Opinion Piece: What do we really want?

As football supporters we pour all of our hopes and dreams into the team we support. Our own lives could be going to hell in a hand cart, but for those 90 minutes we forget about all that and dream that what we are seeing in front of us is somehow going to make our own lives better, even for a short while. When that doesn't go to plan we then drop to the depths of despair and look for someone to blame. Normally the players or the manager. After all they have let us down haven't they?

Our feelings are linked into the result of a football match. Win the worlds a wonderful place, lose and well you may as well not get up in the morning. Nothing makes this more clearer than a derby game or a game against your closest rivals in the league. Bragging rights and being able to strut around the work place as if you own the place, if only for a short while, make it all worth while.

When you lose, you take it personally, they let you down. They don't know how you feel, they don't get it on their £100,000 a week salary they are so out of reach from you the fan that it makes it even worse. The money you spend on the ticket, the merchandise, the food. To you its a fortune so why don't they care more? Why don't they show it more? They just don't understand how hurt we are, how can they.

Yet perhaps its us to a certain degree, perhaps we are the problem. When your a kid you chose a team and you stick with it through thick and thin. There are your local rivals and, like it or not we as a club are behind Arsenal our rivals. Let me explain, Liverpool are more successful then Everton, Man Utd are more successful than Man City, we are more successful then West Ham, and Chelsea have been more successful than Arsenal recently. What is the one common denominator in all of this? Money. Every club we now class as a rival is backed by very, very rich people who aren't afraid to spend it. We have a very rich owner too but he doesn't splash the money about like a drunk in a strip club. He expects more for his money and rightly so.

If they don't win something at these clubs straight away, the manager gets the sack and the next one gets unlimited money to spend to make sure they win again. Man City continue to do it, Chelsea continue to do it, Man Utd continue to do it and yet we don't. We haven't won anything yet, that's correct, but we finished second last season in the Premier League, are highest ever finish in the modern era. Did we spend a fortune? No we didn't. So how did we do it against all this money? We grew our own talent from within.

Fans are fickle beings, always have been always will be. They play Football Manager and FIFA and then allow themselves to believe that its that easy to win things. We live in a society now where if it doesn't work then throw money at it until it does. Lets not see what the issue is and try and fix it long term, lets throw money at it and fix it now. After all who cares about tomorrow? The future is too far in front for us to see or care about, what matters is that instant gratification that comes from spending more than the other team because that's how you win things isn't it? That's how it works in modern football doesn't it? You write a check for whoever you want and the other teams roll over take the money and sell their best players to you because you are the richest.

This is all that is wrong with modern football in my opinion. I don't want a club that throws money at it, I want to win things of course I do, but not at any cost. Ask the fans of Leeds or Blackburn how they feel after the money that was thrown at their clubs ran out? Would they rather do it our way and have a long term goal of course they would, and so would I!. I don't want to go bust and spend years outside of the Premier League looking back to the good old days that have now become a distant memory.

We nearly went bankrupt in the late 80's we were days away from having no club at all, Ill blog about that another time, but we've been there and done that. I've had the success of the mid 80's to the absolute dross of the late 90's and early 00's. Manager after manager, player after player that weren't good enough to grace our club, yet there I was still behind the team supporting them through the thin, whilst Arsenal won trophy after trophy. It hurt, I'm not going to lie, it hurt really badly. I was jealous of them and their success, why couldn't we be like that? The reason was a succession of bloody awful mangers and mediocre players. No plan for the future, just trying to fix things quickly and failing time after time.

We don't have a history of being a really successful club, I'm not knocking us far from it, I'm just trying to put where we are into perspective. Yes we've had the odd trophy which we've won over a period of a few years but not anything like what you could call a sustained period of success over decades like Liverpool, Arsenal, and Man Utd, or more recently Man City and Chelsea. This is where we have come from to where we are trying to get to. We will have success in the near future, in Daniel Levy we have a Charmian who knows what he wants and how to get it. He is transforming this club from within and we don't see half of what goes on. The new stadium, the sponsorship, the deal with the NFL, this will allow us to be financially independent for decades to come.

This season we are playing 38 away games in the league. No matter how we try and turn Wembley into White Hart Lane it will never be home. Home is being built, a new home, a new start, a new era. You've just got to be patient. Poch is the best thing to happen to this club in decades, I would so as far as to say he could be our greatest ever manager. Yes he has to win things, he knows that, the income from the new stadium will pay for the players that we need to take us to that next level, the wages will increase and fans favourites now will be replaced by new fans favourites as they have been in the past and will continue to be in the future. We will lose players, but not for the reasons we have in the past. They wont be leaving us to win trophies or wages because those things will come. You will always get players who think the grass is greener elsewhere like Kyle Walker and if the media is to be believed Danny Rose as well. They will go and will be forgotten in the annuls of our history.

