THE NORTH LONDON RIVALRY

When the First World War ended and football resumed, the Arsenal club found itself better placed than at the start of action. At the end of 1914/15 The Gunners were placed 5th in the Second Division of the Football League, but four hears later, with the help of a very persuasive Club Chairman, Tory MP, Sir Henry Norris, (below) the Gunners were "Up". He had taken advantage of the Division's expansion from 20 to 22 clubs. It had been expected, as in the "League expansions" of 1898 and 1906, that the bottom two clubs in the First (in this case Chelsea and Tottenham) would stay up, while the two top Second Division clubs, Derby and Preston, would be promoted. Derby and Preston's promotions were assured, but there were two places up for grabs. Norris argued that Spurs deserved to be relegated on account of their League position. Chelsea however, did not, as Manchester United would have been in their relegated position in 1915 had they not gained two points from a fixed match against Liverpool.

By arguing for Chelsea, but not calling for the demotion of United and Liverpool, Norris was winning Brownie points for Arsenal. Other clubs were impressed with his powerful contacts and among others, Norris was "close friends" with "Hoinest" John McKenna, President of the Football League!! So when it came for the League Committee to decide who would get the final First Division place, Arsenal won more votes than Spurs (of course!), Wolves and Barnsley who had all finished the 1914-15 Campaign in higher positions. There were dark accusations of bribes having been offered, but nothing was proven!!

Spurs resolved to "obtain by the verdict of the ball what they had been denied by the vote" and that's what they did! By 1920, Spurs were back in the top flight with one of their first clashes with Arsenal at White Hart Lane in 1922, far from amicable....probably accounts for the friction between the clubs these days! I wonder how mant fans realise this?

Spurs resolved to "Obtain by the verdict of the ball what they had been denied by the vote" and that's what they did! By 1920, Spurs were back in the top flight with one of their early clashes against The Gunners! at White Hart Lane!!!! Unusually for that time, two players were sent off. When Spurs scored, the Arsenal crowd got rowdy and several players were injured in a game that was competitive to say the least!!  Fighting continued outside the stadium, so that both clubs were given warnings by the FA, although a report in The Times claimed that "the spectators were almost entirely to blame for the trouble" (now there's a surprise!). A fierce rivalry was born and Arsenal have never been relegated.

The 1912–13 Season: Arsenal finished bottom of the First Division (20th place) and dropped to the Second Division. This remains their only relegation. After the First World War, league football resumed in 1919. Arsenal re-entered the First Division and has maintained an unbroken top-flight status ever since.