Tottenham Hotspur’s newest star, Xavi Simons, has taken his first deep dive into the heart of N17 — touring the neighbourhood surrounding the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium alongside club legends Ledley King and Michael Dawson. The visit highlighted the club’s long-standing community impact and its continued commitment to supporting local residents.
The midfielder’s tour spanned several key locations that play a central role in both the Club’s heritage and the work of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, including the Tottenham Community Sports Centre, The Antwerp Arms, and Percy House.
A Visit to Tottenham Community Sports Centre
Just moments from the stadium, the Tottenham Community Sports Centre has become a crucial hub for engagement. It hosts several Tottenham Hotspur Foundation programmes and is home to the striking Ledley King mural — a favourite spot for fans and visitors.
The centre was also an official donation site for Multibank UK’s 2024 Christmas Campaign. Spurs supporters joined forces with the Club to donate essential hygiene products, addressing the growing challenge of hygiene poverty across the UK. (More information on the initiative can be found via Multibank UK’s website: https://www.multibank.uk/)
The Antwerp Arms: A Pub Saved by Its Community
Simons also stopped by The Antwerp Arms, the oldest working pub in N17 and north London’s first-ever community-owned pub. Saved from developers in 2015 thanks to a joint effort by Spurs fans, local residents, and the Club, The Antwerp Arms has become a matchday institution.
Supporters regularly gather here, and the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust continues to host popular events at the venue throughout the year. Learn more about the Trust’s work: https://www.thstofficial.com/
Percy House: The Historical Home of Spurs’ Community Work
The final main stop on the tour was Percy House, restored in 2019 and now the headquarters of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation. The building delivers community programmes that support more than 13,000 residents annually, ranging from employability to education projects.
Percy House is also deeply tied to the club’s heritage. It once served as the London residence of the Percy family, including Henry “Harry Hotspur” Percy — the inspiration behind the Club’s name and iconic emblem. The building captures over 250 years of north Tottenham history, reflecting its transformation from a village for wealthy merchants into today’s vibrant multicultural community.
During the visit, Xavi met local schoolchildren participating in STEM workshops — part of the Foundation’s mission to improve access to STEM education for young people in disadvantaged areas.
More on the Foundation’s work can be found at Tottenham Hotspur Foundation: https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/the-club/foundation/
Extra Stops: Chick-King and the Bill Nicholson Gates
The tour wouldn’t be complete without a nod to Spurs’ cultural icons. Xavi visited the legendary Chick-King — a fan-favourite fried chicken institution — before heading to the newly reinstalled Bill Nicholson Gates, now standing proudly within PAXTON17 next to Percy House.
Xavi Simons Reflects on the Experience
Speaking about the day, Xavi said:
“I was so happy to take a moment to learn more about the history of this amazing club and to travel around the community with two legends in Ledley and Michael. It was particularly special to join Ledley at his mural as he is such an inspiration and a real legend – it was an honour to be able to chat with him.”
