Coordinates: 51°35′49″N 0°04′16″W / 51.597°N 0.071°W / 51.597; -0.071

Tottenham
Tottenham Town Hall, sold to Newlon Housing and developed as a 'community business enterprise space'
Tottenham  Tottenham shown within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ3390
- Charing Cross	6.6 mi (10.6 km)  SSW
London borough	Haringey
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LONDON
Postcode district	N15 N17
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Tottenham
London Assembly	Enfield and Haringey
List of places: UK • England • London

Tottenham (local /ˈtɒʔnəm/) is an area of north London in the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated 6.6 miles (10.6 km) north north east of Charing Cross.

History[link]

Toponymy[link]

Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham. It was recorded in the Domesday Book as Toteham.^[1]

Early history[link]

Dorset Map of Tottenham in 1619 (South shown at the top of the map)

There has been a settlement at Tottenham for over a thousand years. It grew up along the old Roman road, Ermine Street (some of which is part of the present A10 road), and between High Cross and Tottenham Hale, the present Monument Way.

When the Domesday Book was compiled in 1086, about 70 families lived within the area of the manor, mostly labourers working for the Lord of the Manor. A humorous poem entitled the Tournament of Tottenham, written around 1400, describes a mock-battle between peasants vying for the reeve's daughter.

In 1894, Tottenham was made an urban district and on 27 September 1934 it became a municipal borough. As from 1 April 1965, the municipal borough formed part of the London Borough of Haringey.

The River Lea (or Lee) was the eastern boundary between the Municipal Boroughs of Tottenham and Walthamstow. It is the ancient boundary between Middlesex and Essex and also formed the western boundary of the Viking controlled Danelaw. Today it is the boundary between the London Boroughs of Haringey and Waltham Forest. A major tributary of the Lea, the River Moselle, also crosses the borough from west to east, and often caused serious flooding until it was mostly covered in the 19th century.

From the Tudor period onwards, Tottenham became a popular recreation and leisure destination for wealthy Londoners. Henry VIII is known to have visited Bruce Castle and also hunted in Tottenham Wood. A rural Tottenham also featured in Izaak Walton's book The Compleat Angler, published in 1653.^[2] The area became noted for its large Quaker population^[3] and its schools (including Rowland Hill's at Bruce Castle.^[4]) Tottenham remained a semi-rural and upper middle class area until the 1870s.

Modern era[link]

In late 1870, the Great Eastern Railway introduced special workman's trains and fares on its newly opened Enfield and Walthamstow branch lines. Tottenham's low-lying fields and market gardens were then rapidly transformed into cheap housing for the lower middle and working classes, who were able to commute cheaply to inner London. The workman's fare policy stimulated the relatively early development of the area into a London suburb.

An incident occurred on 23 January 1909, which was at the time known as the Tottenham Outrage.^[5] Two armed robbers of Russian extraction held up the wages clerk of a rubber works in Chesnut Road. They made their getaway via Tottenham Marshes and fled across the Lea. On the opposite bank of the river they hijacked a Walthamstow Corporation tramcar, hotly pursued by the police on another tram. The hijacked tram was stopped but the robbers continued their flight on foot. After firing their weapons and killing two people, Ralph Joscelyne, aged 10, and PC William Tyler, they were eventually cornered by the police and shot themselves rather than be captured. Fourteen other people were wounded during the chase. The incident later became the subject of a silent film.^[6]

During the Second World War Tottenham also became a target of the German air offensive against Britain. Bombs fell within the borough (Elmar Road) during the first air raid on London on 24 August 1940. The borough also received V1 (four incidents) and V2 hits, the last of which occurred on 15 March 1945. Wartime shortages led to the creation of Tottenham Pudding, a mixture of household waste food which was converted into feeding stuffs for pigs and poultry. The "pudding" was named by Queen Mary on a visit to Tottenham Refuse Works. Production continued into the post-war period, its demise coinciding with the merging of the borough into the new London Borough of Haringey.