However what these other clubs don't have is our bright future. Who knows when the Sheiks and Oligarchs get bored of their toys and walk away, what happens to those clubs then? What we are building is sustainable for the future. This isn't a computer game this is real life, with real people, making real mistakes. Its frustrating of course it is, to see us not win every game, but hang in there because the future, I believe, will be far beyond what any of us even hope it to be. I hope Poch is here to see through the job he's started. If he leaves it will be because he has taken us as far as he can and wants a new challenge. There will be no knee jerk reaction from Daniel Levy and the supporters calling for Poch's head need to stop it and look at the mistakes we have made in the past and see we cannot repeat them. We are starting a 100m sprint 30 metres behind the others and catching them!

16 years ago we were happy to get the odd derby win, we dreamt of playing in the Champions League, it was a distant dream far beyond our reach. We weren't even in Europe at all. Then Joe Lewis bought our club and started a revolution by appointing Daniel Levy as Chairman. Its been a slow build to get here, on the brink of a new stadium, a team that perhaps needs one or two world class players to get us right up there, but what would you rather have? The team of yester year with the managers we've had in the past or the team we have now? I have said the same thing through all of that I have written, we have to have patience whilst the manger and the players learn how to get the results we need.

When Ferguson first went to Man Utd they hadn't won the league in years, Liverpool were the dominant team winning everything. Ferguson was quoted as saying when asked what he wanted to achieve at Man Utd, "I want to knock them off their fucking perch" he was laughed at, but a little bit of patience when it would have been easy for them to sack him and he did. Man Utd now hold the record for most league titles. He did it in an era where money didn't dominate the game at the start. It did towards the end of his era there's no denying that, but what he did firstly was to develop youth team players, put time and structure into developing the scouting system in and around Manchester and reaped the rewards. When the money poured into the game, he had already laid the foundations for future success. Times have changed, money is now the dominating factor, clubs go and spend fortunes on players, but I believe in what we are doing at Spurs, we are going to get it wrong at times and lose games we all think we should win. We have to be patient, the Chairman trusts the manager, the players trust the manager and I trust the manager.

At the start of this season I would have taken Top 4 and Champions League football, next year my expectations will rise, because when we do crack it, when do start winning trophies, when we do start challenging every year for the league, when our best players are not being lured away by higher wages, the satisfaction that will befall us will be that much sweeter. We will know we did it the right way, the Tottenham way, we will write our own piece of history, we will write a new blue print of how to win football trophies.

So for now let our rivals gloat, as much as that pains us, let them have their moment in the sun, let us hold our heads up high and believe in better days, because they are coming, no one ever had success without suffering along the way to get there. We will be fine, if and its a big if, we allow our heads to trust our hearts because in Poch we must trust.

Special Edition of the Fan Interview Paul Clark

I got talking to Paul Clark on Twitter late last week when I saw him asking a few of our ex-players  for a retweet for his kids. Thought no more of it until I looked a little closer and was amazed at what he was trying to achieve. The first part of this interview follows the normal fan interview format, however please do read on and then if you can help Paul and his family out please do so, he is currently on 56% of his target, if everyone who reads this donates £1 Paul will smash his target. Sometimes things get to me, this page is for fun and laughs predominantly, and I'm proud of what we do and the way you lot support us, but I truly believe that we should then use this page to promote and offer help wherever we can within the Spurs family whether that's promoting merchandise or stories like Paul's and his families. Sometimes there are more important things in life than football. Thank you for your continued support Anthony.

Paul's Just Giving Page is here. https://t.co/cYd7PXbGvP

Paul is also on Twitter @paulclark271077

AH: Tell us a little about yourself?

PC: My names Paul Clark I’m married to my beautiful wife Sarah and we have 3 kids Ella 10, Summer 8 and Riley 7. We live up in beautiful Suffolk. I am a left leg above the knee amputee. As well as my love for spurs i enjoy darts, motor racing and photography.

AH: When did you first start supporting Spurs?

PC: I first started supporting spurs when I was 6 years old 34 years ago now. I remember the first game midweek villa at home 2-0 to the spurs.

AH: Who is your favourite player from each decade you've been watching Spurs?

PC: My favourite player well I have 2 Rafa van da Vart and Robbie Keane.

AH: If you could ask one of those players any question what would it be?

PC: Rafa why did you leave us and would you ever come back ? He loves this club and us fans loved him great player.

AH: What's your favourite ever goal?

PC: Winning goal at Wembley 2008 cup final again Chelsea my brothers a Chelsea fan so it was great.

AH: What's your favourite piece of merchandise?

PC: Has to be my grass key ring from the lane.

AH: What has been your worst piece of memorabilia?

PC: First shirt my wife got me a home shirt sorry I don’t do red

AH: What is your favourite memory of being a Spurs fan?

PC: My best moment was taking wife and kids to their first ever game they loved it and been hooked ever since.

AH: What has been your worst moment as a Spurs Fan?

