Tottenham Hotspur

"One day, I just want to be able to say ‘I fought at Spurs’...

Sam Gilley, December, 2023.

It’s not often you get to fulfil your sporting dreams - boxer Sam Gilley is hours away from the opportunity to do just that.

Sam, from a generation of Spurs fans, will fight for the British super welterweight title against Ishmael Davis at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as part of the Benn-Eubank II ‘Unfinished Business’ card on Saturday.

Speaking to us at his gym us a couple of years ago, after landing the Commonwealth title, Sam said: "One day, I just want to be able to say, ‘I fought at Spurs'.

"The British title is the next target, the Lonsdale belt. When I was a kid, I had a Blackberry, and my screen shot was the British title, so that’s the one."

One will and, fingers crossed, both dreams will come true in Sam’s second home in N17 on Saturday night.

Speaking to us again, exclusively, during fight week, Sam is absolutely aware destiny is calling. “I did a media day yesterday and in every single interview I've said this is... people say it must be a dream and I'm like, 'it's so ridiculous that I'm fighting at Tottenham!' I can't even call it a dream because it's that far past it.

“I was at the first Benn-Eubank fight and even though I was there as a fan watching it, I didn't sit there and think, ‘oh, if they have a re-match, I could be on the card’. That still didn't come into my head. It’s just so, so ridiculous that I'm fighting here.

“I'm absolutely buzzing. There are no doubts in me, no nerves in me. I'm just… I'm so excited. The ring walk... that's going to be some adrenaline rush! I go to all the home games and I’ve always thought, when the players walk out, they hear the crowd, the trumpeter starts, what must they feel like? Well, I’m going to get a taste of that on Saturday.”

So, it's the dream - but there’s also the reality of an opponent waiting to take Sam’s Commonwealth belt and the vacant British title, and he has full respect for Ishmael Davis, ‘The Black Panther’ out of Leeds, who has won 14 of his 17 bouts.

‘Magic Man’ Sam, beaten just once in 20, added: “It's still a boxing ring at the end of the day, no matter whether it's put up at Spurs or it's put up in the street, when you get inside that ring, you've still got a job to do.

“Ishmael Davis is a very, very credible, strong fighter. He won't back down from any challenge. For instance, in his last fight, he boxed a boy from Belfast, in Belfast, and that was only a few months ago, so he's come straight out of that to go in with a Tottenham boy at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He won't say no to a challenge, so you've got to give him credit for that. He backs himself as well, so it’s going to be a good test!”

For Sam, a tough couple of stop-start years in the ring will all be forgotten when he looks up and sees that famous golden cockerel looking over the stadium. “As I said, I was at Benn-Eubank I, and you sit there and think, ‘one day, I might fight at the 02 or somewhere like that’, now I’ve got the dream in front of me. Finally! I’m 31 now. I’m still aiming for the same belt I was aiming for two years ago, but if you’d said to me two years ago that I’ll have a tricky couple of years, but get the chance to fight for it at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - yeah, go on then, I’ll have that!”

All Season Ticket Holders can now apply online or by submitting an application form, which can be obtained from the Ticket Office, no later than 5pm on Monday 17 November.

In the event that tickets are oversubscribed for this match, they will be allocated in line with the Club’s ticketing points scheme.

Ticketing points: 3

Safe Standing

The majority of our allocation at the City Ground is safe standing. We will contact all successful applicants once the deadline has passed with further instructions on how they can request a ticket in a suitable area should they not be able to stand throughout the match.

Digital Tickets

For this fixture, we will be issuing our allocation as digital tickets. As for home games, a link will be sent to the assigned supporter via email to download to their Apple/Google wallet. This link will be sent to the individual successful Season Ticket Holder and not the lead applicant.

Any supporter who is successful with their application and who does not have a compatible device will be able to submit a request to receive a paper ticket. Tickets will only be available to collect on the day of the fixture at the City Ground on production of photographic ID by each individual successful Season Ticket Holder.

Coach Travel

Live Coverage: Spurs vs Arsenal (WSL)  Tottenham Hotspur

Ben Haines, club TV presenter and women’s football presenter, will sit down with us ahead of every WSL home game this season to provide his insight on the upcoming fixture and the news around the league.