Broadwater Farm, the scene of rioting in 1985

In 1985, the Broadwater Farm housing estate in Tottenham was the scene of rioting between the police and local youths following the death of Cynthia Jarrett, a resident of the estate who died of heart failure after four policemen burst into her home. The response of the members of the black community in Tottenham and surrounding areas culminated in a riot beginning on Tottenham High Road and ending in the local Broadwater Farm Estate. One police officer, Keith Blakelock, was killed; 58 policemen and 24 other people were injured in the fighting. Two of the policemen were injured by gunshots during the riot, the first time that firearms had been used in that type of confrontation.

The Mecca Dance Hall was demolished in 2004 to make way for local housing.

The 2011 England riots were precipitated by the fatal shooting of a 29-year-old man in Tottenham, Mark Duggan, by officers of the Metropolitan Police Service on 4 August 2011.^{[7][8][9][10]}

The railways[link]

South Tottenham railway station (November 2005)

• Northern and Eastern Railway - Running from Stratford to Broxbourne was opened 15 September 1840 with two stations in the district called Tottenham & Marsh Lane.
• Tottenham & Hampstead Junction Railway - Opened 21 July 1868. South Tottenham was opened in 1871, two other stations on this line within Tottenham were opened later. Harringay Park (Green Lanes) opened in 1880 and St Ann's Road opened in 1882 closing after service on 8 August 1942.
• Stoke Newington & Edmonton Railway - The section between Stoke Newington and Lower Edmonton opened 22 July 1872 with stations at Stamford Hill (half of the station lies in the borough), Seven Sisters, Bruce Grove and White Hart Lane in Tottenham.
• Palace Gates Line - Opened within Tottenham on 1 January 1878 with stations at Seven Sisters and West Green. Passenger services ceased in 1963 with the line finally closing on 7 February 1965.
• Tottenham & Forest Gate Railway - Opened 9 July 1894.

• London Underground Piccadilly Line - Extension through Tottenham opened on 19 September 1932.
• London Underground Victoria Line - The first section of this line opened on 1 September 1968.

Governance[link]

Parliament[link]

Tottenham is covered by the parliamentary constituency of Tottenham. The constituency was created in 1885 when the first MP was Joseph Howard of the Conservative Party, but was replaced by two constituencies: Tottenham North and Tottenham South in 1918. Since being reinstated in 1950 it has been predominantly represented by Labour Party candidates, with the exception of Alan Brown who defected to the Conservatives. The current MP is David Lammy who won a by-election in 2000 following the death of Bernie Grant.

Local Government[link]

Tottenham developed from a parish in Middlesex into an Urban sanitary district in 1875, after a local board of health had been established in 1850, then divided in 1888 so that Wood Green became a separate authority.^[11] In 1894 Tottenham was reconstituted first as an urban district then as a municipal borough in 1934, before being subsumed into the larger London Borough of Haringey under the Local Government Act 1963.

Today, Tottenham is represented by nine local council wards: Seven Sisters, Harringay, St Ann's, Tottenham Hale, Tottenham Green, White Hart Lane, West Green, Northumberland Park and Bruce Grove. Councillors in 8 of these wards represent the Labour Party, the ninth (Harringay) being represented by the Liberal Democrats.

Geography[link]

Districts[link]

Tottenham is a large area incorporating the N15 and N17 postcode areas.

North Tottenham[link]

This area stretches along Tottenham High Road from the Edmonton border in the north to Lordship Lane in the south: districts include Little Russia and Northumberland Park. Landmarks include White Hart Lane, home of Tottenham Hotspur, White Hart Lane station and Northumberland Park station.

Central Tottenham[link]

Continuing along the high road, Central Tottenham includes Bruce Grove, Tottenham Green and Tottenham Hale wards, as well as Tottenham Hale station and retail park, Tottenham Marshes (part of the Lee Valley Regional Park) and Bruce Castle.

South Tottenham[link]

Further along the A10 road from until St Ann's Road, this area includes South Tottenham, St Ann's neighbourhood, West Green and Seven Sisters. Transport links include Seven Sisters station and South Tottenham station. Landmarks include the Markfield Beam Engine and Downhills Park.

West Tottenham[link]

To the west of the area are the Broadwater Farm, Tower Gardens Estate and Lordship Recreation Ground.

Neighbouring areas[link]

North[link]

The northern limit of Tottenham is north of Brantwood Road where Upper Edmonton begins. This is also the border between the London Borough of Haringey and the London Borough of Enfield. To the northwest is Palmers Green.

