60 years a Spurs fan

[Spurslove]

By my calculations, yesterday (16th December) marked my 60 year love-hate affair with Tottenham Hotspur.

It was 60 years ago yesterday my uncle Nat took me as a scatty 9 year old schoolkid off to the football, and introduced me to White Hart Lane to see the debut performance of one Jimmy Greaves (God rest him).

I'll always remember my uncle saying to me 'Come on boy, I'll take you to the football' and I was so excited. I don't think my dad ever forgave him, as he was a gooner, but that's another issue!

As soon as I walked into the place, I was awe stricken and even standing on my little box on the old shelf, I could barely see what was happening on the pitch, but the atmosphere that day was amazing and I loved it. I also loved the bag of peanuts my uncle bought for us as the guy came round shouting 'Peanuts, peanuts..' with his little sack of goodies.

Of course, Jimmy did what he always did on his debuts. He not only scored for us in a win over Blackpool, but he helped himself to a hat trick and from day one, the crowd took him into their hearts, me included, and for all the Spurs players down the years who I've fallen in love with, Jimmy was always my ultimate hero.

You'll have to understand, I was born and raised in Highbury, half a mile from that place which should not be named, and who knows, if my uncle Nat had taken me there first...well it doesn't bear thinking about!

My bedroom walls were covered with all sorts of posters with Spurs pictures and newspaper cuttings and all sorts.

Blimey, 60 years. Where the hell has that gone. All the joys and all the heartaches, the agonies and the ecstacies, no wonder I've hardly got any bloody hair left! I sometimes wonder what I must have done in a past life. I must have ben a right bastard (Who said 'no change there then)? LOL.

Part of my DNA now. I may have completely fallen out of love with football but THFC will never leave me till I shuffle off this mortal coil.

This might be a good place to invite others to share their own experiences of their first visit to WHL.

Come on you Spurs!!!

 

[TheChosenOne]

Congrats. I'm only a Johnny Come Lately - 55 years clocked up recently in September.

Was a 3-1 victory over the old enemy. Can only remember off pitch stuff to be honest. I was just shy of my 11th birthday.

 

[Tottenham_God]

By my calculations, yesterday (16th December) marked my 60 year love-hate affair with Tottenham Hotspur.

It was 60 years ago yesterday my uncle Nat took me as a scatty 9 year old schoolkid off to the football, and introduced me to White Hart Lane to see the debut performance of one Jimmy Greaves (God rest him).

I'll always remember my uncle saying to me 'Come on boy, I'll take you to the football' and I was so excited. I don't think my dad ever forgave him, as he was a gooner, but that's another issue!

As soon as I walked into the place, I was awe stricken and even standing on my little box on the old shelf, I could barely see what was happening on the pitch, but the atmosphere that day was amazing and I loved it. I also loved the bag of peanuts my uncle bought for us as the guy came round shouting 'Peanuts, peanuts..' with his little sack of goodies.

Of course, Jimmy did what he always did on his debuts. He not only scored for us in a win over Blackpool, but he helped himself to a hat trick and from day one, the crowd took him into their hearts, me included, and for all the Spurs players down the years who I've fallen in love with, Jimmy was always my ultimate hero.

You'll have to understand, I was born and raised in Highbury, half a mile from that place which should not be named, and who knows, if my uncle Nat had taken me there first...well it doesn't bear thinking about!

My bedroom walls were covered with all sorts of posters with Spurs pictures and newspaper cuttings and all sorts.

Blimey, 60 years. Where the hell has that gone. All the joys and all the heartaches, the agonies and the ecstacies, no wonder I've hardly got any bloody hair left! I sometimes wonder what I must have done in a past life. I must have ben a right bastard (Who said 'no change there then)? LOL.

Part of my DNA now. I may have completely fallen out of love with football but THFC will never leave me till I shuffle of this mortal coil.

This might be a good place to invite others to share their own experiences of their first visit to WHL.

Come on you Spurs!!!

Wonderful words my friend. I've not been lucky enough to watch a live Tottenham game . So count your blessings there kind sir!

Sending my love from the other side of the world

 

[Spurslove]

Wonderful words my friend. I've not been lucky enough to watch a live Tottenham game . So count your blessings there kind sir!

