We've Got History: Hearts v Spurs

Hearts welcome Premier League giants Tottenham Hostpur to Gorgie next month as our 150^th anniversary celebrations.

 

Did you know that the two sides share a history that stretches across the last century?

 

Heartsfc.co.uk took a trip through the years to examine some of the connections and previous outings against the North London club.

 

Tickets went on general sale today for the match presented by LNER, click HERE to snap up yours.

 

Supporters can now purchase four per account.

 

WE FIRST MET…

 

The Jambos first encountered Spurs in September 1901, with the newly minted Scottish Cup winners invited down to White Hart Lane for a world championship match against the FA Cup winners – Tottenham.

 

A Hearts side, featuring the legendary Bobby Walker and Charlie Thomson, played out a goalless draw in London, and had to wait until the following January for the return leg and a second crack.  

 

The men in maroon emerged victorious that day, defeating Spurs 3-1 in front of over 8,000 spectators at Tynecastle.

 

It would be 51 years before the two sides met again – Hearts winning 2-0 in a friendly at Tynecastle thanks to strikes from Jimmy Wardhaugh and John Urquhart.

 

WE MOST RECENTLY MET…

 

Back in the 2011-12 campaign when the capital clubs were paired together in Europa League play-off action.

 

Spurs put in a commanding display in the first-leg at Tynecastle, outmatching the Jambos in a 5-0 win with Rafael Van der Vaart, Jake Livermore, Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale scoring.

 

The second leg saw Hearts get a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane, with Jamie MacDonald saving a Harry Kane penalty on his Spurs debut.

 

 

CAPITAL CONNECTIONS…

 

Although the two sides met in 1901, shared connections happened as early as 1886. Tom Purdie, our first ever captain, spent time on Spurs’ playing staff, later sitting on the club’s management committee in an era before the modern manager.

 

Of course, the most significant connection is the clubs’ shared love for the late, great, Dave Mackay.

 

Recruited as a 16-year-old, Dave was at the core of a relentlessly successful Hearts side that claimed all of Scotland’s domestic honours across four years, with Mackay skippering the golden squad of 1957-58 which lifted the championship - scoring 132 goals and conceding just 29.

 

Spurs secured his services in 1959 for a £32,000 fee and quickly went on to write his name into the folklore of both Tottenham and the English game: in 268 league appearances he won the league championship, three FA Cups, one European Cup Winners' Cup and two FA Charity Shields.

 

Dave Mackay was pivotal in setting up Hearts’ Centenary Match with Tottenham Hotspur in 1974, with his achievements heralded by both clubs that day, and when the sides last met in the Europa League.

 

 

THE NUMBERS:

 

Total Meetings: 13

 

Hearts Wins: 4

 

Draws: 6

 

Defeats: 3

 

Wins Percentage: 30.77%

 

Draw Percentage: 46.15%

 

Loss Percentage: 23.08%

 

JOIN US AT TYNECASTLE

 

Supporters can purchase their tickets for both matches online at Hearts eTickets or in person at the Hearts Ticket Office.

 

Fans can now purchase four tickets per account.