken both honours in a single season since 1897.

15 DEC 1961:  JIMMY GREAVES OF TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR RUNS ON TO THE FIELD TO CHEERS FROM THE CROWD BEFORE THE START OF THE MATCH AGAINST BLACKPOOL AT WHITE HAR
Image: Spurs striker Jimmy Greaves takes the applause in a December 1961 fixture at White Hart Lane

The '51 win was particularly remarkable, given it was Spurs' first season in the top flight after winning Division Two 12 months earlier. It also included a run of four home games which saw Spurs score 21 times.

The Lilywhites were free-scorers in 1960/61, too, netting 115 times - 12 more than any other side.

Also See:

Glory, glory nights

There have been great European nights at White Hart Lane, with the club twice winning the UEFA Cup on home soil.

A 1-1 draw against Wolves clinched the 1972 title after Spurs had won the first leg 2-1 at Molineux with a Martin Chivers double.

23 May 1984:  The Tottenham Hotspur team celebrate after their victory in the UEFA Cup final against Anderlecht at White Hart Lane in London. Tottenham Hot
Image: Tottenham celebrate their UEFA Cup final win over Anderlecht at White Hart Lane

Twelve years later novice goalkeeper Tony Parks was the hero, saving the decisive penalty by Arnor Gudjohnsen (father of Eidur) as Spurs beat Belgian club Anderlecht in a shootout.

That was Tottenham's last major European honour but Gareth Bale lit up White Hart Lane in a memorable 3-1 win over Champions League title holders Inter Milan in November 2010.

Sweet semi-final win

Tottenham's final season at White Hart Lane will also be the first campaign in 22 years in which they've finished above their fierce rivals Arsenal - and when they depart the old ground, they'll look back fondly on a stunning 5-1 League Cup win over the Gunners in 2008.

Tottenham's Steed Malbranque (C) celebrates with team mate Teemu Tanio (R) as Arsenal players, Danish Striker Nicklas Bendtner and Togo Striker Emmanuel Ad
Image: Steed Malbranque (C) celebrates with team mate Teemu Tanio (R) as Spurs head to a 5-1 League Cup semi-final win

Spurs hadn't won a north London derby fixture since 1999 but, after securing a 1-1 draw at the Emirates in the first leg, goals from Jermaine Jenas, Nicklas Bendtner (og), Robbie Keane, Aaron Lennon and Steed Malbranque put Arsenal to the sword.

Juande Ramos' team then went on to beat another London side, Chelsea, in the final - their most recent major trophy win.

LOWS

Arsenal title wins

There can be few crueller moments in football than seeing your rivals win silverware on your own patch - but that's happened twice to Tottenham during their White Hart Lane tenure.

In the final match of the 1970/71 season, Arsenal won 1-0 against Spurs to beat Leeds to the title - despite Tottenham's best efforts to deny them.

Arsenal celebrate at the end off the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Tottenham and Arsenal at White Hart Lane on April 25, 2004 in London.
Image: Arsenal celebrate clinching the 2003/04 Premier League title at White Hart Lane

Remarkably, White Hart Lane was also the venue when Arsenal clinched the 2003/04 crown. The Invincibles raced into a two-goal lead but although Spurs fought back to draw, the home fans still had to witness Arsenal's players celebrating another league win.

Relegation in '77

Throughout much of their history, Tottenham have been a top-flight side but in 1976/77 they suffered relegation after finishing rock bottom of the First Division.

Their home form actually wasn't too bad, with 16 defeats from 21 away games costing them their elite status.

10th March 1977:  Liverpool football players, Kevin Keegan and John Toshack, attacking the Tottenham Hotspur goal.  (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images
Image: Liverpool put on the pressure in Tottenham's relegation season of 1976/77

But nonetheless, it was a low moment for the White Hart Lane regulars, more accustomed to First Division football.

Heavy defeats

Tottenham's biggest defeats at White Hart Lane were 6-0 losses to Sunderland (1914) and Arsenal (1935) but there have been heavy hammerings in recent years, too.

Chelsea thrashed Spurs 6-1 in 1997 thanks to a Tore Andre Flo hat-trick and Manchester City won 5-1 at the Lane in both 2011 and 2014.

Man Utd complete 5-3 comeback v Tottenham, 2001
Image: Manchester United came back from 3-0 down to beat Spurs 5-3 in 2001

Perhaps one of the most painful results in recent times though, will be a 5-3 defeat to Manchester United in 2001. Three goals ahead at the break, Tottenham were on course for a famous victory before collapsing in the second half.

Tottenham supporters will be hoping for a better outcome against United in the final White Hart Lane fixture on Sunday.

Around Sky