PC: Seeing white hart lane knocked down. Yes we have a new stadium coming but that place was our home.

AH: If you could go and change on result what would it be and why?

PC: Newcastle away season before last when we let those gooners finish above us.

AH: Paul tell us a little about what you have planned next year and why you are doing it?

PC: On 30th May 2018 myself, my wife Sarah and my 3 wonderful kids Ella 10, Summer 8 and Riley 7 will be joined by a group of amputees and other members on an amazing challenge to become the first amputee group to climb Mount Snowdon, in order to raise the funds that Steel Bones needs to continue offering the invaluable support to amputees and families across the UK. The weather should be good and the views amazing. Not only do we need the publics support with donations so we can help the charity(thank you everyone who has donated so far,) we are also looking for sponsorship for the whole event so if any businesses or individuals would like to sponsor please get in touch. There’s going to be newspaper coverage, TV, news, radio, t shirts, posters etc so lots of publicity for businesses.

There is a big lack of understanding by the public as to what amputation really means to an amputee and their family and with 5000 new amputees a year this is a great charity to get involved with to help promote amputee awareness throughout the U.K.  I put the idea on the Steel Bones Facebook page and was overwhelmed by the number of other amputees from around the UK who wanted to join me on this challenge and I now have a great team of 18 adults and 5 children joining me in climbing Snowdon.

Steel Bones is a voluntary charity for amputees and their families, which works across the UK to connect the amputee community, create friendships and provide a proactive support network by giving latest news on stump health, promoting healthy lifestyles, signposting useful services, experts and sports clubs along with providing flexible careers opportunities.

The key focus for Steel Bones is offering support to new amputees, and their families - offering the guidance and companionship that they so often need, at often the most traumatic time. There are 5,000 new amputees each year in the UK.

My own personal story is that I became an amputee last year, and after having surgery in 2014 I had a major bone infection, which resulted in amputation. It was a very hard and life changing experience for my whole family. We found it very difficult to find support groups or friends in such situations. It is quite a lonesome disability and there is a lack of understanding in the public and government as to what amputation means for an individual and family. I was fortunate enough to meet the founders of Steel Bones UK, who have continued to give me great support over the last year.

My involvement within the charity has given me some amazing opportunities and I am so inspired by the number of amputees that have decided to join me on this quest. Climbing Snowdon was a personal goal of mine before my amputation and feel it is a great way to achieve my own personal goals whilst raising funds for the charity that has helped me so much.

Please help me raise as much as we can so Steel Bone can continue to support amputees and their families around the UK along with amputee awareness.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity

The weather should be good and the views amazing. Not only do we need the publics support with donations so we can help the charity(thank you everyone who has donated so far,) we are also looking for sponsorship for the whole event so if any businesses or individuals would like to sponsor please get in touch. There’s going to be newspaper coverage, TV, news, radio, t shirts, posters etc so lots of publicity for businesses. There is a big lack of understanding by the public as to what amputation really means to an amputee and their family and with 5000 new amputees a year this is a great charity to get involved with to help promote amputee awareness throughout the U.K.

Fan Friday Interview 24th November 2017 with Darry Telles

Darryl Telles is an author of and a Spurs fan. Hes written a book called Were Queer and We Should Be Here about what it was like being a gay football fan in the 70's and 80's. Below is Darryl's interview about his life as a Spurs fan but also a little about his book as well. You can order a copy of the book here  

Darryl over to you:

AH: Tell us a little about yourself?

DT: My name is Darryl Telles ,living in Hove originally from Finchley in London hence a Spurs fan since 1970. 

AH: When did you start supporting Spurs?

DT: My first live match was against Nottingham Forest in the old first division in November 1978. John Pratt scored the only goal as we lost 3-1

AH: Who is your favourite player from every decade you’ve supported Spurs?

DH:      1970s Martin Chivers; 1980s Glenn Hoddle; 1990s Jurgen Klinsmann; 2000s Ledley King

AH: If you could ask one of those players a question what would it be and why?

DT: Jurgen: Did you ever want to manage the club?

AH:  What is your favourite ever Spurs goal?

DT:  It's got to be Gazzas at the 1991 FA Cup semi final at Wembley

AH: What is your most cherished piece of Spurs memorabilia?

DT:   A signed Proud Lilywhites shirt from Steffen Freund

AH:  What is the worst piece of Spurs merchandise you’ve ever bought or been given?

DT: I Still get ribbed for buying Spurs oven gloves!

AH:  What has been your best moment supporting Spurs?

DT:  Winning the UEFA Cup Final in 1984 at the Lane

AH: What has been your   worst moment supporting Spurs?

DT:  Losing the FA Cup semi final against Chelsea in 2012

AH: If you could go back in time and change one result what would it be?

DT:  The League Cup Final loss to Blackburn in 2002 at Cardiff

AH: I Would now like to ask you some questions about your book, why did you decide to write the book?

