Tottenham fans launch petition calling for Darren Anderton to be honoured with testimonial

Tottenham fans have launched an online petition calling for former Spurs midfielder Darren Anderton to be honoured with a testimonial - 13 years after he left the north London club.

Anderton spent more than a decade at White Hart Lane, making a club record 299 Premier League appearances before departing once his contract expired in the summer of 2004.

It has become customary for players to be granted a testimonial after 10 years at one club but Anderton was not afforded such a luxury, despite 12 years of service in N17.

1,026 supporters have signed the petition asking for Anderton to be afforded a proper send off by the club he still enjoys close links with.

Petition organiser Stephen Tracey wrote: "At the end of his Tottenham career he [Anderton] never got the chance to say goodbye and thank you to the White Hart Lane crowd.

"I am sure as a Tottenham Hotspur supporter and having watched Darren play you would agree that he deserves a chance to say goodbye.

"No better way than a testimonial match. This petition is the start of something that can hopefully persuade the correct people to make this happen.

"Loyalty is rare in football these days and Darren was certainly loyal to Tottenham Hotspur."

Anderton played for Birmingham City, Wolves and Bournemouth after leaving White Hart Lane as a free agent while he also won 30 senior England caps during his time in north London.

Anderton took part in Ledley King's star-studded testimonial in 2014 and recently said he did not ever want to leave Spurs.

"Over my career there was a chance to go to other clubs but I never wanted to leave Spurs.

"Now looking back it's great because I will always see Tottenham as my club.

"It's always been a big club and a great club and now it feels like it's just getting bigger and bigger. It's great to have been part of that history," said the 45-year-old.

Click here to view the petition on Change.org.