Our club, history, fans, future and AVB

[ohtottenham!]

I’m starting this thread ‘cause I was actually thinking about what it means to be a young Tottenham fan. I started supporting this club as a very young Greaves worshipper and enjoyed our successes as a Spurs fan. I’m actually proud of our young fans who have never really experienced or known what it was like for us to actually win things.
We won the Carling Cup a few years back, great day it was, but it became so big because of what we’d become. Truth...22 years since we’ve won a major trophy. FA cup ’91- the Gazza stretcher!
The League?? We know...’61. Everyone reminds us, but we need to remind ourselves! Since that time United won it 15 times, Liverpool 12 times, them across the road 6 times, Everton 4 times, Chavs 3 times, Leeds 3 times, City twice, Derby twice, Blackburn, Villa, Forest and...f-ing Ipswich all once. Read those stats again, and just think what each of those years meant for us. I wiki’d it, may have made an error somewhere, but I as an older fan know it’s the basic picture.
Even in the old days, I’m talking after the cup in ’67, we won the league cup a couple of times early 70’s. Late 70’ s and early 80’s ...magic time - Hod, Ossie and Ricky, FA cups in 81/82. Tony Parkes save for UEFA ’84! Magic nights! I feel for our younger fans that never experienced those magic times.
United, Liverpool, Forest, Villa, Chavs have all won European Cup/Champs League, some of them multiple times. Yet, despite that, we, Tottenham, have one of the strongest, most loyal fanbases in the country! Our club...our fans are a lesson in loyalty and support for the whole league, despite the lack of trophies!
My thoughts are that managers/coaches change and set the history and trajectory of a club - Liverpool had Shankly, Paisley, Fagin and basically faith! United had Ferguson, Arse have Wenger, Leeds had Revie, Forest and Derby had Clough. Chavs and City have money, which is different and horrible!
For us, I really hope we’ve got the backing of Lewis and Levy behind AVB, who’s young but dedicated with a vision. I have a feeling that this season is going to be, in typical uber- Spurs fashion, a rollercoaster ride of untold emotional swings. But, for me, whatever happens, we’ve got to keep faith with AVB; I don’t care if we have to wait one, two, three seasons...we can’t go another 22 for the cup, or another 52 for the league!

 

[mark87]

I'm 26 and been a spurs fan all my life, sure I was around during the 91' fa cup win but do I remember it? Of course I don't. All I remember is the Worthington cup win and more recently the carling cup win. I look back to the team we had 10-15 years ago and as a team it really was not that great. U know it wasn't great when you start a match with Gary doherty at centre back.

The last few years have been the best squad I think I can remember, but how long is it going to be before another billionaire takes over another club and buys them a place in the top 4? That what infuriates me about Chelsea and city, they don't deserve to be there in my eyes, just buying their success with money they have been given to them and not earnt. Man utd and arsenal on the other hand have done it right, by getting a damn good manager in and working for the success they've had over the last 15 years or so and this is obviously something we ourselves are trying to accomplish.

My old man is in his early 60s so was about during the best period of our club and I can tell he gets fed up now of how we are longer the best team in the country. But this was always going to change but he does realise that we are getting better and appreciates the top, top players we have had in more recent years.

I really hope we stick with AVB for the long run, he is a good manager who deserves full backing from the club. COYS.

 

[ohtottenham!]

We have a coach who's young, committed and knows the game, and he's developing and learning. And he's going to make mistakes, and he should be given space to make them, even if it costs us in the short run - Fergie and Wenger did the same. I don't agree with AVB on some things. But, I really think given time, he can bring us back.

 

[THOWIG]

I'm sure we will stick with him. My only concern is will he stick with us.

 

[easley91]

I'll be honest, it took me a while to settle on one club. Lots of changing clubs when I was a kid. But, thanks to a family friebd who I looked up to I got into Tottenham. That was around the Spurs 3-5 United period. Only within the last few years did I find out that my Chelsea supporing father and the Easley family were originally from Tottenham. He rebelled for a cup final at the time. In a sense I'm bringing Spurs back into the family. What I will say about my dad, is that evrn though Chelsea, he was the one who took me to WHL and even became a season ticket holder for a year. That is one of the best fathers you could ever ask for!

Honestly, I'm glad I support a club that doesn't (or didn't for a long while) expect tovwin the league. It meant getting 4th was a huge moment, beating Chelsea in 2008 was also a tear jerker. Many more since those as well. It makes those moments all the more special. And if we were to win the league in a few years, we've done it the right way. I'm proud to be a Spurs fan and will always be one.