DT: I decided to write the book after taking voluntary severance from work and having plenty of time on my hands

AH: How hard was it to do?

DT: Yes it was more difficult than I thought it would be as you have to be totally honest about experiences

AH: What was it like for you during the time you supported spurs before you decided to tell your story?

DT: In the 1970s and 80s most people thought being gay was a perversion. Things begun to change in the 1990s as more people came out. By now everyone knows a family member friend or work colleague that’s gay so things are a lot more easier.

AH: What has the reaction been to your writing the book?

DT: Very positive and supportive.

Darryl thanks for doing this for us and also in your generosity in donating a copy of your book so that we can give it away as a competition on this page. I've read it the book and its often funny but also a story of bravery and courage in times a lot of us wont remember. Society wasn't as always as tolerant as it is now and its people like Darryl who tell their stories that allow us not to forget that. Anthony

Opinion Piece: Sol Campbell

The North London Derby returns today and with it all the feelings that surround it as fans of both clubs know that losing this one will be beyond painful, all the banter from the supporters pages will go into overdrive if you win it. The memes, the posts, the wind-ups between friends and family, to the victor the spoils. I enjoy it, in a good hearted way, I know there are people that go way over the top, in my opinion, it must be my age as I see some of it going too far, but each to their own.

Ive watched and read all of the build up to this, nervously, as I always do, not saying too much in case I look an idiot if we don't win. Having to take the flack from fans of Arsenal and whoever else feels like weighing in, it won't be a fun experience and it'll hurt like hell for a long time, but Ill get over it, as I always do. If we win, Ill be honest for 48hrs Ill be unbearable to anyone who supports Arsenal that I know. Its the nature of the game.

There's been interviews from celebrity fans giving their opinions, ex-players from both sides reliving their greatest moments and fondest memories. The players know what this means to both sets of fans and are stoking the flames as much as they can without going to far with it. Except one player. Sol Campbell. He did an interview with Sky about the game and he just didn't seem to get why people were so upset with him still after all these years and how he wasn't invited back to the Lane for out final game. He mentioned how it took him 4 days emotionally to get over the first game he ever played back at the Lane after his move to Arsenal, citing the abuse he got from Spurs fans as the reason for that. He came across as arrogant, selfish and believe me watch the video to see this, hurt by our reaction to him.

I know there are going to be some Arsenal fans reading this, they will be lapping it up. "Look at the sad Yido" they'll say "Still crying over Campbell after all these years. To you I say one name Van Persie, how much hatred did you have towards him when he went to Manchester United? Now times that hurt by 10 and you may just may get close to what Sol Campbell did to us.

It wasn't the fact he left, we were bloody awful back then, No money, no hope of ever winning anything again, Sol was a world class centre back, the diamond in our rough as it were. The rumours of him moving on had floated around for a few years before he went, Man Utd were after him to strengthen their defence and Arsenal too, as well as numerous European clubs as well.

For me personally and I know people will react to this adversely, I get why he left, I get he wanted to win things, we were bloody awful, no structure, underperforming players, managers changing every five minutes, Sugar selling up, the club was in turmoil. As much as it pains me to say it, he was too good for us. Football is a short career, players want to win things, to have medals too show off at the end of their careers, they want money in the bank, they want to be proud of what they achieved. Bale and Modric went to Real Madrid, we got good money for them, they went on and won things, Berbatov went to Man Utd and won league titles I get it, I really do. If someone offered you more money to do your job you’d take it, if it meant you could be more successful you’d jump at the chance and anyone who says they wouldn’t is a liar.

However football is different to a certain degree, it’s tribal in some way. You chose a club as a kid, perhaps your influenced by family, your mates or because you like a certain player and you should I know by that club through thick and thin. Perhaps we put too much into players expecting them to be like us, some that come through the ranks will always hold that club in a special place. To others it’s just an employer who pays their wages and allows them to pay their bills. To us as fans, it’s more than that and always will be and that’s why Sol Campbell is so hated at Spurs.

The problem I have with Sol Campbell is the way he left. He lied to us. Not once, but over and over again. As he entered into his final year of his contract he kept telling us he was going to sign a new one. He could see the club moving forward and he wanted to be part of it. Fans rightly or wrongly, believe what they are told. I don't believe for one moment that Sol didn't realise this and yet he kept on feeding it and feeding it. Day after day, week after week, month after month, until he finally told us he was going. To them. To Arsenal. On a free transfer.

I don't think he could have hurt the club anymore if he had tried. He had come through the youth system, he was one of us, yet he threw that all back in our faces, he made us feel used and abused. I don't believe he is a naïve man, he knew how much he had hurt us because he didn't even pose wearing their shirt when he signed for them. They had world class players, had done the double and Wenger was changing the way players looked after themselves, they were successful, whether we like it or not. It must have been tempting to go there and win things, anyone one of us would have jumped at the chance if we are honest, to better ourselves and cover ourselves in glory, to have those medals at the end of your career to look back on, it was the way he did it that sticks in my throat.

