Tottenham Hotspur

Our Under-21s will be in action against Norwich City at Stevenage on Friday night (7pm UK, live on SPURSPLAY), with tickets available right up until the start of the game for supporters wishing to attend.

Wayne Burnett’s side head into the match off the back of an impressive 4-0 win over Birmingham City last time out, a game in which midfielder Rio Kyerematen was involved in all four goals, while recent arrival James Wilson made his debut for the club.

With many local schools on their half-term break, the game represents a great chance for young fans to come and get behind the team. Tickets cost just £7 for adults, £5 for concessions and under-21s, and £2 for under-12s (when accompanied by an adult). They’re available online now via Stevenage’s ticketing website, or at the Lamex Stadium on the night of the game.

The ground is clearly signposted from Junction 7 on the A1(M) while Stevenage train station is a 20-minute walk – or a short taxi journey – from the ground and is mainly served by LNER, Great Northern and Thameslink trains.

Supporters unable to make it to the game in person can watch the action live on SPURSPLAY – tune in just before kick-off at 7pm UK.

Live text updates will also be available on our Match Centre.

Highlights | Under-21s secure big win over Birmingham

Our Academy this week hosted the inaugural Under-16 Ugo Ehiogu Memorial Cup at Hotspur Way.

Held in honour of our late former Under-21s Coach, who tragically passed away in 2017 following a cardiac arrest, the two-day Under-16 tournament saw budding young players from six clubs – including our own – enjoy developing their skills in an elite, competitive environment.

Teams representing Liverpool, Fulham and Charlton Athletic joined our youngsters and those of Aston Villa and Sheffield United – and fittingly it was the latter two clubs, both of whom Ugo represented during his playing career, that made the final, with Villa ultimately winning on penalties.

Club Ambassador Ledley King was on hand across both days, joined by a number of our current and former Academy coaches who worked with Ugo, including FA Technical Director John McDermott, who helped Ledley to hand out the trophy, winners’ medals and individual awards on Thursday afternoon. Ugo’s former Aston Villa team-mate Darius Vassell, part of the winning Villa Under-16 coaching team, also joined the presentation ceremony, paying his own tribute to the ex-England international.

A number of former Academy players including Japhet Tanganga, Oliver Skipp, Anthony Georgiou, Jack Roles and Shayon Harrison, plus Ugo’s former assistant coach Matt Wells, now Head Coach at Colorado Rapids in America, showed their support by sending in video messages addressing the tournament’s participants, explaining more about the lessons they learned from Ugo and his ongoing legacy.

Current Under-21s assistant coach Troy Archibald-Henville, one of the key figures behind the tournament’s inception, said: “This is something that’s been on my mind for a while and I’m really glad we’ve got it going. Since I started coaching, a lot of people have had really good things to say about Ugo, who was a great man and someone who was passionate about player development. We wanted to host an Under-16 tournament, so it was just an idea to implement that and at the same time, pay our respects to someone whose teachings are still ongoing to this day. Underneath everything, as always, we want the players to develop and enjoy themselves. Ugo was someone who would help to guide, develop and shape players, which is what we all stand for as coaches, and that’s what we want to continue doing.”

Ledley added: “It’s important to keep Ugo’s memory alive. He was not only a tremendous footballer, but a tremendous football person, which he showed going into the latter chapter of his career with coaching and developing young people. I had the opportunity to work a little bit closer with Ugo after our playing careers and the best thing you can say about him is how much he was loved by everyone who came across him. Events like this will go a long way to ensuring that everyone remembers him and carries his values on long into the future with the next generation of players.”

Welcome back to '60 seconds on...' our match preview with the pundits who know our opponents inside out.

Next up, it's that time again, the north London derby - number 170 in the Football League/Premier League and, as always, so much on the line at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday (4.30pm UK).

That meant a call into John Cross - @johncrossmirror - Chief Football Writer at The Mirror, Chair of Football Writers’ Association and a regular in the press boxes of White Hart Lane, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Highbury and the Emirates for over four decades.

You've built up to all manner of north London derbies in your media career - where do you place this one?