Sending my love from the other side of the world

?‍


.

 

[JCRD]

Congrats man - for some reason I had you down as a 25 yr old

 

[PCozzie]

I know that my first visit to WHL was against Wimbledon, in about 86, but I remember very little of it. The first one that I remember was an absolute rollercoaster of a day, emotionally, for a 8 year old celebrating his birthday. We weren't well off, but my dad managed to cobble enough money together to take me, my brother and three friends to the Chelsea match. 22nd August 1987. I was hugely excited, but the day got off to a bad start when friend number 1 woke up ill and couldn't make it.

Down to two friends we set off from North Herts for Enfield, first to my nans house where we would have lunch, then on to the game. As we were walking past WHL station Friend number 2 jumped up on a wall, slipped, fell and banged his head. He was then sick and my grandad had to drive down and pick him up (no concussion subs in those days). I was down to one friend now and the shine was really starting to come off the day.

All forgotten though as we got to the ground. We took our seats and started on the treats in our food bag. I don't recall much about the match up until about the 80th minute when it all started kicking off in the Park Lane end next to the Chelsea enclosure. We craned our necks to see the rioting unfold - a few bits and pieces being lobbed back and forth and the old Bill rushing along the pitch. My dad suggested that it would probably be a good point to leave, so we started getting our things together and head for the exit.

Just as we reached the steps down into the bowels of the ground Spurs attacked. We turned round to see what happened and as we did Nico Claessen scored to make it 1-0 to Spurs. 85th minute! The place erupted! Still thinking this was a good time to exit, dad escorted us out before anything could happen outside the ground. When we got home to what would have been my birthday tea friend number 3's parents arrived at the door, very apologetic, saying they had to collect him to go out for the night. The tea my mum had made for me and three friends sitting untouched as there was no-one left to eat it!

A bittersweet, emotional rollercoaster of a day that had set me up perfectly for a lifetime of supporting this club.

COYS!

 

[wpmcg]

60 years for me sometime now but definitely by May 2022, cup final date.
First live game ( born in Easington, Co Durham ) was once I'd gone off to University in Sheffield. Went down for Spurs v Liverpool, UEFA semi final I think 1971?

 

[Dougal]

My condolences.

 

[Spurslove]

Congrats man - for some reason I had you down as a 25 yr old

Cheers. This is the problem when your head is 25 but your body is 69. You'll find out!

 

[Spurslove]

60 years for me sometime now but definitely by May 2022, cup final date.
First live game ( born in Easington, Co Durham ) was once I'd gone off to University in Sheffield. Went down for Spurs v Liverpool, UEFA semi final I think 1971?

Born in the north east, so how did you become a Spurs fan ?

 

[NinjaTuna]

Might be a dumb question, but how come Greaves was making his debut for us in early December? Were summer and winter transfer windows not in existence then?

 

[PCozzie]

Might be a dumb question, but how come Greaves was making his debut for us in early December? Were summer and winter transfer windows not in existence then?

Transfer windows were introduced in 2002/3 season. Up until that point a transfer could happen at any time during the season.

 

[Spurslove]

Might be a dumb question, but how come Greaves was making his debut for us in early December? Were summer and winter transfer windows not in existence then?

No, it's not a dumb question if you weren't around back then. The windows were introduced by the EU probably in the late '90's..? (someone can give us the exact year perhaps).

EDIT: Many thanks PCozzie! ?‍

 

[NinjaTuna]

Thanks guys. I only started following football in about 2005 so didn't miss the introduction of that by much ?

 

[TheChosenOne]

60 years for me sometime now but definitely by May 2022, cup final date.
First live game ( born in Easington, Co Durham ) was once I'd gone off to University in Sheffield. Went down for Spurs v Liverpool, UEFA semi final I think 1971?

1973
1-1 draw.
Clemence played a blinder that night for them. I was also at the 1st leg up there lost a soft 1-0

 

[Trojan]

Congrats on 60yrs @Spurslove .

My first game at WHL didn’t come until the early 1970’s, it was a home game against Ipswich which we lost either 2-0 or 2-1 , can’t remember which and I went with a friend.