Some will say ‘what did you expect him to do?’, he should have said nothing! He could have said we’ll see where we are at, at the end of the season. That way we wouldn’t have got our hopes up, we would have grown used to the idea of him leaving us. He did none of that, he told us he was staying. That to for me is why he will never be forgiven by us and that’s what annoys him, in my opinion so much.

I was a huge Sol Campbell fan, it hurt me and to be honest I've written this four times to take my emotion out of it and also the swearing. I don't think there is any other player in the last 20 years that has caused such hatred by moving clubs. Yet he doesn't get why we are so upset, even now, after all these years. Watching that interview he came across as extremely arrogant about it all, he listed the things he had achieved at Arsenal, at what he had won, and even after all of the he spoke of how upset he was with the reception he got every time he played at the Lane or against us.

That to me says more about him than it does about us. I was bought up to know the difference between right and wrong, but also to know that your word should be your bond, that you should always tell the truth no matter how much it hurts you to do so. Sol Campbell did none of those things, and even after all these years he blames us, the fans, and doesn't have the courage to look in the mirror and say " I handled that all wrong, I should have told them the truth no matter how upset they got, I should have explained that I wanted to win things and that I wasn't going to happen at the Lane at that time, I should have done it differently" but he wont, hes too arrogant and wrapped up in himself, blaming us for what went on rather than looking at the cause of the problem which was his actions.

I don't condone the effigy's, the racist chants, the hurling of objects at him either. People took it too far. Saying that though I get the anger and hurt that those people felt, they felt betrayed by one of their own, by their captain, their leader, the one person they all looked up to. That anger and hatred will never subside for some of us, and it isn't helped by Sol doing interviews like he did this week, dragging it all up again and rubbing it in about what he won. He genuinely lacks class.

When you leave this world all you leave behind are memories, good or bad, we hope, because that is all we can do is hope, that people remember us fondly, that we meant something to someone. You hope that your integrity shone through, that you did the right thing at the right time, no matter how hard it was or who you hurt. For me Sol Campbell is a man lacking in integrity and honesty. I didn't begrudge him his success, I begrudge the way he went about it and still does to this day. It is obviously not enough for him to be adored by Arsenal fans for what he achieved there, it obviously still gets to him how we don’t like him.

Sol you could have been welcomed back the day we said goodbye to the old lane, like Pat Jennings was, who played for both clubs, but you weren't, and the fact that this still upsets you makes me smile a little, because the hurt you felt that day, the fact that we erased you from our history, on our most important day in years is exactly what you deserved for the way you treated us. When the history of our great club is written by newer supporters long after I’m gone, your name still won’t be there because you showed us what type of man you really were. You lacked integrity and honesty towards the people who worshipped and supported you, and that Sol Campbell will always be your legacy at Spurs. It’s what you deserve.

Friday Fan Interview 17th Novemeber 2017 Darron Stump

This week its the turn of Darron Stump so Darron over to you...................

AH: Tell us a little about yourself?

DS: I'm 44, married with two beautiful girls, 16 & 19, both Spurs fans. I grew up in Walthamstow which was a massive Spurs catchment area during the 80's now live in Hornchurch, Essex. I have been going to WHL regularly since 1988 and had a season ticket since 93. Last year I managed to win 'Games Room of the Year' with a Tottenham themed games room thanks to the many thousands of Spurs fans out there who voted for me.

AH: When did you start supporting Spurs?

DS: Both my granddads on both sides of the family, my uncles, cousins and dad were all Spurs fans so from a very early age Spurs had a massive impact on me, my first game I attended at WHL was against Coleraine in the ECWC in 1982, we won 4-0, first away game coming in 1985 at Highbury, Pat Jennings Farewell game, Spurs won 3-2.

AH: Who is your favourite player from every decade you’ve supported Spurs?

DS: 1980's - got to be Hoddle, an absolute genius, he's vision was out of this world, to place a ball on someone foot from 40 plus yards and to turn on a sixpence, exceptional. Gascoigne coming in at the end of the 80's, was also something special, one of the last proper characters of the game, an entertainer on and off the field.


1990's - David Ginola, as he describes 'WHL was he's garden' A pleasure to watch when in full flow.


2000's - Lesley King, one of the greatest defenders I have ever seen at Spurs, that tackle against Robben, I would say was better than Moore against Pele. Wore the shirt with pride and passion.


2010+ -  Gareth Bale, utter class, every goal he scored for us was a 'worldy' exceptional pace and could make a ball do things in the air that you would not think possible. More recently the rapid rise of Harry Kane becoming one the most prolific strikers in Europe and the potential of surpassing another Spurs legend – Jimmy Greaves as the clubs highest all time goal scorer.

AH: If you could ask one of those players a question what would it be and why?