An action-packed London derby

It was a lively London derby last weekend against London City Lionesses, who I feel we’re still learning about and trying to understand where they’re currently at as they’ve obviously assembled an impressive squad in the summer. In terms of the way we approached the game, once we reached 2-2, it felt like we would be side that would go on to win the game. It got quite chaotic, pretty much end-to-end, but we ultimately came unstuck from two set pieces and that was enough to ensure London City Lionesses got over the line. The fourth goal came from us chasing the game and going in search of an equaliser, but Martin Ho would have taken a lot of positives away from that game to go reinforce on the training ground this week and a few things that he would want to work on as well.

Influential Holdt

Olivia Holdt was once again finding those pockets of space that we’re so used to seeing her find now. She invites challenges in and then can glide past them, and she isn’t just about creating outright assists, but it’s about creating space for other players to exploit. So, if she can invite a challenge against teams playing a low block, she can suddenly ghost past player and create a two-on-one situation, but it also creates a huge amount space for our other attackers. She could play a big part in this afternoon’s fixture against Arsenal.

Elsewhere in the WSL

Looking at the results from last weekend, the one standout was the impressive Aston Villa win over Manchester United. People seem to have forgotten about their strong finish to last season, picking up 15 points from a possible 15, and they’ve gently eased into a fairly good position in the opening stages of this term. At the start of the last campaign, there was discussion whether Aston Villa would be part of a relegation battle, but none of those issues seem to have surfaced this time around.

An entertaining north London derby on the cards

Now, we come into what I think is the most exciting north London derby in years. There’s no denying it; Arsenal have always been one of the powerhouses in Women’s football. They’ve certainly built a good infrastructure around the team but there’s also no getting away from the fact that Spurs have started to close that gap this season. Spurs are now in and around the sides at the top of the table, which is really good going at this stage of a season and, in no small part, down to the fantastic work that Martin has done.

A reflection on Arsenal’s opening months

Arsenal have had a tough start to the season, including the defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League earlier this week. There’s no doubt that they felt they should have taken all three points from that game against Chelsea. They rode the atmosphere and certainly turned up on the day. Arsenal are a very good side who have an abundance of talent throughout the group. It will take us being at our very best to get past them but I don’t see why we can’t do that in what will be a brilliant north London derby.

Guglielmo Vicario continued his strong start to the season on Thursday night with another clean sheet - this time on the international stage as he helped Italy to an important 2-0 win over Moldova.

Part of Italy's World Cup qualifying campaign, the Azzurri needed a win to keep their hopes of qualifying automatically for next summer's tournament in the USA, and they delivered just that.

On a very tense night in Chisinau, Moldova, the Italians had to wait until the 88th minute to break the deadlock through Gianluca Mancini before Federico Esposito put the game beyond doubt three minutes later.

It was a rather quiet night for Vic who had just one shot to contend with as he kept his third clean sheet for his country.

However, the victory might not be enough in Italy's fight for automatic qualification for the World Cup with group leaders Norway also winning tonight - a 4-1 victory over Estonia.

Italy host Norway in the final qualifier on Sunday with the Scandinavian nation holding a three point lead. However, they also hold a goal difference of +29 compared to Italy's +12, meaning Italy will need to muster a swing of 17 goals in that final game to overtake Norway.

Former Spurs man Troy Parrott scored twice as Joao Palhinha's Portugal saw their hopes of automatic World Cup qualification dented in the Republic of Ireland on Thursday night.

Heading into the game, a win would have secured Joao's nation a place at the 2026 finals which are set to be hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico next summer, but it turned out to be a very difficult night for them in Dublin.

Falling behind within 17 minutes at the Aviva Stadium with our Academy graduate Parrott opening the scoring, Joao's country were then further behind just before the break as our former forward, who departed for AZ Alkmaar in 2024, was at the double.

Things went from bad to worse for Portugal in the second half as on 61 minutes, their captain Cristiano Ronaldo was shown a red card for violent conduct, meaning he will now miss their final, crucial qualifier with Armenia on Sunday.