It was the journey home that was more memorable as Arsenal were playing Chelsea , All was well until I got on a connecting train and was sitting opposite a scum fan about 5-6 years my senior, when he saw my Spurs scarf he promptly beat me up and stole my scarf, he ran from the train when a whole bunch a Chelsea fans got in the same carriage and came to my assistance, that was until they saw my match day program and beat me up a bit more,
such fond memories of following our beloved team ??

 

[ShelfWatcher]

60 years for me sometime now but definitely by May 2022, cup final date.
First live game ( born in Easington, Co Durham ) was once I'd gone off to University in Sheffield. Went down for Spurs v Liverpool, UEFA semi final I think 1971?

Think it was 73, I was at game, shelf ?. We won tournament in 72.
From memory Peters scored twice, 2 2 result Liverpool went thru by one goal
EDIT
saw TCO post so checked Google
We both got year right and Spurs went out
But score was 2 1 pool won away goals
I was right about Peters 2 goals ?

 

[ShelfWatcher]

Congrats on 60yrs @Spurslove .

My first game at WHL didn’t come until the early 1970’s, it was a home game against Ipswich which we lost either 2-0 or 2-1 , can’t remember which and I went with a friend.

It was the journey home that was more memorable as Arsenal were playing Chelsea , All was well until I got on a connecting train and was sitting opposite a scum fan about 5-6 years my senior, when he saw my Spurs scarf he promptly beat me up and stole my scarf, he ran from the train when a whole bunch a Chelsea fans got in the same carriage and came to my assistance, that was until they saw my match day program and beat me up a bit more,
such fond memories of following our beloved team ??

Blimey, what a story, well done for keeping the faith ?

 

[NinjaTuna]

Congrats on 60yrs @Spurslove .

My first game at WHL didn’t come until the early 1970’s, it was a home game against Ipswich which we lost either 2-0 or 2-1 , can’t remember which and I went with a friend.

It was the journey home that was more memorable as Arsenal were playing Chelsea , All was well until I got on a connecting train and was sitting opposite a scum fan about 5-6 years my senior, when he saw my Spurs scarf he promptly beat me up and stole my scarf, he ran from the train when a whole bunch a Chelsea fans got in the same carriage and came to my assistance, that was until they saw my match day program and beat me up a bit more,
such fond memories of following our beloved team ??

Fucking hell. I shouldn't laugh, but that read like something out of a comedy ? glad you stuck with it!

 

[carmeldevil]

By my calculations, yesterday (16th December) marked my 60 year love-hate affair with Tottenham Hotspur.

It was 60 years ago yesterday my uncle Nat took me as a scatty 9 year old schoolkid off to the football, and introduced me to White Hart Lane to see the debut performance of one Jimmy Greaves (God rest him).

I'll always remember my uncle saying to me 'Come on boy, I'll take you to the football' and I was so excited. I don't think my dad ever forgave him, as he was a gooner, but that's another issue!

As soon as I walked into the place, I was awe stricken and even standing on my little box on the old shelf, I could barely see what was happening on the pitch, but the atmosphere that day was amazing and I loved it. I also loved the bag of peanuts my uncle bought for us as the guy came round shouting 'Peanuts, peanuts..' with his little sack of goodies.

Of course, Jimmy did what he always did on his debuts. He not only scored for us in a win over Blackpool, but he helped himself to a hat trick and from day one, the crowd took him into their hearts, me included, and for all the Spurs players down the years who I've fallen in love with, Jimmy was always my ultimate hero.

You'll have to understand, I was born and raised in Highbury, half a mile from that place which should not be named, and who knows, if my uncle Nat had taken me there first...well it doesn't bear thinking about!

My bedroom walls were covered with all sorts of posters with Spurs pictures and newspaper cuttings and all sorts.

Blimey, 60 years. Where the hell has that gone. All the joys and all the heartaches, the agonies and the ecstacies, no wonder I've hardly got any bloody hair left! I sometimes wonder what I must have done in a past life. I must have ben a right bastard (Who said 'no change there then)? LOL.

Part of my DNA now. I may have completely fallen out of love with football but THFC will never leave me till I shuffle off this mortal coil.

This might be a good place to invite others to share their own experiences of their first visit to WHL.

Come on you Spurs!!!

Thank god for your uncle. Otherwise you would have been a twat on ATV Great story. Thanks for sharing.