DS: Hoddle - Bill Nicholson was Mr Tottenham Hotspur and one the most respected icons ever to be associated with our club, what was it like to be in the presence of such an absolute legend and did he have any influence on yourself for you to also become such an iconic figure in the history of our club?

AH: What is your favourite ever Spurs goal?

DS: Got to be Gascoigne against Woolwich -91 FA Cup Semi Final, to be there to witness it was a special memory that will never leave me, they were going for the double, we were going for the piss up and day out, 2-0 up after 5 minutes, finally winning 3-1, better than the final, this is what dreams are made of.

AH: What is your most cherished piece of Spurs merchandise?

DS: I have a hand made Tottenham rosette my granddad had made which he wore to the 1963 ECWC final in Rotterdam where we beat Athletico Madrid 5-1. . Also a framed signed picture of Mr Tottenham Hotspur – Bill Nic that hangs proudly in my games room.

AH: What is the worst piece of Spurs merchandise you’ve ever bought or been given?

DS: I got given a toilet seat in Tottenham High Rd  after the last ever game at WHL from a mate who had nicked it as a piece of memorabilia he thought I might like, I can tell you now I politely declined the offer to his disappointment.

AH: What has been your best moment supporting Spurs?

DS: Obviously the 91 FA Cup Semi Final against Woolwich stands out followed by the 3-1 win against Inter Milan at WHL in the CL, completely out played them in an electric atmosphere, if only you could bottle it as a keep sake. Also having the opportunity to take both my daughters to WHL especially my 19 year old daughter who is wheelchair bound and unfortunately doesn’t understand the world as we do, I took her to the Man City game last season which we won 2-0, a truly emotional moment, a moment that defines the ‘life memories’.

AH: What has been your worst moment supporting Spurs?

DS: Not attending the 84 UEFA Cup Final, it is one game I wish I was at, each time I watch it gives you goose bumps. Saying goodbye to WHL for the very last time was very sad, this was my second home, my place of worship, a few tears were shed that day.

AH: If you could go back in time and change one result what would it be?

DS: Even though it was before I was born, the game I would change would be the 1962 European cup semi final against Benfica which we were unfortunate not to win and as the great man himself Billy Nic once said in an interview, 'we would of gone on to beat Real Madrid in the final'

Thanks very much to Darron for taking part next week its the turn of  Ihab Kamel

An opinion piece: Club vs Country

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We are once again coming to the end of an international break and the apathy towards it from most fans is palpable to say the least. How did it become something we all dread and fear, in regards to the fact that we are more worried about our players coming back injured than we are about actually winning games?

I believe there are a number of reasons for this, the recent abject failure of the national side at major tournament's, the lack of any creativity from those players on the field, the lack of encouragement from club managers to their players playing in these games, the way the press in this country assume we are going to win EVERY SINGLE tournament we enter and the fact that to be honest there is a new generation of fans that just don't care enough about the national team. Put all this into a mix and you have the current state of football at International level in this country.

It wasn't always like this, when I was a kid growing up, international fixtures were something to look forward to. The home nations competition and the regular games against Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland meant something to me, a young England supporter. There were the odd crushing win, one of my first ever games at Wembley was the 8-0 win against Turkey, but most of the games were competitive games that you could get your teeth into.

The fact that there was so little live football on TV, if you wanted to see the stars of the day you went to a game, perhaps added to the experience of seeing players playing for their country. We didn't win any tournaments back then, but I seemed to enjoy the International games more than now. I don't mind players losing, or being beaten by the better side, but there seems to a be a real mental block at International level. Whether that comes from the players or because of the coaching side of it only they know the answer to that.

When I started watching football the FA controlled the game at National and International level, no one pulled out of games unless they were genuinely injured, it just wasn't done. There seemed to be a great pride in playing for your country, don't get me wrong I guarantee that pulling on that National shirt for your country still means a hell of lot more to the players than I genuinely believe we give them credit for, but when you have players like Danny Drinkwater pulling out of games because he hasn't played enough football this season you then start to question the attitude of some of the players at that level.

Do we expect too much from them? I think we do. Most Premier League teams now have an influx of foreign players, some of the best in the world ply their trade here, but there is also an influx of mediocre players that are stifling the talent of the young British players coming through. The Premier league is no longer affiliated to the FA so they aren't under their control and they are not obligated to listen to them when it comes to setting rules and making sure that we have a strong National side. Do I blame them? Not really they have a brand to protect and they do a very good job of it.

However this situation has been to the total detriment to the National side. Its going to take a generation to change this attitude,  a culture change were managers are not afraid that they are going to get the sack every 4 games, were they can build teams from within and give youth players a chance, the ideal utopia situation but I don't think people really want it to change. If you ask the average fan what would they prefer, their club side winning a trophy or their national side winning a European Championship or the World Cup I guarantee 80% will say their club side. Its instant glory, bragging rights and telling your mates that you've won something and they haven't.

