Here within lies the tale of the opening day fixtures for the last twenty five years. Ever wanted to know how many times have Spurs started the season at home? Who have we played more than once in the opening fixture in that time? How many times have Spurs faced a promoted club in the last 25 years? All the answers to these question plus MORE are contained within. Anorak not required.

Over the last 25 years the opening day of the season has been, more often than not, played away from home. Sixteen times Spurs and their supporters have been required to travel in the August sunshine (Pompey in 05/06 notwithstanding) to see their beloved kick off the season. On the times when Spurs have been drawn at home they have only failed to win the match twice. In the 97/98 season Manchester United were the opening day visitor to White Hart Lane and a solitary goal from the Red Devils won the match. The only other time Spurs have not won at home when drawn to play there on the opening day they did not draw either. Nor, in fact did they lose. Of course I’m referring to the infamous match at the start of the 1988/89 season when the building work in the East Stand over ran and the match was postponed. Our first actual match of that season was then played the following Saturday when Spurs travelled to St James Park (Gascoigne’s return after he left Newcastle for Spurs that summer) and secured a 2-2 draw after being 2-0 down at half time. For the completists among you we finally played Coventry City at home on the 23^rd of November 1988. The match finished in a 1-1 with Paul Stewart netting for Spurs.

As we all know Spurs are due to play promoted Sunderland on the opening day of the 2007/08 season. In the last twenty five years Spurs have faced promoted clubs on three occasions. The first match was in the 82/83 season (the first season where the look back begins). Luton Town were newly promoted and came to White Hart Lane full of enthusiasm. The visitors provided stiff opposition on that day and held Spurs to a 2-2 draw. Scoring for Spurs that day was Mickey Hazard and a young Gary Mabbutt who was making his debut in front of 35,195 spectators after his transfer in the summer from Bristol Rovers.

Tottenham did not face promoted opposition again on the opening day until the 1993/94 season. That day it was newly promoted Newcastle United on one of their frequent yo-yo visits to the top division that provided the barrier between Spurs and three points. As it turned out the barrier was a lot weaker than thought and Spurs overcome Newcastle 1-0 thanks to a Teddy Sheringham goal in front of 34,565 spectators at St James Park.

On the only other encounter between a promoted side and Spurs in the first fixture of the new season Spurs were comfortable winners. On the opening day of the 2000/01 season Spurs faced Ipswich Town at home. The Tractor boys were no match for the Lilywhites that day and Spurs romped home 3-1 with goals from Anderton, Carr, and Ferdinand. Ipswich had the last laugh that season though as they trounced Spurs 3-0 at Portman Road and finished in 5^th place compared to Spurs’ lowly 12^th place finish that year.

Perhaps a little surprisingly is the revelation that we have faced eight clubs more than once on the opening day of the season in the last twenty five years. Ipswich Town, Coventry City (once postponed), Everton, Aston Villa, Luton Town, Southampton (twice in a row), Newcastle United, and Manchester City have all been drawn to open their fixtures twice against us in the last quarter of a century.

Our opening day record for the last 25 years reads thusly;

Played 24, Won 11, Drawn 6, Lost 7. Goals for 39, Goals against 26, 1 match postponed. We have been averaging 1.625 goals per opening game, and conceding 1.083 goals per opening game. Our away goal tally on the opening day reads scored 26 (an average of 1.625) and conceding 20 (an average of 1.25).

Our complete 25 year opening day history is below;

2006/07 Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur

2005/06 Portsmouth 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur

2004/05 Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Liverpool

2003/04 Birmingham City 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur

2002/03 Everton 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur

2001/02 Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Aston Villa

2000/01 Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Ipswich Town

1999/00 West Ham United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur

1998/99 Wimbledon 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur

1997/98 Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Manchester United

1996/97 Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur

1995/96 Manchester City 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

1994/95 Sheff Wednesday 2-4 Tottenham Hotspur

1993/94 Newcastle United 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur

1992/93 Southampton 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur

1991/92 Southampton 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur

1990/91 Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Manchester City

1989/90 Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Luton Town

1988/89 Tottenham Hotspur P-P Coventry City

1987/88 Coventry City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

1986/87 Aston Villa 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur

1985/86 Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Watford

1984/85 Everton 1-4 Tottenham Hotspur

1983/84 Ipswich Town 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur

1982/83 Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Luton Town.

So there you have it. Everything a Spurs supporter could possibly want to know about Tottenham’s opening day fixtures for the last 25 years. Two last things before I depart (and have a lie down). Spurs have never opened a season against Sunderland AFC either home or away, and this is the third season out of the last four that Tottenham have had to move the kick off time of their opening day fixture to accommodate the television cameras and a live TV audience. I have to say I used to prefer it when the supporters that actually attended the game were given first consideration, especially when they had a round trip of 556 miles to cover. 278 of them before 12.45 pm. But then perhaps I’m being old fashioned.

Have fun.

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