It is likely that Portugal will now have to win that game in Porto if they are to be assured of a place at the World Cup.

Joao remained an unused substitute for the game.

England

Elsewhere, Djed Spence was also an unused substitute as England ran out 2-0 winners over Serbia at Wembley.

Already qualified for the World Cup thanks to last months 5-0 win in Latvia, it was somewhat a dead-rubber game for England, but they faced a stern test from the visitors from the Balkans, who were still vying to qualify for the tournament.

In the Under-17s, fellow full-back Oscar Sandiford was also an unused substitute as his side ran out 5-2 winners over the USA in the UAE.

Drew Spence spoke of excitement for Sunday’s highly anticipated north London derby at Brisbane Road on Sunday.

“It’s always exciting and such a big occasion,” she told us, looking ahead to the encounter in E10. “The fans also make it so special to be a part of, so it’s a great game to play in.”

This weekend’s clash with the Gunners is set to be one of the most exciting north London derbies in recent history with both sides level on points (15) in the Barclays Women’s Super League table – and electric atmosphere is to be expected at Brisbane Road.

“I think for any player, to play in a London derby is massive, but to play in a north London derby is an even bigger occasion,” she added. “This is the kind of game at the start of the season that you always look forward to.

“You obviously want to be the best team in London, and the derby gives you that opportunity. The atmosphere is always a little bit louder, and everything just means that little bit more - it’s exciting.

“Our fanbase have been amazing this season so far – whether that’s home or away. They all travel with us, and we can always hear them and they’re always giving us so much support, so it’ll be important to hopefully get a good result for them, especially in this weekend’s north London derby.”

While it was a disappointing outcome against London City Lionesses last weekend, it has been a positive start to our seventh season in England’s top flight – currently at fifth in the standings from the first eight games – and the 34-year-old is eager to bounce back in this weekend’s north London derby.

“Of course, it was disappointing last weekend but we’re fairly new in our journey and we’ve made good strides so far this season,” Drew told us. “We’re going to have ups and downs throughout the season, but this is the perfect game to bounce back.”

Watch | Getting set for the north London derby

Joao Palhinha recently took on our 'Finish the Sentence' challenge.

Asking our on-loan tough tackling midfielder a series of random questions, Joao gave us some intriguing answers.

Check out his responses below...

Joao can help his nation Portugal qualify for the World Cup tonight when they take on the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

Keep up to date with our players on international duty in our live coverage.

How would you reflect on Arsenal’s start to the season? A good performance against the champions at Emirates Stadium last time out?

Jamie: “Returning off the back of the historic season that saw Arsenal claim the Champions League title, expectations for the new campaign were sky-high. However, not all has panned out in the way fans would have wanted as the Gunners continue to face new challenges as the season progresses. Draws to Aston Villa and Manchester United, as well as an uncharacteristic loss to Manchester City, put a hole in the side’s title hopes almost immediately. Arsenal looked to gather more confidence in a 1-1 draw against WSL Champions Chelsea, however, that momentum was short lived after a collapsing 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich midweek. Unlike Ho’s Spurs right now, it’s difficult to pinpoint the identity Arsenal are looking to play under. At times the side appear as if they can beat anyone, and then a minor obstacle arrives, and the answers are no longer there. It is safe to say that Arsenal have not been at their best this season.”

The impact Olivia Smith has made since signing for the Club in the summer?

Jamie: “She was the name on everyone’s lips this summer as it became rumoured that she would depart Liverpool. The Reds put a price on her head, and Arsenal were willing to pay the fee to secure her signature in north London. Her debut for the Gunners was exceptional, as a thumping top-corner strike against London City Lionesses made her presence known. She is a direct player who likes to press on to defenders with the ball at her feet, a sort of “I’ll do it myself” aura to her playing style. Since her strong start, Smith has struggled to pick up regular minutes after sustaining a minor hip injury on international duty with Canada. Rotating with Beth Mead and Chloe Kelly, she is yet to find her foothold in the Arsenal starting eleven. However, at 21 years of age, it is safe to say that all good things will come with time and Arsenal must nurture her growth as it comes.”