John: "I do think this is an absolute cracker on Sunday. I think it's up there with the most important for both teams, for very different reasons. Tottenham have this amazing opportunity with a new manager looking to make a difference. How many times have we seen a new manager bounce, a new manager impact? If he is to win over the fan base, and you suspect that will be his first target, then what better way than to win a north London derby and put spikes in Arsenal's title challenge? I think the crowd will be electric, fired up for it. I'm sure that Igor Tudor will have instilled his methods and targets into the players this week. I do think you'll get a very, very fired up crowd, atmosphere and Spurs team. I always think back to the 1987 Littlewoods Cup semi-final replay - a game that I was at - as the most dramatic, the most eventful and I can remember certain ones down the years since. Do you remember Danny Rose's spectacular goal? Honestly, this has got so many of the makings because of what's at stake. I think it's up there with the most dramatic and the best, for sure.”

There are so many opinions out there, but where do you see Arsenal at the moment?

John: "Obviously, Arsenal are well placed in the title race, but it feels to me as if they're in a nervous position. They have only won two of their last seven Premier League games. They're clearly having a dip and a wobble. The Wolves game spoke to me about Arsenal's frailties. They do look nervous, and I think much more tellingly, they look a bit tired mentally and physically. They've got to respond. You could argue that this would be a dream game for Mikel Arteta, because he'll be up for it, he will be determined, and he will really fight and see this as an ideal opportunity to bounce back. But I do think it's a hell of an ask. Spurs have obviously had a bit of a breathing space, extra time off, which I'm sure they wouldn't have wanted, but equally, it does give them an edge, I think, going into this north London derby on Sunday."

Who would you pick as Arsenal's key player going into Sunday?

John: "Arsenal's key player, I think, would be Bukayo Saka. I think he is a fantastic force and Arsenal's talisman, really. I do think Declan Rice has been Arsenal's best player overall this season, but he looked a little bit, and has looked a little bit, tired lately. He's put so much onto the pitch and been absolutely sensational - he would be a very close second to Saka, but Saka is capable of that little bit of magic, that little bit of X-factor, and he gets the importance of these games. There's been lots of talk about a new contract for him, which is a big boost so, with that in mind, those two things combined - Saka knows what it means, needing a response, a reaction - then I think it could be him. He could also wear the armband if Martin Odegaard isn't fit. Odegaard is crucial for Arsenal, they really miss him and his quality, but I do think Saka presents something a little bit special, a bit different, and so he'll be Arsenal's main threat."

Tactically, it looks like Arteta is between 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 - how do you think he'll play this one?

John: "Arsenal, tactically, the back four is set, but it does change in midfield quite a lot. I would argue that sometimes it looks as if they flip between different systems and formations, and it very much depends on who plays. They sometimes use Zubimendi in midfield, with dual eights, if you like, with Odegaard and even Rice, and then, sometimes, they've used Rice and Zubimendi a little bit deeper, and then Odegaard pushing forward. The game at the Emirates saw Eberechi Eze score a hat-trick, relishing that forward midfield role. Arsenal are quite fluid in midfield, but I think the one thing you can definitely count on is basically the back four, and that front three - the right winger, the left winger, and the centre forward. It changes, really, in terms of who is available and the personnel. If Kai Havertz is available, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Arsenal playing dual eights. Then, if Odegaard is available, they change a little bit again. That is the challenge for Arsenal, to make the best of the formation and make the midfield system work, and that always depends on personnel. I think their first choice, if you like, would always be Zubimendi, Rice and Odegaard. If that being the case, then it tends to be Zubimendi at the base and that allows Rice to be a marauding player, and for Odegaard certainly to lead the press. Arsenal miss Odegaard when he's not available, Havertz as well, Havertz has been a big miss, and when he's been back, Arsenal have looked very, very dangerous."

Finally, how do you see this one playing out?

John: "I think this is a great opportunity for Spurs. I think the problem for Arsenal is they've got less preparation time, they've got less recovery time, they do look fragile in defence, and I think this will be an absolute red-hot derby, even though Spurs are obviously missing a few players, I think the squad will be up for it. I think it will be a great challenge and opportunity for Igor Tudor. I've predicted a Spurs win, and I do feel as if Arsenal just look vulnerable. Listen - they might bounce back, and it might be a great opportunity for them to do that, what a statement win that would be. At the moment, Arsenal do look a little bit nervous, a bit edgy, and I think Spurs might be able to take that into account. I've actually gone for a 2-1 Tottenham win.”