For me though some of my best memories are around the 1990 World Cup, 18, pissed, running across Gants Hill roundabout with my mum and dad's bed sheet with a huge St Georges cross painted on it surrounded by mates who supported all different teams. Or Euro 96 and Gazza's goal running around the pub and then going to see Madness at Finsbury Park and the concert being delayed because Suggs had lost his voice shouting at the game. That's the International games I want to see now. Pure unbridled passion (It probably helped we were utter shite at this time as well so England was a release).

So how do we change this? Its not as straight forward as you may think, so many different factors have to be put together and mainly owners need too give their managers time! They wont because there's too much money in the game now, but put that aside for a moment because this is what I would do.

We have a generation of young English talent at U17 through to U21 who have won World Cups and European Trophy's this past few years and they MUST be given the chance to fulfil that potential. No more cheap forgein imports, play the players in the youth teams so as they can develop. Look at how Harry Winks has come on in the past few months, Harry Kane was allowed to develop at Spurs, Dele was a £5 million gamble as well. Poch saw something in them and gave them a chance!.

The Premier League have to introduce rules meaning that ALL clubs must field at least 5 home grown players that have come through their ranks that are of eligible to play for ENGLAND. You  can have your Sanchez's, your Hazards, your Eriksen's but you MUST balance that with English talent as well. What's the point of a youth academy if you don't use it? One day these mega rich owners will move onto other sports and the legacy they leave behind will be how the clubs are developed once they are gone. No youth players? No chance.

Stop stifling the natural talent out of the youth players by making them scared to express themselves. Encourage them to express themselves within the right environment, allow them to make mistakes and stop over coaching them! How many times do we see a young English talent that excites us nowadays? We see foreign players come over here able to beat a man and take a player on and yet the coaching in this country is so far behind at International level its a joke. Gareth Southgate is a nice bloke but he's a failed club manager and shouldn't be anywhere near the national side. Go for the BEST coach, whoever that maybe, but allow them to develop their style of play. Don't constrict them with stupid rules and procedures. Also bring young English coaches on board and give them a chance at the highest levels of the game, not just the clubs battling relegation. The clubs are mostly owned by forgein owners and they are reluctant to hire English managers. This needs to change.

The press need to lay off the national side and stop hyping everyone expectations every time a tournament comes around. It sells papers I get that, but people are far more savvy about what they read and believe, there are some excellent sports journalists out there, Henry Winter is a personal favourite of mine, Andy Dunn also, so stop saying what you think people want to hear and actually start telling it like it is. It heaps too much pressure on the players and they then cannot perform at the required level. Don't believe me? Look at an England player playing for England then watch him play for his club and tell me he doesn't perform better because there is less pressure at his club. I get they are paid fortunes and people say they should be able to handle the pressure, but the size of the pay packet has nothing to do with your mental ability to handle pressure when it comes to playing football.

The fans need to be realistic as well. Yes us, there I've said it. Firstly West Ham fans, you didn't win the World Cup in 1966 so stop going on about it, its embarrassing, I get its bragging rights but it was 51 years ago now. Lets move on. We aren't anywhere near the best side in the World and we wont be unless things change so just accept it and try and get behind the players. Yes its hard watching us lose to Iceland and just beating Wales but we don't HAVE THE PLAYERS!!!. Until things change at Premier League level things will never change at National level. So relax a little and stop thinking like a little Englander that we have a god forsaken right to beat a country because we pay our players more than they do. The spirit of countries like Wales, Iceland and both of the Ireland's shows what type of bond you can develop with your players when you aren't slagging them of all the time. Lets try it, you never know we may like it?

Its not fool proof, of course its not, why would the Premier League want to imply rules that may affect how they market their product? Why would a manager who has to win all the time take a chance on youth? Well at least our manger does. Can you imagine how bad we would be without some of our players in that England side? Do you enjoy the bragging rights it brings to see how many players are in the England side? I know I do.

If we don't harness and develop these young players that have won things at International level, if we don't actually give them a chance to play in the Premier League than we can even forget about qualifying for tournaments in the future. It will be criminal not to give youth a chance. I'm glad I'm a Spurs fan, I'm proud of all the players that play for our country, but I'm more proud of the fact that we now have a manager who wants to develop the youth talent at our club. It makes those players
far more loyal when they come through the ranks, the club means something to them, the history of the place, the fans supporting them, its makes it easier for us to attach ourselves to them and watch them grow and become part of our history. It excites us!.

One day I hope to see a successful England side at International level, I don't mean getting to a Semi and losing on penalties, been there done that. I mean actually win something. I believe we can do it, but not the way the game is structured at the moment. If it doesn't change, we will end up with a generation of fans that will never know what its like to be overcome with joy and pride at what its like to see YOUR NATIONAL team win something. Is that what we really want? To waste the talent we have been blessed with? This would be unforgivable, almost bordering on criminal. It cannot be allowed to happen.

