Two years ago, Tottenham Hotspur began the process of issuing Legacy Numbers to every player, in chronological order, who has played a competitive first team match. It’s a historical project that has been warmly received — players have a small number embroidered above their name that represents their Legacy Number, symbolizing that no matter their contribution to the club, large or small, they are a part of the Tottenham Hotspur family.
Now that Legacy Number project is being expanded to include Tottenham
Hotspur Women. The club announced this week that Spurs Women will now be assigned Legacy Numbers, beginning with the year 2011/12, the year that the club entered the English pyramid system. Spurs Women has a history before that — it was founded as Broxbourne Ladies in 1985 and became affiliated with Spurs in 1991, becoming Tottenham Hotspur Ladies. My guess is that the decision to start in 2011/12 might have something to do with inconsistent record keeping in the early years of the club. In the club statement about women’s Legacy Numbers, it was stated that it is providing “non-numerical recognition” to the players who played for Spurs Ladies and Broxbourne Ladies prior to 2011-12.
The lowest legacy numbers were given alphabetically to the players in the 2011/12 squad, beginning with Joanne Ayre (1) and Bianca Baptiste (2), though the most recent player to make their competitive debut, Hanna Wijk (183). The club also highlighted some notable players from Spurs’ history, including the legendary Jenna Schillaci (10), Wendy Martin (10),
I love this. I love that the club is extending this unique system of representation and family to the Women and that they working to extend recognition to the early years of the clubs’ history as well despite, presumably, some missing historical records. It means the players that start against West Ham in Tottenham Women’s first match of the new WSL season, this Sunday, will all have numbers and are now an indelible part of the club’s history.
Spurs Women open their season this Sunday by hosting West Ham at Brisbane Road. Kickoff is 7:00 a.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. BST. The match is not televised, but will be streamed on Paramount+ in the USA and Sky Sports Mix in the UK.
