Who is Tottenham’s main rival? Tottenham Hotspur has long established intense rivalries in English football since the club’s early years. Today, the club has grown to show not just local rivalry in London but geographical and national rivalries, especially against teams in the English Premier League. North London Derby: Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal The North London derby is one of the fiercest derbies in English football, played between Arsenal and Tottenham. The rivalry dates back to 1887 when the two sides met in a friendly. What happened next that generated the rivalry was when the match was brought to a halt about fifteen minutes before the end due to darkness. And it was because the players from the visiting team arrived at the ground late. But the first meeting between Spurs and Arsenal at the professional level was on 4th December 1909 in the league. The match eventually resulted in a 1-0 score line favoring Arsenal. Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea After the fiercest against Arsenal, it is the second most important London Derby, which the two clubs have continued to share. Previously the two teams did not see each other as rivals, especially in the early years of professional football. However, the past decades have brought a significant change in the way the two teams see each other. Chelsea and Spurs rivalry dates back to the 1967 FA Cup final. To date, meetings between two teams have raised eyebrows and attracted large crowds during match days. Sometimes the heat on the field of play is extended to the fans. Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United The meeting between Spurs and West Ham United is regarded as one of the bitter rivalries in London, even though it may not be compared to the same extent as Chelsea and Arsenal. Inconclutions Spurs were established as FC Hotspur in 1882. They competed in the Southern League from 1986 until 1908 before suffering relegation to the English Second Division. Tottenham Hotspur’s involvement in English football since its establishment has led to some of the biggest rivalries in English football.