Crowds gathered in a small garden near White Hart Lane for the unveiling of a blue plaque celebrating the life of a Spurs footballer and war hero.

The sign marks the house where Walter Tull, England's first black football player and one of the British army’s first black officers, lived for a year.

Former Spurs player Garth Crooks pulled open the curtains covering the new sign.

Veterans Garry Stewart, Donald Campbell and Tony Wentley-Martin each spoke about Mr Tull's heroics as an army officer during the First World War.

Neil Fanigan, an RAF veteran, said: “Representing his country as an officer in the British army, that was something, even when you don’t consider all the prejudice and racism that was around then.

“He suffered, he had to come back to recover in Tottenham, but he was strong enough and determined enough to go back again, even though it was a vision of hell there.”

Classford Sterling, a talent scout for Tottenham Hotspur, believes the club could have done more to celebrate its former player.

He said: “I’m disappointed and not happy at all with the level of effort Spurs have made with Walter Tull. I think they could have done more to honour his memory.

“That said, they were the first team to have a black football player and that must’ve been a tremendous strain on the club’s chairman.

“You’re going to get a lot of abuse as a black player. But you want to show them with boots, let the boots do the talking. Bang in three or four goals, and the talking stops.”

A passer-by, who gave his name only as Mark, said: “It’s the first time I’ve heard of Walter Tull, but I’d like to pay my respects, even though I’m an Arsenal supporter.

“It’s a shame Spurs didn’t do more to help today, but that’s just the way a lot of big clubs are now.”

The unveiling ceremony was organised by the Nubian Jack Community Trust in partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Professional Footballers’ Association.