Club vs Country? It shouldn't even have to be a choice.

Friday Fan Interview 10th November 2017 Richard Baker

This weeks interview is Richard Baker so Richard over to you....

AH: Tell us a little about yourself?

RB: I’m a 44-year-old Commercial Business Director, married to Nikki, whom I’ve been with for over 27 years. Father of three children – Sam 16, Charlotte 14 and Lilly 10.

AH: When did you start supporting Spurs?

RB:I started supporting Spurs in 1978 after being a Liverpool supporter – the team of the day. I distinctly remember my neighbour, Stan, saying ‘if I take you to a football match (my first ever), will you support the team?’ and from thereon in, as they say, the rest is history.

AH: Who is your favourite player from every decade you’ve supported Spurs?

RB: Ricky Villa, Glen Hoddle, Gary Lineker, Clive Allen and… the decade isn’t finished! (maybe Gareth Bale/Harry Kane)

AH:  If you could ask one of those players a question what would it be and why?

RB: How did playing for Spurs differ from that of other teams you represented? Why? Because the Spurs faithful believe that our team is different; more togetherness, better support, more comradery…do the players feel the same?

AH:  What is your favourite ever Spurs goal?

RB: Hoddle vs Oxford – the last time I ever saw Goddle play, dummying two and chipping the goalie...I’ll never forget that night at WHL.

AH: What is your most cherished piece of Spurs merchandise?

RB: I’m not a big merchandise fan – probably just photos of my son from his first match, a pre-season friendly in 2007.

AH: What is the worst piece of Spurs merchandise you’ve ever bought or been given?

RB: There’s no such thing, is there?

AH: What was your best moment supporting Spurs?

RB: More recently it must be when Peter Crouch scored against Man City; the realisation that for the first time ever we’d be playing in the Champions League. Before that, I’ll never forget my son being passed around on supporters’ shoulders after the 5-1 League Cup win against Arsenal at WHL.

AH: What is your worst moment supporting Spurs?

RB: Gary Mabbutt’s knee vs Coventry in 1987 – especially after the half-time crowing that ensued.

AH: If you could go back in time and change one result what would it be? Probably Spurs vs Leicester in 2015/16 at WHL when we lost 1-0. If we would’ve won that game, I have no doubt we would have won the league.

AH: Is there any question you would like me to ask but I haven’t?

RB: The only time I’ve ever cried watching Spurs? When we finally beat Chelsea in the league on Guy Fawke’s Night 2006…what a softy!

Thank you to Richard for taking part, if anyone else wants to do one then get in touch at tottenhamhotpsurbanter1@gmail.com or comment in the comments section and Ill be in touch. Next week its Darron Stump.

Friday Fan Interview 3rd Novenmber 2017 Richard Hill

This weeks Fan Interview is Richard Hill, so Richard over to you.......

AH: Tell us a little about yourself?

RH: A little bit about me, I am 44. Married, live in Downham Market (Norfolk) have two boys both like spurs. 

AH: How long have you been a Spurs fan?

RH: I have been a season ticket holder since 1993 (wow 24 years) how time flies. Seen lots of changes in that time. 

AH: Who is your favourite player from each decade you've been supporting Spurs?

RH: A tough one as we have had some many good players in various positions. Well the mid late 90's had to be David Ginola, early 2000 would have been Robbie Keane and modern day would be Harry Kane. There are so many other players that I could mention, Eric the Viking, The Great Ledley King and of course Teddy, Bale and Modric.

AH: If you could ask one of those players any question who would it be and what would you ask?

RH: I think my question would be to David Ginola, for all your skill your medal cabinet is a little bear. Do you ever regret not signing for a bigger Club? 

AH: What is your favourite goal in all your time of supporting Spurs?

RH: My favourite goal is simple David Ginola against Barnsley in the FA cup. Should have been goal of the season. 

AH; What is your favourite piece of Spurs memorabilia?

RH: I have a signed shirt from the late 80's should really get it framed. 

AH: What is your worst piece of Spurs memorabilia?

RH: I don't really have a bad price of merchandise. I don't buy to much so what I do get is really what I want.

AH: What has been your best moment as a Spurs fan?

RH: My best moment would have to be when we beat Chelsea at home for the first time in ages. Who will ever forget Lennon cutting in from the right and drilling the ball in the back of the net. 

AH: What has been your worst memory of being a Spurs fan?

RH: My worst moment was seeing the violence that happened when we went to play Seville in the old UEFA cup.

AH: If you could change one moment in a Spurs game what would it be and why?

RH: I guess this game will figure quite high on the list. Changing the goal that never was. Man U v Spurs. Pedro Mendes lob that night was pure class.

Thanks for your time Richard much appreciated, next week its another Richard, Richard Baker. Don't forget if you want to do one of these drop us an email or a comment on Facebook and well be in touch.