When Sir Henry Norris’ eye fell on a plot of land at St John’s Divinity College in Islington, he became the midwife to one of English football’s most bitter rivalries. Arsenal and Spurs is one of the most unique rivalries in sport. Most local hostilities are based on local pride and the North London derby is too; but for very different reasons.

Woolwich Arsenal were a middle of the road Football League side struggling for local love in their garrison womb in South East London. Their stadium, the Manor Ground, was barely accessible by public transport. (One journalist from the Newcastle Echo described it as “the annual journey to hell.”) This coupled with a brutish, unattractive brand of football played next to the Southern outfall sewer, in the shadow of an armament factory made visits to watch the team somewhat trying.

Norris overcame bitter NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) opposition to move Arsenal to Highbury in 1913, but his most acidic opposition came from nearby Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs even took out a full page advert in the Tottenham Herald urging locals not to support ‘The Woolwich Interlopers’. The animosity was multiplied infinitely in 1919 when Arsenal were elected to the First Division, replacing Spurs who only received two votes from affiliate football league clubs.

If you are still yearning for more after yesterday’s action between Arsenal and Spurs, here’s the story of their rivalry

Arsenal were promoted from Division 2 whilst Spurs were effectively relegated in their stead. Nearly a century on this remains a sore point for Tottenham fans. They consider themselves as North London’s original club and Arsenal as a nomadic franchise. Every time Arsenal fans visit White Hart Lane we are tunefully invited to “**** off back to Woolwich, North London is ours.” Tottenham’s aborted attempt to move to Stratford in East London back in 2010 spawned a creative reply in kind from Gunners’ fans.

The rivalry following the election of 1919 began bitterly between the clubs but actually cooled after World War II. During the war effort, Highbury was relinquished as an air raid protection shelter which meant Arsenal called White Hart Lane home for wartime friendlies. The two clubs go back a long way in my family, my great grandfather was at the first ever North London derby at Highbury in January 1921 as a Spurs fan.

It became commonplace in the 1960s for Arsenal and Tottenham fans to attend one another’s home fixtures on alternate weeks. Due to the proximity of the grounds, Arsenal and Spurs don’t play at home on the same day and away travel was not quite as viable in the 1960s. However, the hostilities renewed thereafter. Arsenal’s league title win at White Hart Lane in May 1971 caused the cauldron to bubble once more.

The rivalry following the election of 1919 began bitterly between the clubs but actually cooled after World War II. During the war effort, Highbury was relinquished as an air raid protection shelter which meant Arsenal called White Hart Lane home for wartime friendlies.

Mind the gap: The Arsenal away support (left) taunt former striker Emmanuel Adebayor at White Hart Lane for wearing the enemy’s shirt, while the two teams assemble before the match

Hooliganism had English football in a chokehold throughout the 1970s and 80s and fighting was commonplace at most games, let alone local derbies. The epic 1987 League Cup semi-final added to the tension between the teams, with Arsenal eventually winning a replay 2-1 at White Hart Lane with a last ditch David Rocastle winner.

My first encounter with the gut wrenching torpor of a North London derby defeat arrived in April 1991, when I was just seven. Paul Gascoigne’s genius and Gary Lineker’s poaching skills saw Spurs triumph 3-1 at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final, denying Arsenal a domestic double. The Gunners got revenge in the same fixture at the same venue two years later with a Tony Adams header separating the sides. Your correspondent’s nine- year-old bladder nearly burst with the tension in Wembley’s cramped, backless seats.

If anything, the acerbity between Arsenal and Spurs has escalated in the 21st century. Arsenal’s controversial capture of Sol Campbell on a Bosman transfer redoubled the acrimony. I was at Campbell’s return match at White Hart Lane in November 2001. Spurs away is always a dangerous fixture for an Arsenal fan to attend. The threat of violence is ever present, sound tracked by the constant hum of police helicopters overhead as you approach the stadium.

On that day in 2001, the atmosphere was almost literally palpable. It felt like the atmosphere had hit me like a backdraft as I emerged from Seven Sisters station. Likewise, I was at White Hart Lane in April 2004 when Arsenal secured the league title for a second time. These games are always tense, in and outside the stadium. After the game, away supporters are funnelled from the narrow Park Lane on to the Tottenham High Road with police lines separating the two sets of fans. The sound of bottles smashing and police dogs barking fills the air.

These are games to love and hate all at the same time. The tension is unbearable, victory makes you ecstatic, defeat plunges you into misery. The atmosphere is vital, electric and hateful all at the same time. I’m not sure if these are my favourite or least favourite matches to attend. I suspect both.

Connect with Tim Stillman on Twitter

@LittleDutchVA.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, September 28th, 2014