East[link]

The eastern limit of Tottenham is the River Lea, and across the river the neighbouring district is Walthamstow in the London Borough of Waltham Forest

South[link]

The southern limit of Tottenham is the junction of St. Ann's Road with Tottenham High Road, which after becomes Stamford Hill. The district of Stamford Hill borders Tottenham, marking also the border of the London Borough of Hackney. To the southwest, Tottenham borders Manor House and Harringay, briefly meeting the London Borough of Islington.

West[link]

Although the N15 postcode area extends to Green Lanes, the western border of Tottenham is better defined as Black Boy Lane, West Green Road and Downhills Way. The neighbouring districts are Harringay, Hornsey, Wood Green and Noel Park.

Demography and crime[link]

Ethnic composition[link]

Tottenham has a multicultural population, with many ethnic groups inhabiting the area. It contains one of the largest and most significant populations of African-Caribbean people. These were among the earliest immigrant groups to settle in the area, starting the UK's Windrush era. Soon afterwards West African communities - notably the many Ghanaians - began to migrate into the area. Between 1980 and the present day there has been a slow immigration of Colombians, Congolese, Albanian, Kurdish, Turkish-Cypriot, Turkish, Somali, Irish, and Portuguese populations.^{[citation needed]} South Tottenham is reported to be the most ethnically-diverse area in Europe, with up to 300 languages being spoken by its residents.^[12]

According to David Lammy MP, Tottenham has the highest unemployment rate in London and the 8th highest in the United Kingdom, and it has some of the highest poverty rates within the country.^[13] There have also been major tensions between the African-Caribbean community and the police since (and before) the 1985 Broadwater Farm riot.

Organised crime[link]

Tottenham has been one of the main hotspots for gangs and gun crime in the United Kingdom during the past three decades. This followed the rise of gangs and drug wars throughout the area, notably those involving the Tottenham Mandem gang and various gangs from Hackney and all of the areas surrounding Tottenham, and the emergence of an organised crime ring known as the Turkish Mafia was said to have controlled more than 90% of the UK's heroin market.^[14][15]

Riots[link]

• The Broadwater Farm riot occurred around the Broadwater Farm area on 6 October 1985 following the death of Cynthia Jarrett in a police search of her home. The tension between local black youth and the largely white Metropolitan Police had been high due to a combination of local issues and the aftermath of riots in Brixton which had occurred in the previous week. The riots resulted in the death of a police officer.^[16]

The former Bruce Grove Post Office was destroyed during the 2011 Tottenham riots

• The 2011 Tottenham riots were a series of riots carried out by protesters in Tottenham, London. Attacks were carried out on two police cars, a bus, a Post Office and several local shops from 8:00pm onwards on 6 August 2011. Riot police vans attended the scene of disturbances on Tottenham High Road. Later in the evening the riot spread, with an Aldi supermarket and a branch of Allied Carpets also destroyed by fire, and widespread looting in nearby Wood Green shopping centre and the retail park at Tottenham Hale. Several flats above shops on Tottenham High Road collapsed due to the fires. 26 shared ownership flats in the Union Point development above the Carpetright store - built in the landmark Cooperative department store building - were also completely destroyed by fire. The triggering event was when a group of over one hundred local Tottenham residents set out to undertake a protest march against the killing of Mark Duggan, who was shot by police officers assigned to Operation Trident earlier in the week. The circumstances surrounding Duggan's death were not entirely clear at the time of the riot. On 17 August 2011 the Prince of Wales and his wife Duchess of Cornwall visited an emergency centre to meet victims of the riots. ^[17]

Landmarks[link]

Bruce Castle, the old Tottenham manor house, now a museum. (November 2005)

