John Terry hates Spurs after childhood incident with Tottenham fans
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The former Blues captain, widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders in Premier League history, recalled how abuse from Spurs supporters during his teenage years left a lasting impression that fuelled one of English football's fiercest rivalries.
Terry made the comments during a candid conversation with former team-mate Petr Čech on the debut episode of the Big Pete interview series.
Key takeaways
- John Terry's dislike for Tottenham began when he was a teenage ball boy.
- Spurs fans allegedly abused and threw objects at him during a match.
- Terry played Tottenham 32 times, winning 17 matches.
- Chelsea never lost a home league game to Spurs in his era.
- Terry praised José Mourinho's influence on Chelsea's 2004/05 title.
Childhood moment that sparked the rivalry
Whilst discussing London derbies, Terry admitted his feelings toward Tottenham remain unchanged long after his retirement.I hate Spurs. It's really clear. When you're at a club for so long, it becomes part of you.The former defender explained that the animosity dates back to his early days at Stamford Bridge when he worked as a ball boy.
According to Terry, Tottenham supporters targeted him with abuse during a match.
I remember being a ball boy when I was 14 or 15 and I was by the Spurs fans. They were abusing me, throwing stuff at me, and I was just a kid.
They were abusing me, throwing stuff at me, and it was like, wow, I feel it. I really feel, and that just stayed with me.
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Read This Next →Chelsea's dominance over Tottenham during Terry's era
Throughout his career, Terry frequently enjoyed the upper hand in clashes with Tottenham.The former England captain faced Spurs 32 times across the Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup.
Head-to-head record:
- Wins: 17
- Draws: 9
- Defeats: 6
- Goals: 3
- Assists: 3
Terry also highlighted Chelsea’s formidable record at Stamford Bridge during his playing days.
During our time we never lost a home game against Spurs. Even now they hate me as much as I hate them and that's fine.
Family ties to West Ham added extra emotion
Despite becoming synonymous with Chelsea's success, Terry revealed that many of his family members actually supported West Ham United.His father and uncles were lifelong Hammers fans, which occasionally made matchdays awkward.
Terry remembered scoring against West Ham and spotting relatives in the away section.
All my family are West Ham fans - my dad, my uncles. When I scored against them, I could see my dad and uncles... and they were abusing me!The moment, he admitted, perfectly captured how football rivalries can even divide families.
Mourinho's influence on Chelsea's historic title win
During the interview, Terry also reflected on Chelsea's historic 2004/05 league triumph under José Mourinho.That season saw Chelsea produce one of the greatest defensive campaigns in Premier League history, recording 24 clean sheets and conceding just 15 goals.
Terry credited Mourinho's mentality and intensity in training as a defining factor behind the club's success.
The tempo in training and the intensity were incredible. There was a big shift in mentality. No one impacted the training ground like he did. He was by far the best manager I worked under.
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Read This Next →A rivalry that still burns
Even years after retiring, Terry's comments show the passion behind one of London's most heated football rivalries.For the Chelsea legend, the emotions sparked by that teenage experience with Spurs supporters remain part of his identity, and a reminder of just how deeply football rivalries can run.
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