The club was founded in 1882 as Hotspur Football Club by members of the Hotspur Cricket Club and students from the local grammar school. In 1884 the club would change its name to Tottenham Hotspur Football and Athletic Club to distinguish itself from another team called London Hotspur. The club would play its first competitive match against St. Albans in 1885 in the London Association Cup, winning the match 5-2. In 1888 Tottenham moved to Northumberland Park where they were able to charge for admission. An attempt to join the Southern League failed in 1892, with the club being the only one not to gain any votes from the 23 applicants.

The club would turn professional in 1895 and were permitted to join the Southern League, at this time the club attracted crowds of around 15,000 to home games. Charles Roberts became chairman of the club in 1898 and stayed in the post till 1943. In 1899 Spurs made the move to the ground we now know as White Hart Lane. In 1900 Tottenham won the Southern League title and went on to claim the F.A Cup the following year, becoming the only non-league club to do so since the formation of the Football League.