Any other players to keep an eye on this weekend?

Jamie: “Caitlin Foord is always a player that seems to trouble Spurs, and given her recent form for the Gunners, that could be the same this weekend. The Australian has arguably been Arsenal’s best performer over recent weeks, putting on a dignified account for herself against Chelsea last weekend. Leading the press and dragging full-backs into vulnerable positions, I expect the winger to be at her ruthless best.

“You can’t mention an Arsenal team without mentioning Alessia Russo. She was emphatic in both north London derbies last season and it will be interesting to see what her role is on Sunday. Against Leicester City, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, Russo played in an attacking midfield role with Stina Blackstenius as the central striker. This allowed Arsenal to gain control over the central areas using Russo’s hold up play and strong progressive vision. However, it’s probably likely she will return to a striker’s role this weekend in order to press Spurs high and support the wingers inside of the box.”

Anything different tactically from Renée Slagers this campaign?

Jamie: “Last season for Arsenal was a season of fairytale as they overcame Jonas Eidevall’s departure to go all the way to lifting the Champions League in Lisbon. However, there were concerns in the pre-season as to how the side would progress this season without the push of underdog adversity. With a squad full of exceptional talent, it wouldn’t be harsh to say that the side are underperforming under Renée Slegers this season. The Head Coach has often fallen victim to routine substitutions that allow the opposition to pick apart her tactics, leaving Arsenal answerless in some situations. She has struggled in the absence of injured spearheads Leah Williamson and Kim Little, and the players stepping into their places seem to lack the clinical edge that they used to have. Formation is almost always the same, but the personnel seem to be caught up in the confusion of what each player’s role actually is. With the WSL title almost already gone and Champions League in disarray, Slegers will need to get a foothold on what her identity is as a Head Coach of this side. The north London derby presents Arsenal with a strong opportunity to return to the style of football they so desperately want to play, whatever that may be.”

How do you think it will pan out on Sunday?

Jamie: “Under Martin Ho, Spurs have looked like a side reborn. Each player on the pitch has a role in the system, and it’s clear that the identity Ho is aiming for is already coming up to the surface. The side have identity in the press, and each player knows what pockets to drop into depending on the situation in front of them, something we didn’t see last campaign. Cathinka Tandberg and Olivia Holdt pose a real threat, and one Arsenal will certainly have to watch out for in transition where they are most vulnerable. Defence is often the hardest part of the pitch to immediately improve and Spurs – despite improvement – still seem to have vulnerabilities there against top attacking sides (Man City, London City, Chelsea). Picking up victories against the bottom five sides is something this Spurs side struggled to do last season, and now they arrive on the eve of the weekend of the north London derby with the knowledge that they have beaten this Arsenal side before. However, the north London derby comes at a tricky time for Tottenham because Arsenal must prove that they are the same side that won the Champions League, so there is an assumption that they will show up with more bite than usual. Arsenal’s plethora of attacking talents proved far too much for Spurs last season in 0-3 and 0-5 respective losses. However, that wasn’t Martin Ho’s Spurs. This weekend I expect to see a side that play with a new sense of dignity and identity, but an Arsenal side that know they must get the job done at all costs.”

Watch | Thomas' historic goal in our win over Arsenal in December, 2023

The match schedule for UEFA EURO 2028 UK & Ireland - including matches that will be played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - has tonight been announced.

Our home was named in October 2023 as one of the nine host venues for the Tournament, which begins at the National Stadium of Wales, Cardiff, on Friday 9 June, 2028, and reaches its conclusion with the Final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 9 July, 2028.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will host five matches in total across the tournament – four at the group stage and one at the Round of 16 knockout stage. Confirmed dates of the matches to be played in N17 are as follows:

Monday 12th June, 2028: Match 8 (Group Stage)

Thursday 15th June, 2028: Match 17 (Group Stage)

Sunday 18th June, 2028: Match 26 (Group Stage)

Wednesday 21st June, 2028: Match 34 (Group Stage)

Monday 26th June, 2028: Match 42 (Round of 16)

Qualification will take place between March 2027 and March 2028, following which the draw for the Tournament itself will be made. Kick-off times and teams involved will be confirmed after the final draw.

