Thread: Why are spurs fans called Yids?

So yeah, touchy subject

The word 'Yid' used to be associated with racist/antisemetic views, but Spurs supporters have turned that around, it is now associated with pride - that has to be good I think? Maybe some folks still find it offensive, but I think, like most words it's not the actual word used that causes the problem it's the way it is used - 'Queer', can be used as an insult, but many members of the Gay community have adopted it and use the word with pride. There are many other examples - but I ain't going anywhere near the more controversial ones!

Originally Posted by Londonspecial

It is because Tottenham was historically a very Jewish area (although no longer), Yid being a slang term for someone Jewish, and there you have it.....Yids! That's my understanding anyway.

Not entirely true. Stamford Hill (just down the road from Seven Sisters if you still consider it as 'Tottenham'.) is still an area with a high concentration of Jews, in fact the largest 'Chasidic Jewish' community in Europe!

It lies between Haringey (Tottenham's London borough) and Hackney.

But yes @Londonspecial is pretty spot on about the term 'yid'. It used to be a derogatory term fired at us by other clubs due to the number of Jews living in and supporting Tottenham. However, over time, Spurs fans took the term as their own to neutralise the racial connotation and so make those other fans come up with something else to offend them with. I don't think they came up with much after that.

Originally Posted by weirddave

Not entirely true. Stamford Hill (just down the road from Seven Sisters if you still consider it as 'Tottenham'.) is still an area with a high concentration of Jews, in fact the largest 'Chasidic Jewish' community in Europe!

It lies between Haringey (Tottenham's London borough) and Hackney.

But yes @Londonspecial is pretty spot on about the term 'yid'. It used to be a derogatory term fired at us by other clubs due to the number of Jews living in and supporting Tottenham. However, over time, Spurs fans took the term as their own to neutralise the racial connotation and so make those other fans come up with something else to offend them with. I don't think they came up with much after that.

What about that terrible word the scum use, I apologise to anyone who is deeply offended by this word, but we must all learn to deal with the pain caused by this hurtful insult..........yes, I mean 'spud'. I need a lie down now to get over this!

Originally Posted by DorsetSpursFan

What about that terrible word the scum use, I apologise to anyone who is deeply offended by this word, but we must all learn to deal with the pain caused by this hurtful insult..........yes, I mean 'spud'...

Is this sarcasm? Spud doesn't bother me, unless it's coming from the derogatory version of 'vegetable'...

Originally Posted by Wotspur

...Tottenham has a large Jewish area, and we have predominately been under chairmen who have been Jewish....

They still are Jewish you know

Originally Posted by Wotspur

Now please respond with why are you The Trotters ?? is it anything to do with your lady folk ?

I'm going to take a stab at this:

The name Bolton Wanderers must mean some form of rearing horses who 'wander' around their fields. Recently I was made aware of people who still rear horses in their local areas up north, and these horses 'wander' or 'trot'. Horses and carriages are still in use stemming from centuries of tradition aren't they?