Martin Ho spoke to the media at Hotspur Way on Thursday afternoon, ahead of our Adobe Women’s FA Cup fifth round tie at London City Lionesses on Monday evening (7.30pm UK).

Here are some key points on what he had to say…

Martin on London City Lionesses...

"It's a tough one. They have a very good overall squad depth, a good blend of experience and youth, I think they've grown. They've now got a new coach, they're playing in a slightly different way now to what they have before, but I think in the games they've been in, Manchester United last weekend, and then before that when they played Manchester City and so on, they've been competitive in those games, so we know it's going to be tough."

On the result against Aston Villa last weekend...

"I'm happy with the attacking performance. There are still areas we can be better, there's still a lot of room for growth, but I was just pleased that we were able to capitalise on a lot of those opportunities we got, in the attacking third and in the mid-to-attacking third, we were very dynamic. This week, we've made sure that we keep our feet grounded, one result like that doesn't make you a top team, consistent results do, and we have to be able to deliver those ruthless performances with the ball every single week. The defending side, as I said after the game, I don't want to concede three goals, we shouldn't be conceding three goals, we gifted them two of them, and if we do that at the top level you've got to always outscore, and I don't want to have to be scoring more and more every single week, just to outscore an opponent."

On Cathinka Tandberg...

"She works hard, wears her heart on her sleeve, loves Tottenham, loves Spurs, and just puts her head down. She's had some restriction on minutes in the last couple of games because of coming back from the injury she had, but to come on and score two goals, I think it was a sign of her quality - and we knew what she has. I'm just delighted she got on the scoresheet because she's probably been waiting for that since the injury she had."

On himself and four players being nominated for this year’s London Football Awards, with Martin the only WSL manager shortlisted for the Manager of the Year award…

“I’m delighted in terms of being recognised and nominated, but a lot of the work probably goes behind the scenes from the staff and the players, they do a lot more of the work than I do - I just have to sit here as the Head Coach. But, I'm proud for everyone because it's a collective, all the nominations are collective, we all play part of the team. We're all in a team sport and I think it's good recognition for the players compared to where we were previously, that their qualities and their skill set but also their performances are being recognised.”

On the Club reaching the FA Cup final in 2024 and what it means to him...

"People have spoken about it, people want to get there, they enjoyed the experience, it was a real sense of growth from the Club and from the team in those moments to get to that part. Then, the experience of being there as a Head Coach is something that you want to do. I've been there as an assistant coach for Manchester United, so I know what that feels like, but wanting to be there with this Club and help this Club achieve its dreams and more, the accolades and honours of winning trophies. The FA Cup is the prestigious one where you get to play at Wembley and I think every member of staff, every player, wants to be part of that, and we'll do everything we can to make sure we do."

On Clare Hunt, Maika Hamano and Toko Koga heading off to the Women's Asian Cup and whether he is worried to lose a core of his backline...

"We have wonderful players in that position, I made that clear before, we're not just going to bring anybody in at any point just to fill a gap for three to four weeks of a season. I want people here that are going to add value and are going to be with us for the long term. We have good enough players in there, Molly Bartrip, Josefine [Rybrink] can play there, Amanda Nilden can still play there, so there's lots of players you can play in that position. I have a lot of faith in the group, you lose Toko, Clare and Maika to that competition, but then that presents opportunity for other players to step in."

On wanting to be competitive in the FA Cup...

"You want to be amongst it, you want to make sure that you get to those latter stages of the competition, and we want to make sure that it's not just seen as, as you said, a team from the top four that has always won it over the last period, we need to make sure that we can upset that. But it starts with the game against London City, we can't think too far ahead, if we think too far ahead we'll probably come up short, and London City is a difficult task ahead of us. Whatever it presents after that, if we get through, then we'll focus on that but, for now, it's London City. We want to be amongst it, we don't want to just be here to take part, we want to make sure that we can be successful and get ourselves through to the final."

On dealing with the threat of Freya Godfrey...