Tonight’s Tournament launch celebrates the start of the countdown to what will be a festival of football – the largest ever sporting event jointly staged by the co-host nations.

With less than 1000 days to go until the Tournament kicks-off, the launch marks the unveiling of the official UEFA EURO 2028 brand, including the Host Nation and City logos and stadium illustrations.

The brand was revealed in spectacular fashion tonight at exactly 20:28 on the giant Piccadilly Lights screens in the heart of London’s iconic Piccadilly Circus. Simultaneously, all around the UK and Ireland, the new logos were showcased in Host Cities, including on the exterior screens of our stadium.

Under the theme ‘We Speak Football’, the Tournament brand celebrates the fans who express the universal language of football and their love of the game through the famous cheers, chants and sounds that ring around stadia every week.

Following an independent assessment, it is anticipated UEFA EURO 2028 will generate up to £3.6 billion (€4.1 billion) of socio-economic benefits for the UK and Ireland, including job creation, regional prosperity and direct expenditure from international visitors to the Tournament.

Local businesses, suppliers and communities within Host Cities will see direct economic benefits, while dedicated training and volunteering initiatives will enhance skills development and open pathways into employment across the regions.

The UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Government of Ireland will collectively invest up to £740m to ensure the event is safe, secure and offers a world-class experience for fans and communities across the UK and Ireland. Investments will additionally be dedicated to social impact initiatives that will extend the benefits beyond the Host Cities before, during and after the Tournament. Social impact plans will be delivered by local stakeholders in each Host Nation to harness the power of sport and culture, bring communities together and inspire positive change.

It builds upon the existing socio-economic impact Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and its increased number of major events has had on one of London’s most deprived communities since opening in April 2019. A recent study by EY found that, through increased events and activities at the stadium, the Club contributes around £900m of gross output to London's economy, generating an additional £478m of GVA (Gross Value Added) in London.

The report also highlighted a contribution of:

£344m GVA (£296m in Haringey specifically) to the tri-Borough area of Haringey, Enfield and Waltham Forest

An estimation that the Club’s socio-economic impact will continue to grow in the years to come, with an estimated £585m GVA and 4,300 jobs expected to be supported during the 2026/27 season

Vinai Venkatesham, CEO, Tottenham Hotspur, said: “UEFA EURO 2028 will be an unforgettable summer of football and a landmark moment for the area of Tottenham - bringing people together from across Europe to our local neighbourhood, inspiring future generations and creating long-lasting economic benefits.

“Tonight’s launch is being celebrated across the country and we want our fans to join us in feeling immense pride at bringing the continent’s biggest festival of football to N17 - with less than 1000 days to go, we will be working closely with our local partners to ensure everything is in place to deliver a memorable and enjoyable experience for every visitor to Tottenham during the Tournament.”

David Lammy, MP for Tottenham, said: "Spurs has always been and continues to be a wonderful source of prosperity and excitement within our north London home. I am delighted that the club will serve as a host venue at Euro 2028 in what will be an historic celebration of the beautiful game. I would like to offer a huge thank you to everyone who has so far played a role on this important journey and I look forward to helping ensure that our community reaps the benefits of such a wonderful occasion."

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London is the sporting capital of the world and I am delighted that we will be hosting UEFA EURO 2028. Our city is home to two of the best and most iconic football venues in the world - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley Stadium - and there is no doubt that London will provide the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable summer of football, as we work together to build a healthier, more prosperous city for everyone.”

Cllr Peray Ahmet, Leader, Haringey Council and Andy Donald, Chief Executive, Haringey Council, said: “It is amazing news that Tottenham is one of the host venues for UEFA Euro 2028. We are so proud to be part of one of the biggest global events on the sporting calendar and it truly puts our borough on the map.

“We want to say a big congratulations to Tottenham for being the only stadium apart from Wembley to stage games in London and we will be welcoming people from across Europe into Haringey to see everything that we have to offer and the benefits this will bring to our local businesses. This will mean so much for the people of Tottenham and we should be proud of the fact that the whole world will be watching us.”