New supporters' club cements historic ties between Tottenham Hotspur and the North East

The Premier League club has welcomed Alnwick Spurs into its 294-strong fold of supporters’ clubs around the world.

Alnwick Castle was the home of Sir Henry Percy – known as ‘Harry Hotspur’ – the famed medieval knight whose story inspired the club’s naming by Bobby Buckle and co in 1882.

The Alnwick club – 316 miles from North London – has been established by Andy Petherick, chief executive of Pilgrim Spirit Ltd – the producer of Hotspur Gin.

He has set up a perfect meeting place for fans in a soon-to-be-built gin experience room at the company’s offices, formerly occupied by the Northumberland Gazette – it will be named Hotspur House.

Andy said: “We’ll have a three-metre projection screen, which will drop down, and this will become the home of the Alnwick Spurs Supporters’ Club.

"We’ll have Hotspur suits of armour, stags’ heads on the walls, candelabra on the ceiling, flag stones - it will be the same as walking into Alnwick Castle!

“Whenever we televise a match, anyone who comes along and presents an Official Spurs Supporters’ Club membership card and is wearing a current Spurs shirt will get a free gin and tonic.

“There is an undercurrent of Spurs fans within what is typically a very strong Geordie area. I see two guys every morning when I walk my dogs near to the castle who always have a full Spurs rig on, walking their dogs.”

The Pilgrim Spirit Company specialises in premium quality, distinctive craft spirits, such as Hotspur Gin with locally foraged heather, bilberry and juniper contributing to the flavour of a distinguished dry gin.

Alnwick Spurs is joined by Corby & Kettering Spurs, Rutland Spurs and West Lancashire Spurs as its new UK clubs with 10 more from the USA, Argentina, Brazil, India, Macau and the Dominican Republic.

For an annual membership fee of £50, official supporters’ clubs receive a number of special benefits including a welcome pack and personalised flag, priority access to group bookings once match tickets become available, a dedicated page on tottenhamhotspur.com and coverage on the stadium LED advertising boards.

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