Henry Percy ( Harry Hotspur )

[Delboy75]

A foreign friend asked me yesterday where “ Hotspur “ came from. I had a vague idea, but the answer I gave was a bit muddled and I actually felt a bit embarrassed I wasn’t really clear on it. So did a bit more reading up last night. As far as I’m aware there’s no reference to Henry Percy anywhere in the new stadium. Obviously there’s Percy house which I presume is named after him. Considering we literally take our name from him, shouldn’t there be some reference actually in The stadium. I know some of these characters from the past that have had statues have turned out not to be the most honourable of people. But Henry seemed like a straightforward warrior. The other very freaky thing is obviously his namesake Harry is now our talisman and the resemblance is uncanny.

 

[ShelfWatcher]

Wow yeah, that is twilight zone stuff ? I knew about Harry Hotspur and Shakespeare and the Northumberland family and its big part in Tottenhams history
But that picture, can only say wow again, you really hit gold on the spook meter there. Great research Delboy ??

 

[Flynn]

Someone will be offended or triggered by it.

 

[Gb160]

Someone will be offended or triggered by it.

PETA probably, judging by the way he treats his cat.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

My old English Lit teacher insisted that Hotspur, in this sense, came from the Yiddish chutzpah, and that it was probably a snide insult to Henry Percy from some quarters, as it meant recklessness in those days.

 

[ShelfWatcher]

My old English Lit teacher insisted that Hotspur, in this sense, came from the Yiddish chutzpah, and that it was probably a snide insult to Henry Percy from some quarters, as it meant recklessness in those days.

Never heard that one before, considering our Jewish links, that would be some weird irony. Off to Google I go ?

 

[Delboy75]

Wow yeah, that is twilight zone stuff ? I knew about Harry Hotspur and Shakespeare and the Northumberland family and its big part in Tottenhams history
But that picture, can only say wow again, you really hit gold on the spook meter there. Great research Delboy ??

Yup very weird. That’s an official portrait apparently the facial features are identical.

 

[Push & Run]

Maybe we should have an away kit based on his colours armour and all !
Stay safe

 

[cider spurs]

Cool.....but can he cross.

 

[ShelfWatcher]

Yup very weird. That’s an official portrait apparently the facial features are identical.

I really think they should put that picture in the stadium somewhere, with an explanatory caption etc.
Maybe wait till Harrys retired in case he goes to Chelsea or somewhere ?

 

[Delboy75]

Yeah there’s so much Spurs stuff on the concourses that picture would look great with the history beside it.

 

[Flynn]

Maybe we should have an away kit based on his colours armour and all !
Stay safe

Uproar with that red.

 

[topper]

A foreign friend asked me yesterday where “ Hotspur “ came from. I had a vague idea, but the answer I gave was a bit muddled and I actually felt a bit embarrassed I wasn’t really clear on it. So did a bit more reading up last night. As far as I’m aware there’s no reference to Henry Percy anywhere in the new stadium. Obviously there’s Percy house which I presume is named after him. Considering we literally take our name from him, shouldn’t there be some reference actually in The stadium. I know some of these characters from the past that have had statues have turned out not to be the most honourable of people. But Henry seemed like a straightforward warrior. The other very freaky thing is obviously his namesake Harry is now our talisman and the resemblance is uncanny.
View attachment 102615

Nice to see H modelling the (14)22/23 kit - hadn't realised we've dumped Nike and gone back to (Under) Armour. I'm here all day!

 

[KingKay]

I was up in Northumberland (Alnwick) a few weeks ago, there’s a statue of him there.

 

[KingKay]

As you say the club are probably reluctant to ally themselves to historical figures. He was respected enough by the Scot’s that he received the nickname ‘Hotspur’, which in those days usually meant that he’d seen enough of them off in battle. He also had offensive campaigns against the French and Irish, and everything that entailed (raping, pillaging etc). Ultimately he also led a rebellion against his own King (Henry IV), and died as a result.
All the above should obviously be viewed in the context of the time, but he’s not necessarily the swashbuckling, white knight that you’d want your club to be named after; especially in the light of the recent ‘woke’ cancel culture ?

 

[Push & Run]

Uproar with that red.

Good point, we could tone down the red to pink, that would suit the theatrical performance of some of our thespians, you know who they are!

 

[Delboy75]

I doubt there’s any warrior in history that’s whiter than white that’s just the nature of battle especially back in the day. I don’t see anything that alarming in his history that we should totally distance ourselves from him. I mean I’m not talking about a statue but some reference to him in the stadium would be cool imo. After all we are named after the bloke.

 

[Nine while nine]

As far as I’m aware there’s no reference to Henry Percy anywhere in the new stadium. Obviously there’s Percy house which I presume is named after him. Considering we literally take our name from him, shouldn’t there be some reference actually in The stadium.

The project to build the new stadium was called the Northumberland Development Project, a reference to the fact that the Percy family (the Earls of Northumberland in Harry Hotspur's time) owned a lot of land in our part of London.

However, you're right that there's no real link between the stadium as is and the Percy family. Conversely, I note that there's a White Hart Lane in Alnwick (which is where the Percy family have their castle) and would surmise that they named the street in N17 after the one they knew up north.

 

[the yid]

I just thought I had something to do with a Cockerells Spurs and never thought any more on it to be honest for 31 years So this is very interesting

 

[Push & Run]

As you say the club are probably reluctant to ally themselves to historical figures. He was respected enough by the Scot’s that he received the nickname ‘Hotspur’, which in those days usually meant that he’d seen enough of them off in battle. He also had offensive campaigns against the French and Irish, and everything that entailed (raping, pillaging etc). Ultimately he was also led a rebellion against his own King (Henry IV), and died as a result.
All the above should obviously be viewed in the context of the time, but he’s not necessarily the swashbuckling, white knight that you’d want your club to be named after; especially in the light of the recent ‘woke’ cancel culture ?

All is fair in love and war, especially against the French.