• All Hallows Church - This is the oldest surviving building in the borough, and dates back to Norman times. For more than 700 years it was the original parish church for Tottenham. Presented in 1802 with a bell from the Quebec Garrison which was captured from the French in the 1759 Battle of Quebec, Canada. Adjacent to the church is
• Tottenham Cemetery - A large cemetery, which makes up part of an open access area of land and habitat, along with Bruce Castle Park and All Hallows Churchyard.^[18]
• Broadwater Farm - Housing estate built in 1967, that was the site of the Broadwater Farm riot in 1985.
• Brook Street Chapel - Non-denominational Christian chapel established in 1839, one of the earliest Plymouth Brethren /Open Brethren assemblies in London that still exists. The church was associated with local notable Christians such as Hudson Taylor, Dr Barnardo, John Eliot Howard, Luke Howard and Philip Gosse.^[19]
• Bruce Castle, Lordship Lane - Grade 1 listed, it was Tottenham's manor house, and dates from the 16th century, with alterations by subsequent occupants. It was given the name 'Bruce Castle' during the 17th century by the 2nd Lord Coleraine, who was Lord of the Manor at the time. He named it after 'Robert the Bruce', whose family had been Lord of the Manor during the medieval period. The building was purchased by the Hill family who ran a progressive school there. Sir Rowland Hill was its first headmaster and he was living here when he as Postmaster General introduced the Uniform Penny Post in 1840.^[20] Now a local history museum, it holds the archives of the London Borough of Haringey.
• 7 Bruce Grove - The building features an English Heritage blue plaque to Luke Howard (1772–1864), the 'Father of Meteorology', who named the clouds in 1802.
• Clyde Circus conservation area
• Edmanson’s Close previously known as the Almshouses of the Drapers' Company. They were built in 1870 and were established out of the generosity of three 17th century benefactors, Sir John Jolles, John Pemel and John Edmanson.

The towers of the Broadwater Farm Estate dominate the western part of Tottenham

• High Cross - Erected sometime between 1600-1609 on the site of an earlier Christian cross, although there is some speculation that the first structure on the site was a Roman beacon or marker, situated on a low summit on Ermine Street. Tottenham High Cross is often mistakenly thought to be an Eleanor cross.
• Markfield Beam Engine
• St Ann's Church - Consecrated in 1861, St Ann's Church houses the organ which was originally in Crosby Hall, Bishopsgate, on which Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, who composed the famous Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream, regularly gave recitals.
• St Ignatius' Church and College - Built between 1894 and 1902, with two towers in the style of a 12th century German cathedral. Situated at the foot of Stamford Hill, this Catholic church dominates the area.
• Tower Gardens Estate previously known as the LCC White Hart Lane Estate. Construction of this "out of county" LCC cottage housing estate began in 1904. The style of the housing is said to be inspired by houses in Ghent, Belgium. The estate was the home of Harry Champion (Great Cambridge Road), a well known music hall star and performer of the song "I'm Henery the Eighth, I Am".

Transport[link]

Two London Underground Lines serve the Tottenham area. The Piccadilly Line, which opened in 1932 has one station Turnpike Lane which was the first Underground station within the then Tottenham Borough boundaries. The Victoria Line which opened in 1968 has its operating depot in Tottenham at Northumberland Park and has two stations, Seven Sisters and Tottenham Hale, situated in the area. National Rail stations Seven Sisters, Tottenham Hale, Bruce Grove, White Hart Lane and Northumberland Park serve the area. The train services are provided by National Express East Anglia and London Overground services at South Tottenham.

Sport[link]

White Hart Lane

Tottenham is the home of Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham are one of England's most successful club sides, having won the Football League twice, the FA Cup eight times, the UEFA Cup twice, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup once and the Football League Cup, four times. In 2010, they qualified for the UEFA Champions League, Europe's elite competition for the first time.^[21] The club's home ground is White Hart Lane, located on Park Lane, rather than the road of the same name. The ground is named after the White Hart Inn that it was built behind, and the nearest station to the ground.^{[citation needed]}

Tottenham also has two Non-League football club Haringey Borough F.C. and Haringey & Waltham Development F.C., who both play at Coles Park.

