Wikipedia talk:Featured article candidates/History of Tottenham Hotspur F.C./archive1

Blurb review

Hi guys. Pinging the nom and supporters, @Hzh, Govvy, Casliber, Dweller, Kosack, and Giants2008: this one was just promoted. Could three or four of you take a minute to read the following suggested TFA blurb, and feel free to make changes or ask questions? Thanks. - Dank (push to talk) 14:41, 27 January 2019 (UTC) Repinging @Serial Number 54129 and Tim riley:. - Dank (push to talk) 14:44, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

Tottenham Hotspur F.C. (Spurs) have a long history as an English football club based in Tottenham, London. They came into existence in 1882, became professional in 1895, and in 1901 became the only non-League club to win the FA Cup since the establishment of the Football League. They have won the FA Cup a further seven times, the Football League twice, the League Cup four times, the UEFA Cup twice and, in 1963, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. In 1960–61, they became the first team to complete The Double in the 20th century. The club languished mostly in the Second Division from the late 1920s until the 1950s before peaking in the 1960s, with a resurgence in the 1980s. They have remained a member of the Premier League since its formation in 1992, finishing in mid-table most seasons. In 1899 the club moved from Northumberland Park to a site that became known as White Hart Lane, and remained there until 2017. A new stadium is being built at the same site.

We discussed the singular-v-plural question at FAC, and it has come up again here: "has a long history ... They came" ... "has won ... they became". BrE tends to plural and AmE for singular in such cases, but either way we should be internally consistent. That apart, the draft seems to me to summarise the article beautifully. Tim riley talk 14:53, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

Thanks, and I knew I posted this too soon :) Tweaks made. Is there any way I can get away with "(the Spurs)" instead of "(Spurs)" in the first sentence? Otherwise the first sentence is going to be hard. - Dank (push to talk) 15:00, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

No chance whatever. In bygone days their north London rivals sometimes used to be called "the Arsenal" rather than just "Arsenal", but Spurs have never had a definite article as far as I know. I think your present text would read very well without it. Otherwise, I think your revised all-plural text is fine now. But what do I know? I'm an Everton supporter. – Tim riley talk 15:58, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

Looks alright to me Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 17:31, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

Tweaked. I suppose it can't be helped. - Dank (push to talk) 16:05, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

I've got a feeling that lots of non League teams won the FA Cup in its early years. Am I wrong? --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 19:37, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

The football league was formed in 1885, Tottenham from that date are the only club in English football club who have won the FA Cup that wasn't present in the FA football league. Before 1885 is a different story. Govvy (talk) 19:58, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

Does the claim need greater clarification/omitting as too difficult for a short blurb? --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 20:14, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

The use of the word "non-League" rules out all clubs prior to the establishment of the Football League, since the word "League" refers to the Football League and the word non-League would have no meaning before its establishment. It could be confusing to those who are unfamiliar with the usage but to explain would be unnecessary convoluted, so perhaps a simple link to non-League football is sufficient. Hzh (talk) 21:27, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

On second thought, perhaps adding "since the establishment of the Football League" would make it unambiguous. Hzh (talk) 22:28, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

Nice, Hzh. --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 09:36, 28 January 2019 (UTC)

A hidden note in the blurb to admins who want to helpfully change 3rd person problems might be worthwhile.

I've got a feeling that lots of non League teams won the FA Cup in its early years. Am I wrong? --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 19:37, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

Do we need the last two sentences about the stadium? I was thinking that could be dropped. Instead have a sentence for recent times. Something like In the last decade Tottenham have finished in or near the top five of the Premier League with regular visits in the Champions League. Govvy (talk) 20:16, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

The current move of stadium is arguably the most significant development in the club's history in 20 years or more. --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 20:17, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

Okay, it's the final sentence know, I am not fond of the shortness of it, seems wrong somehow to me. Govvy (talk) 20:20, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

I think it's pretty good now. --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 21:28, 28 January 2019 (UTC)