Tottenham Are Happy to Be Called Tottenham Again

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club in London, England, made a big change two years ago — they told people to stop calling them 'Tottenham.' Now, after strong pushback from fans, the club has reversed course and is proudly using that name again. Giant screens outside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium now display the words 'THIS IS TOTTENHAM' before home games. It is a small but meaningful sign that the club is listening to its supporters.

Back in November 2024, the club revealed what they called a 'remastered brand identity.' This came with a rulebook that told people exactly what to call the team. The rulebook said to use 'Tottenham Hotspur,' 'Tottenham Hotspur Football Club,' or 'THFC' — and never just 'Tottenham.' Many fans were confused and upset, because 'Tottenham' had been the team's popular nickname for as long as anyone could remember.

The rules spread beyond the club itself. In February 2025, the Premier League sent an email to TV broadcasters asking them to follow the new guidelines. The email said the club wanted to be called 'Tottenham Hotspur,' and that 'Spurs' was the approved short version. As a result, TV channels like Sky Sports quickly swapped 'Tottenham' for 'Tottenham Hotspur' or just 'Spurs' on their on-screen graphics.

Fans were not happy with this change. The team has played in the Tottenham area of north-east London since 1882, and supporters had always used that name with pride. It felt strange — even hurtful — to many fans that the club wanted to move away from a word so closely tied to its roots and its community.

A lot has changed at the club since then. New club leaders made it a point to listen to what fans were saying. Over recent months, the word 'Tottenham' has slowly crept back into the way the club talks about itself, both in public and to supporters directly.

The club took several steps to reconnect with its identity. Earlier this summer, they made a short film called 'Tottenham 'Til I Die,' made by former goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman and narrated by actor Himesh Patel. It was released in August and fans loved it. The club also brought back its Hall of Fame and introduced legacy jersey numbers for the women's team.

Fan groups have noticed and welcomed these changes. On September 22, club officials met with a group called the Fans Advisory Board at the stadium. Fan representatives told the club they were glad to see the word 'Tottenham' coming back into official use. It was a sign that the relationship between the club and its supporters was healing.

It is still unclear if the Premier League will update its guidance to TV broadcasters. For now, viewers watching games on TV will likely still see 'Tottenham Hotspur' or 'Spurs' on screen. But when the club speaks directly to its fans, one thing is clear — they are proud to be called Tottenham once again.