See also[link]

• List of people from Haringey
• List of schools in Haringey

References[link]

External links[link]

• Tottenham: Growth before 1850
• World War Two memories (V2 rocket attack on Tottenham Grammar School)
• 1909 Tottenham Outrage

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tottenham

v t e London Borough of Haringey Districts Bounds Green Bowes Park Crouch End Finsbury Park Fortis Green Harringay Highgate Hornsey Manor House Muswell Hill Noel Park Northumberland Park St Ann's Seven Sisters South Tottenham Stroud Green Tottenham (incl. Broadwater Farm and Little Russia) Tottenham Hale West Green Wood Green Attractions Alexandra Palace Bruce Castle Jacksons Lane Markfield Beam Engine White Hart Lane (football stadium) Parks and open spaces Alexandra Park Bruce Castle Park Chestnuts Park Coldfall Wood Downhills Park Down Lane Park Finsbury Park Highgate Wood Hollickwood Park Markfield Park Priory Park Queen's Wood Railway Fields Constituencies Hornsey and Wood Green Tottenham Tube and railway stations Alexandra Palace Bounds Green Bowes Park Bruce Grove Harringay Harringay Green Lanes Highgate Hornsey Manor House Northumberland Park Seven Sisters South Tottenham Tottenham Hale Turnpike Lane White Hart Lane Wood Green Other topics People Public art Schools Parks and open spaces in Haringey

Gareth Bale

Personal information
Full name	Gareth Frank Bale[1]
Date of birth	(1989-07-16) 16 July 1989 (age 22)[1]
Place of birth	Cardiff, Wales
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Playing position	Left winger / Left back
Club information
Current club	Tottenham Hotspur
Number	3
Youth career
2005–2006	Southampton
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2006–2007	Southampton	40	(5)
2007–	Tottenham Hotspur	113	(21)
National team‡
2005–2006	Wales U17	7	(1)
2006	Wales U19	1	(?)
2006–2008	Wales U21	4	(?)
2006–	Wales	33	(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:25, 13 May 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 November 2011

Gareth Frank Bale (born 16 July 1989) is a Welsh footballer who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Wales national team as a winger.

Bale began his professional career at Southampton, playing at left back, earning acclaim as a free kick specialist. Since transferring to Spurs in 2007, managerial and tactical shifts have seen him transform into a more offensively-oriented player. Recently, Bale has played an integral role in Tottenham's success domestically and in the Champions League.^[3][4][5]

Early life[link]

Bale was born in Cardiff to parents Frank, a school caretaker, and Debbie, an operations manager;^[6] he attended Eglwys Newydd Primary School at Whitchurch.^[7] He is the nephew of former Cardiff City footballer Chris Pike.^[8] It was while at this school he first came to the attention of Southampton at age nine, when he was playing in a six-a-side tournament with his first club, Cardiff Civil Service Football Club.^[9] Growing up his football hero was fellow Welshman and Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs.^[10]

Bale then attended Whitchurch High School in Cardiff.^[11] He was a keen athlete and played football alongside Wales flanker and captain Sam Warburton^[12], rugby, hockey and excelled at athletics.^[13] As a 14 year old he says that he ran the 100 metre sprint in 11.4 seconds.^[10] Because of his superior footballing skill, the school's PE teacher, Gwyn Morris, had to write special rules which restricted Bale to playing one-touch football and not using his left foot.^[12] Whilst at Whitchurch, Bale trained at Southampton's satellite academy in Bath, although there was initially some doubt if Southampton would give him a scholarship due to his height.^[6]

Despite being only 16 at the time, he helped the school's under-18 side win the Cardiff & Vale Senior Cup. He left school in the summer of 2005 with a Grade A in PE amongst his GCSE results. In his final year at school, he was awarded the PE department's prize for services to sport. In the presentation, Morris commented:

"Gareth has a fierce determination to succeed and has the character and qualities to achieve his personal goals. He is one of the most unselfish individuals that I have had the pleasure to help educate."^[14]

Club career[link]

Southampton[link]

On 17 April 2006, at the age of 16 years and 275 days, Bale became the second youngest player ever to play for Southampton (after Theo Walcott, who was 132 days younger) when he made his debut in the Saints' 2–0 victory against Millwall. On 6 August, Bale scored his first league goal, a free kick, to level the score at 1–1 against Derby County. The final score at Pride Park was 2–2.^[15]

He scored again, at St. Mary's, against Coventry City^[16] in the team's second game of the 2006–07 season with another free kick. Bale further developed his reputation as a free kick specialist when he struck the post from one against West Bromwich Albion.^[17] By 16 December 2006, Bale's goal count had risen to five, thanks to a late equaliser against Sunderland^[18] and free-kicks away to Hull^[19] and at home to Norwich City.