"Since she's gone to London City, she's definitely shone and she's been a very, very key and valuable player within their team. She contributes to a lot of their goals, you've seen the assist she got for Nikita Parris on the weekend, and they've got lots of dangerous and wonderful players in their team now. They now have really good attack and threats, but Freya is probably one of those players who we know can open us up, like she did when we played them last time, I think she got the Player of the Match last time against us. I think we have to make sure that we nullify those threats as much as possible, as well as Freya and other players. If we do that, we give ourselves a chance, but we're under no illusion it's going to be a tough game."

Martin Ho confirmed that Charlotte Grant is available for selection against London City Lionesses on Monday evening (7.30pm UK) in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup fifth round.

The Australia international has been out of action since mid-November after suffering a knock in training.

However, our Head Coach revealed in his pre-match press conference that the defender has trained well this week at Hotspur Way and is back in contention for our trip to Hayes Lanes in the competition.

Giving the national media a team news update on Thursday afternoon, Martin said: “Charli is now back in contention. She has trained fully this so she's doing well up to now and she will be in contention for this game. Apart from that, we are as we were."

Drew Spence, meanwhile, will be unavailable as she serves her last game of her three-match suspension.

As for long-term absentees, Ella Morris, Luana Buhler, Maite Oroz and Jess Naz remain sidelined.

Throughout this season, our Official Matchday Programme will bring fans a collection of photos sourced from a deep dive into our Mirrorpix photography archive, most of which have never been seen before.

We'll bring you a taster of the gallery here on tottenhamhotspur.com...

Next up, Arsenal, as we prepare for the latest north London derby in the Premier League at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday (4.30pm UK).

Above - The game heats up during our 1-0 win at White Hart Lane in December 1992 with Ian Wright and Neil Ruddock at the centre of it all!

Live Coverage: London City Lionesses vs Spurs Women (Women's FA Cup)  Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal moved down the road to Highbury in 1913, yet it would be over seven years until we'd meet in the first N17 vs N5 clash - now we're up to 169 'north London' derbies in the Football League/Premier League with Sunday's clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium taking the tally to 170 - we also played Woolwich Arsenal eight times in the Football League.

First 'proper' NLD - 1921

The Gunners were formed as Dial Square in 1886, then Royal Arsenal and on turning professional in 1893, became Woolwich Arsenal, playing at the Invicta Ground and the Manor Ground, Plumstead. They moved to north London in 1913 and played their first match at Highbury on 6 September, 1913 – a 2-1 victory over Leicester Fosse in the old Second Division (Championship). We won the Second Division title in 1919/20 and the stage was set for the first 'north London' derby in the First Division on 15 January, 1921. We won that clash 2-1 thanks to goals from Jimmy Cantrell and Bert Bliss in front of 39,221 fans at the Lane. “Spurs played the close-passing, skilful game. Arsenal played the full-steam-ahead game, booting the ball hard and dashing after it at top speed. At the end, no-ne could say which was the more effective,” reported the Daily Mail. A week later, N17 vs N5 was truly underway as we travelled to Highbury for the first time, this time suffering a 3-2 loss.

Roy White - the Dunkirk survivor who came to watch the NLD, but ended up playing and signing for us!

Raymond 'Roy' White was born in Bootle, Merseyside in 1918, signed amateur forms for Everton and played for the Toffees' A team prior to World War II, but opted instead for a career outside of professional football and went into accountancy. Part of the famous evacuation from Dunkirk in the summer of 1940, Roy's boat, The Lancastrian, was sunk in the English Channel, and he was temporarily blinded during several hours in the water. During a lengthy spell in hospital, he met Jock McKay, a former Blackburn and Middlesbrough forward, and was recommended to our manager at the time, Peter McWilliam. On his release from hospital, Roy worked for the War Office in London and was invited to attend the north London derby in the wartime Football League South on 16 November, 1940. Incredibly, we were short on numbers, Roy was asked to play and he did so well against Arsenal and England legend Cliff Bastin - third in Arsenal's all-time goalscoring list - that we immediately asked him to sign amateur forms! He did so, and went on to make 165 appearances for us in that wartime period. A half-back, Roy eventually made his competitive debut for us in the FA Cup against Brentford in January, 1946, one of four appearances. Offered full professional status by both ourselves and Manchester United, he preferred to return to accountancy and played as a part-time professional for Bradford Park Avenue, where he featured in an FA Cup win at Highbury in 1948. Roy retired in 1951 and passed away in December, 1988.

