Tottenham Hotspur’s history is packed with moments that changed English football – the first modern Double, pioneering European trophies and dramatic North London derbies. For collectors, the story of the club lives not just in goals and trophies, but in the spurs programmes that recorded those days: flimsy pieces of paper that have become treasured soccer programmes, charting glory, heartbreak and everything in between.
This guide explores some of the most desirable Tottenham Hotspur issues – from double-winning seasons to European nights and fierce derbies – and explains what makes each programme special in the eyes of collectors.
Double winners in print – the 1960–61 season
Any serious Spurs collection eventually comes back to 1960–61, when Bill Nicholson’s side became the first club in the 20th century to win the League and FA Cup Double. The Wembley programme for the 1961 FA Cup Final against Leicester City, with Tottenham winning 2–0 to complete the Double, remains the iconic centrepiece from that campaign.
While the final gets the headlines, collectors also prize home league programmes from that season – especially key fixtures as the title drew near. A complete home run from 1960–61 is a long-term ambition for many fans of spurs programmes, combining historical significance with the clean, classic design style of that era. Condition matters hugely: intact staples, bright colours and minimal folding can make the difference between a nice memento and a true investment piece.
You can see the entrire season of spurs programmes from the 1960-61 season here.
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Spurs v Man City 14.10.1961
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Spurs v Leicester 06.05.1961 - FA Cup Final
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Spurs v Crewe 28.01.1961 - FA Cup 4th Round
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Spurs v Feyenoord 15.05.1961
European pioneers – the 1963 Cup Winners’ Cup
If the Double put Spurs on the domestic map, the 1963 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final made them continental pioneers. The programme from Rotterdam, where Tottenham beat Atlético Madrid 5–1, marks the night the club became the first English side to lift a major UEFA trophy.
Collectors look for both the official stadium edition and other variants linked to the game, paying close attention to language, cover details and small layout differences. The appeal here is obvious: the cover art, the line-ups and the adverts all offer a time capsule from the early 1960s, wrapped around one of the great performances in the club’s history. High-grade examples with no writing, clean spines and limited creasing are increasingly hard to find, which keeps demand strong among fans of classic soccer programmes.
The first UEFA Cup – 1972 glory against Wolves
Fast-forward a decade and Spurs were again breaking new ground in Europe. The 1972 UEFA Cup Final against Wolverhampton Wanderers produced one of the defining sets of spurs programmes of the 1970s. The tie – the first UEFA Cup final and the first all-English European final – was decided over two legs, with Tottenham winning 3–2 on aggregate thanks to a 2–1 victory at Molineux and a 1–1 draw at White Hart Lane.
Collectors often aim for both legs: the Wolves home issue, capturing their big European occasion, and the Spurs home programme from the decisive second leg, where the trophy was lifted. Full sets that also include earlier rounds from the same campaign – against clubs such as Rapid Bucharest and UTA Arad – create a satisfying run that tells the whole story of the competition. Again, condition is key: many surviving copies show centre folds from being waved on the terraces that night.
Heartbreak and heat in 1974 – Feyenoord and the UEFA Cup
Not every prized programme comes from a night of triumph. The 1974 UEFA Cup Final, where Spurs lost 4–2 on aggregate to Feyenoord, remains a major target for collectors. The White Hart Lane programme from the first leg, a 2–2 draw, is popular in its own right, but the Dutch editions from the second leg in Rotterdam are significantly scarcer and often more expensive.
These issues capture a turbulent chapter in the club’s story, with the promise of another European trophy overshadowed by events on and off the pitch. For collectors, that blend of drama, rarity and cross-border interest makes the 1974 final one of the most interesting European sets among Spurs-related soccer programmes.
North London derbies – tension on the cover
No club-focused guide to spurs programmes would be complete without the North London derby. League and cup meetings with Arsenal have produced countless memorable issues, from Highbury and White Hart Lane right through to Wembley era clashes. While regular league derbies from the 1960s and 70s are relatively accessible, certain fixtures stand out: title-race encounters, late-season deciders and key cup ties.
For many collectors, derby programmes are as much about atmosphere as rarity. Hand-written scores, team changes and pencilled notes from the day can add personal charm, even if they technically reduce condition. Some collectors specialise in building a derby-only run, mapping decades of rivalry through cover artwork and changing graphic styles alone.
Domestic cups and modern milestones
Beyond European finals and derbies, a long list of domestic cup programmes also attract attention: League Cup wins, FA Cup triumphs and notable semi-finals on neutral grounds. Programmes from significant domestic finals – such as early-1990s Wembley appearances – bridge eras, linking the Double and early European success to more modern squads and designs.
Later European campaigns, right up to recent Europa League runs, have added another layer for collectors, especially younger fans starting their own boxes of spurs programmes. While these more modern issues are less rare for now, pristine copies from key nights are likely to become future favourites as memories fade and sets are broken.
What makes a Spurs programme desirable?
Across all eras, a few factors tend to influence which Tottenham issues become the most desirable:
- Historical importance – programmes tied to trophies, record-breaking seasons or famous individual performances rise to the top.
- Rarity – low print runs, away editions and overseas issues are often harder to track down than big-match Wembley programmes.
- Condition – sharp corners, strong colours, clean staples and complete interiors make a huge difference, especially on more common issues.
- Story – some programmes just “feel” special because of the narrative around the match, whether that is the Double, European pioneering or a legendary derby.
For many collectors, part of the joy is choosing a theme – European trophies, 1960s home issues, finals only, or a full run from a favourite decade – and then gradually filling the gaps.
Building your own Spurs collection
If you are just starting out, it can be tempting to chase every famous match at once. A more enjoyable approach is to begin with one strand of club history that means the most to you. That might be the Double season, the Cup Winners’ Cup win in Rotterdam, the UEFA Cup finals, or a personal run of derby programmes covering trips you remember from the stands or the sofa.
From there, you can expand into earlier or rarer issues, working with specialist dealers, fairs and online auctions to find the right copies in the right condition. Over time, those spurs programmes stop being just old bits of paper. Together, they become a printed history of Tottenham Hotspur – a story told cover by cover, team sheet by team sheet, all the way from the Double years to the modern game.