In December 2006, he won the Carwyn James Award for the BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year,^[20] and was named the Football League Young Player of the Year on 4 March 2007.^[21] This capped what was described in the local press as an "incredible" first full season as a professional footballer in which he was one of the Saints' "most creative players even (though operating) from the left-back position whilst his defending improved immeasurably as the season progressed."^[22]

His final game for Southampton was in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final against Derby County on 12 May 2007. Bale suffered an injury during the second half, preventing him from appearing in the second leg.^[23][24] In total, he made 45 appearances for Southampton, scoring five goals.

Tottenham Hotspur[link]

On 25 May 2007, Bale signed a four year deal with Tottenham Hotspur with Spurs paying an initial £5 million for Bale, potentially rising to £10 million based on appearances and success.^[25] However, Tottenham paid Southampton an early settlement payment of £2 million in 2008 to reduce the final fee to £7 million and allow the Saints the immediate cash that they desperately needed.

2007–08[link]

He played his first game for Spurs in a friendly against St. Patrick's Athletic on 12 July 2007, but was substituted on the 80th minute with a minor dead-leg. He made his competitive debut for Tottenham Hotspur on 26 August away against Manchester United. In just his second Spurs appearance, he scored his first goal for Tottenham in the 3–3 draw with Fulham on 1 September when he latched on to Robbie Keane's flick, charged down the left flank unopposed and coolly slotted past goalkeeper Antti Niemi.^[26] Bale went on to score again against Arsenal in the North London Derby, scoring a free kick inside the near post.^[27] He then scored in the League Cup home tie against Middlesbrough,^[28] making it three goals in four starts for the then 18-year-old. He also set up Spurs' goal against Anorthosis Famagusta in the UEFA Cup.

Bale was substituted after sustaining an injury resulting from a tackle from Fabrice Muamba in the league fixture against Birmingham City on 2 December 2007. A scan revealed that Bale had suffered ligament damage to his right ankle, consigning him to an extended period on the sidelines. Spurs' sporting director Damien Comolli announced in February 2008 that Bale would miss the rest of the season through injury.^[29]

2008–09[link]

Bale in the Spurs' line-up before a match against Chelsea

He signed a new four-year deal with the club in August 2008.^[30] Bale was given the number 3 shirt for the 2008-09 season, which left previous number 3 Lee Young-Pyo without a squad number. After some poor performances, Bale was dropped in favour of Benoît Assou-Ekotto and the latter remained first-choice for most of the season.

2009–10[link]

After playing a record 24 Premier League games for Spurs without being on the winning side,^[31][32] Bale's first ever involvement in a Premier League victory came against Burnley on 26 September 2009 – more than two years after signing for Spurs – when he came on as an 85th minute substitute.^[33]

In June 2009, Bale underwent surgery for a knee injury, ruling him out for over two months. He missed pre-season matches and it was projected that he would miss the first few weeks of the 2009–10 season.^[34] On 26 September, he made his comeback as a substitute in the Spurs' 5–0 thrashing of Burnley. However, he endured a frustrating time on the bench as Benoît Assou-Ekotto was in good form. When Assou-Ekotto was sidelined with an injury, manager Harry Redknapp decided to give Bale a chance and he impressed in the Spurs' FA Cup third-round 4–0 win over Peterborough.^[35] He finally tasted victory for the first time as a starter in a league game in the 2–0 win over London rivals Fulham on 26 January 2010.^[36] His good form continued and he was named Player of the Round after helping the Spurs to a 3–1 win in the sixth round replay of the FA Cup against Fulham.^[37] In April 2010, Bale scored another goal against Arsenal after a pass from Defoe he tapped the ball past the Arsenal keeper.^[38] Three days later, Bale slammed in Tottenham's second with his weaker right foot in a 2–1 victory over leaders Chelsea and was named Man of the Match.^[39] He was named Barclays Player of the Month for April.^[40] He signed a new four-year contract at White Hart Lane on 7 May 2010 as a reward for helping the club reach the Champions League qualification place.^[41]

2010–11[link]