That wasn't all on Roy's debut...

Roy's debut ended 1-1 at the Lane, but with regular air raid warnings occurring at that time during World War II, the attendance figure was the lowest recorded for a north London derby - just 1,916. The reality of those warnings and life in London at that time came true - the match was halted after 15 minutes due to an air raid warning, eventually restarting 80 minutes later.

Meanwhile, match abandoned for 'bad language' - 1900!

Before the local rivalry kicked in in 1921, we had some 'interesting' encounters against Royal and Woolwich Arsenal. The first meeting was on 19 November, 1887, a friendly at our early base on Tottenham Marshes, a match abandoned because of poor light with 15 minutes to go with us 2-1 up. The first competitive clash between the teams was in the United League in November, 1896, a 2-1 win for the Gunners. Over 14,000 fans attended a United League game at our old Northumberland Park ground in 1898, and many were lucky to escape injury when the refreshment stand collapsed under the weight of fans who had climbed up to get a better view. There was an extraordinary match in the South District Combination League on 24 April, 1900 - abandoned after 75 minutes because of 'bad language' with Woolwich Arsenal leading 2-1! Nine years later, 4 December, 1909, the first league meeting between the teams at the Manor Ground in the First Division ended with a 1-0 win for the hosts.

Three of our players will depart for Australia next week as they prepare to represent their countries at 2026 Women’s Asian Cup games.

Clare Hunt has been selected in the host nation’s squad, Australia, while Toko Koga and Makia Hamano are set to represent Japan for the competition.

The tournament will take place from Sunday 1 March to Saturday 21 March and will be hosted in three different cities – Sydney, Perth and the Gold Coast.

Clare has earned 39 caps for her country to date, but this is set to be the defender’s first appearance in the prestigious event. Toko and Maika, who scored her first goal for the Club at the weekend, will also be making their debuts in the tournament.

The 12 participating sides in the competition will be split into three groups, with the top two advancing into the quarter-final alongside the two best third-placed teams qualifying for the final eight.

An incredible 13 goals were shared across the UEFA Champions League play-off round first-leg ties involving our potential round of 16 opponents on Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Battling it out to join and potentially face us in the last 16 as a consequence of last month's draw, Juventus fell 5-2 to Galatasaray in Istanbul on Tuesday night while Club Brugge came from 2-0 down and then 3-2 down to earn a 3-3 draw with Atletico Madrid.

Beginning in Turkey, Galatasaray enjoyed one of their greatest nights on the European stage in recent memory as they came from behind to beat Juve 5-2 at RAMS Park.

Looking to book their place in the competition's last 16 for the first time in 12 years, the Turkish side had found themselves 2-1 down at half-time despite having taken the lead on their home soil through former Norwich City forward Gabriel Sara.

However, an inspired second-half performance saw them go on to not just level, but go on to win the meeting comfortably. Goals from Noa Lang and former Spurs man Davinson Sanchez saw the Lions turn the game on its head before Juan Cabal saw red for Juve.

Noa Lang later grabbed a second before Sacha Boey rubbed salt in the wounds of the Old Lady with a fifth goal for Gala in the Turkish capital. It leaves Luciano Spaletti's side with it all to do in next Wednesday's second leg in Turin.

On Wednesday night, Atletico Madrid and Club Brugge left their tie finely poised for the second leg after late drama in the Belgium.

Played out at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Brugge, the men in blue and black found themselves 2-0 down at the break as former Manchester City forward Julian Alavarez and former Leicester City man Ademola Lookman struck to hand Atletico a very healthy first-half lead.

After the break, however, Club rallied and were level by the hour mark with Raphael Onyedika and Nicolo Tresoldi bringing them back on terms.

Atletico responded though and had restored their lead with 11 minutes left to play thanks to a Joel Ordonez own goal but the hosts still had it in themselves to come back once more, levelling on 89 minutes with Christos Tzolis on target.

The tie will be concluded on Tuesday as Atletico host Club Brugge at the Wanda Metropolitano in the Spanish capital.