Regular readers will know The Arsenal Shirt has been a regular source of inspiration for articles.
Last year saw the launch of The Spurs Shirt, which, like its North London counterpart, features Simon Shakeshaft as a co-author along with Daren Burney and Neville Evans (James Elkin was the other man behind the Arsenal version).
Therefore, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the new tome should also carry some nuggets of information that hadn’t crossed our desk before, including this strange kit, which was only used by the Spurs first time on one occasion.
Why did they turn out looking like London rivals Chelsea? Well, they had to travel to play Leeds on February 19, 1977 and their default yellow change kit was considered to clash with the white of the hosts.
Presumably, this view was transmitted in the lead-up to the game, allowing this set to be procured, with the lack of a makers’ logo (Spurs had Umbro at the time, changing to Admiral that summer) or a crest giving away the quickly-produced manner of the strip.
Unfortunately for Spurs, it was a losing out for the blue outfit, with Leeds winning 2-1. The club’s youth team also used it, against Crystal Palace – who had a white home kit with blue and red sash that season – in the FA Youth Cup semi-final that April.
Once again, it failed to work a charm as Palace progressed and would go on to win the first of two successive youth cups.
For Spurs, change kits of both navy and light blue would remain semi-regular in the wardrobe, but the only other royal blue strip since then was the 2005-06 yellow-trimmed effort.