On 21 August, Bale scored twice in a 2–1 win at Stoke City, the second of which was a head-high volley into the top right hand corner of the goal.^[42] On 25 August, Bale set up all four goals to help Spurs overcome Young Boys 4–0 (6–3 agg.) in a Champions League play-off at White Hart Lane.^[43] Although Assou-Ekotto had already returned from injury, Bale continued his good form and cemented his place in the starting eleven, moving forward to left wing to accommodate Assou-Ekotto at left back. On 29 September 2010, Bale scored his first Champions League goal for Tottenham in a 4–1 home win against Dutch champions FC Twente in their second game of the group stages. In recognition, he was named Welsh Player of the Year by the FAW.^[44] On 20 October, Bale scored his first senior hat trick against European champions Internazionale at the San Siro in the Champions League. Tottenham lost the match 4–3, having been 4–0 down inside the first 35 minutes and playing with ten men for over 80 minutes of the match after goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes had been sent off in the eighth minute for a professional foul on Inter's Jonathan Biabiany.^[45] In the return match at White Hart Lane on 2 November, Bale provided a man of the match performance, setting up goals for Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko to earn Spurs a memorable 3–1 win.^[46]

On 4 November, Bale stated that he intended to remain at Tottenham for the remainder of his recently-signed four-year contract, despite reported interest from other clubs.^[47] On 19 March 2011, Tottenham announced Bale had extended his stay at the club until 2015.^[48]

On 17 April 2011, Bale was honoured with the PFA Player of the Year award, as voted for by his peers.^[49] Amidst rumours linking him with Chelsea, Barcelona and a host of clubs, Bale decided to stay at White Hart Lane.

2011–12[link]

He scored his first goal of the season on 24 September 2011, in an away game against Wigan Athletic.^[50] The game ended in a 2–1 victory for Tottenham. He added his second and third goals of the season on 30 October with two goals against Queens Park Rangers in a 3–1 home win.^[51] He continued his good form with the first goal in a 3–1 victory over Fulham the following week, whilst also setting up Aaron Lennon who made it 2–0 on the stroke of half time.^[52] The first goal against Fulham was later ruled by the "dubious goals committee" to be an own goal by Chris Baird.^[53]

On 3 December, Bale scored the first goal in Tottenham's 3–0 victory over Bolton Wanderers. He marked the goal with a tribute to Gary Speed by holding up his left boot, with "R.I.P Gary Speed" stitched on it, in front of the Bolton fans.^[54] On 27 December, Bale scored twice to give Tottenham a 2–0 win against Norwich City.^[55] On 5 January 2012, Bale was announced as one of the players voted into the UEFA Team of the Year 2011. He scored his third brace of the season as he scored twice against Wigan on 31 January to take his tally to ten goals for the season.^[56] In January 2012 he was announced as the January Premier League Player of the Month for the second time in his career, after three goals and two assists in the Premier League for the month.^[57]

Style of play[link]

Bale originally started out playing as left back, but because of his great pace and dribbling skills, he was moved forward to play as a left winger.^{[citation needed]}

On 2 November 2010, after a Champions League group stage match against Internazionale, teammate Rafael van der Vaart said, "Everyone is scared of him [Bale]. Maicon is one of the best defenders in the world, and he's killed him."^[58][59]

In a report of the same match, Spanish newspaper El Mundo said:

Bale combines the height and build of an 800-metre runner like Steve Ovett with the acceleration and directness of a rugby winger like Bryan Habana. And, when he gets to the byline, he delivers curling crosses like a Brazilian. Big words? Yes, but that's what Bale is like – easily the greatest sensation in the opening month and a half of the Champions League. Ask Maicon what he thinks after the two exhibitions Bale turned in against Inter. Yesterday he left Maicon for dead and then a wily old fox like Lúcio was left in his wake like someone trying to follow the vapour trail of an aeroplane. Three goals and two assists — against the European champions. His performances have been stunning.^[60]

Following Bale's two goals against Norwich City on 27 December 2011, manager Harry Redknapp said:

If we sell him, we've had it haven't we? It would only be a Barcelona, a Man City or a Real Madrid who would be able to pay for him. He's an amazing player. He's got everything, there's not a weakness in his make-up. He can head the ball, he's as strong as an ox, he can run, dribble and shoot. Most important of all, he's a smashing lad.^[5][61]

Speaking at an interview in 2012, Manchester City fullback Micah Richards revealed that Gareth Bale was one of his toughest opponents he had ever faced, saying that:

"He made me feel an inch tall. Took me to pieces. He just doesn’t stop running. It's ridiculous."^[62]

International career[link]

Wales[link]

Bale was selected by Wales at the end of the 2005–06 season and made his international debut on 27 May 2006.^[63] He first appeared as a substitute in a 2–1 win over Trinidad and Tobago, making him the youngest ever player to play for Wales.^[64] Bale, who was just 16 years and 315 days, assisted the winning goal scored by Robert Earnshaw.

Brian Flynn commented that Bale was potentially a future star of the game, comparing his technical ability to that of Ryan Giggs.^[65] On 7 October 2006, Bale became the youngest player ever to score a goal for the full Welsh national team in the Euro 2008 qualification match against Slovakia with a trademark free kick.^[66] He scored his second goal for Wales in a 3–0 win over San Marino on 28 March 2007.

Bale was eligible to play for England through his grandmother, but he stated in 2007 that:

"It is an honour to play for Wales... Nobody ever got in touch with me personally from England, only through my agent."^[67]

After a long injury lay-off, he returned and started in the World Cup qualifier against Finland on 10 October 2009.^[68] On 14 October, he played a part in Wales' final World Cup qualifier by setting up David Vaughan to score the opening goal against Liechtenstein and won the free kick that led to the second, Aaron Ramsey's first at senior level.^[69]

In December 2010, Bale was awarded the BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year trophy.^[70]

Bale was called up to the Wales squad for the first time under Gary Speed to play against Australia on 10 August 2011. He previously missed the last four internationals with injury.^[71]

Great Britain[link]

Bale, who meets the age criteria to play in the 2012 London Olympics, said he would "love to play in the Olympics" for the Great Britain Olympic football team, in defiance of the Welsh FA.^[72] On 28 October 2011 Bale became the first player to be photographed modelling the British 2012 London Olympics football supporters' shirt. In response, Football Association of Wales chief executive Jonathan Ford said: "Our position remains unchanged. We are not for Team GB. Gareth can make his own choices and make his own decisions. But we are not going to stop anyone playing." On behalf of Gareth Bale a spokesman said "while he is 100% Welsh, he is also British".^[73]

International goals[link]

Scores and results list. Wales' goal tally first.

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	7 October 2006	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	Slovakia	1 – 2	1 – 5	Euro 2008 qualifying
2.	28 March 2007	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	San Marino	2 – 0	3 – 0	Euro 2008 qualifying
3.	12 October 2010	St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland	Switzerland	1 – 1	1 – 4	Euro 2012 qualifying
4.	7 October 2011	Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Wales	Switzerland	2 – 0	2 – 0	Euro 2012 qualifying
5.	11 October 2011	Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria	Bulgaria	1 – 0	1 – 0	Euro 2012 qualifying
6.	12 November 2011	Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	Norway	1 – 0	4 – 1	Friendly

Career statistics[link]

As of 13 May 2012^[74]

¹ Includes Football League Championship play-offs

² The Spurs goal tally excludes the "goal" scored against Fulham on 6 November 2011, later ruled as an "own goal".^[53]

Honours[link]

Club[link]

Southampton Academy

• Premier Academy League: 2005–06

Individual[link]

• PFA Championship Team of the Year: 2006–07
• Football League Young Player of the Year: 2007
• FAW Young Player of the Year: 2007^[75]
• E.ON Player of the Round: 2009–10 5th Round^[76]
• Premier League Player of the Month: April 2010,^[77] January 2012
• Tottenham Hotspur Football Club 'Young Player Of The Year': 2009–10,^[78] 2010–11
• Wales Player of the Year Award: 2010,^[79] 2011^[80]
• BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2010^[81]
• BBC Wales Carwyn James Junior Sportsman of the Year Award 2006^[20]
• PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 2010–11, 2011–12
• PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2010–11^[49]
• UEFA Team of the Year 2011

References[link]