 

[ohtottenham!]

That's cool. I actually remember the '67 final....I was 7! I was Tottenham. Grew up in Gants Hill early years, till we moved near the airport, and you really only had a choice of Spurs, arsenal or west Ham...and I went with Greaves!

 

[stevenqoz]

Have trodden a pretty parralel track to you and was at most of the cup victories you relate. I think you are right that our younger supporters have travelled mostly on faith so far. The big change has been the globalisation of the 'league' to the extent that even we now often refer to it as the EPL! Not sure that everyone in London understands the implications of that. EPL football is watched worldwide....in the middle of the night here in oz. The youngsters who are so pasionate and patient with Spurs also have other
pre-ocupations to us older, 'cup team' fans because they more easily accept 4th in the League as almost an end in itself with the ECL rewards it brings. In modern speak, Levy has truly made Tottenham a world brand through the 'pull' of international players from a wide variety of nations and the 'push' into those very countries where we now have hundreds of thousands of loyal supporters.

 

[ohtottenham!]

I'm sure we will stick with him. My only concern is will he stick with us.

That's true, but he's apparently already shown commitment according to media reports he turned down other offers in the summer. But it's up to us to show faith in him first.

 

[ohtottenham!]

Have trodden a pretty parralel track to you and was at most of the cup victories you relate. I think you are right that our younger supporters have travelled mostly on faith so far. The big change has been the globalisation of the 'league' to the extent that even we now often refer to it as the EPL! Not sure that everyone in London understands the implications of that. EPL football is watched worldwide....in the middle of the night here in oz. The youngsters who are so pasionate and patient with Spurs also have other
pre-ocupations to us older, 'cup team' fans because they more easily accept 4th in the League as almost an end in itself with the ECL rewards it brings. In modern speak, Levy has truly made Tottenham a world brand through the 'pull' of international players from a wide variety of nations and the 'push' into those very countries where we now have hundreds of thousands of loyal supporters.

I'm in LA now, hardly ever get back. You're in Oz, I lived in Sydney for a year about 25 years back, loved it! Different game now, I completely agree. Levy has put us in good stead financially, seems he's backing AVB on the football front too; I really hope that continues. I really think that Bale has had a huge effect on global support for us.

 

[E17yid]

I can't even remember our cup wins. Was too drunk. Love the OP, can't "winner" as on my phone.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Started coming to WHL in 1978 when we were pioneers with the signings of Ardiles and Villa. Seen some decent stuff in the eighties to 1987. Experienced absolute shite during Sugar's era and then the steady improvement from around 2005 with the exception of the Ramos blip.

 

[shelfmonkey]

That's true, but he's apparently already shown commitment according to media reports he turned down other offers in the summer. But it's up to us to show faith in him first.

Regular bursts of 'AVB's blue and white army' may help, let's show him our support vebally, loud and long! COYS

 

[shelfmonkey]

I can't even remember our cup wins. Was too drunk. Love the OP, can't "winner" as on my phone.

Ditto

 

[sim0n]

Small point to raise for history/fans and current atmosphere, the most despised clubs in opposition to Spurs are now:

#1 @RSEN@L, for then, now, and always
2- Chel$ki for all obvious reasons...
3- West Ham, they could be higher if they were any competition...
4- Real Madrid, H8 them now... they could climb up the list when we start meeting them in the CL
5- manUre,... they're just so "Blah" without old red face...
6- liverpool,... they could climb as well if they start competing for top 4....
7- Feyenoord,... bad blooded history still could get stirred up in EUROPA League
8+ other london clubs,.... none other than the above are really of issue...

It's a fundamental element of being US, to accurately identify THEM,.... and in order of importance

I know we live in a much different era, but would Cliff Jones be a Spurs legend nowadays,... or just another transfer footnote?

Since Spurs do not have an overflowing trophy case, I admire the "firsts" under Bill Nicholson and celebrating the wonderful players of the past. Here are some players/managers from the OLD school dark ages of Spurs that interest me:

Vivian Woodward, John Cameron, and "Bristol" Jones (happens to be my great grand Dad)...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Jones_(footballer_born_1874)

Here are a few players I read about and have seen video of old games that I like (naming just a few):

Greavsie, Jones, Chivers, Blanchflower, and Jennings.

First started viewing "live" games aound 1980 and remembering Hoddle, Ardiles, Villa, and Perryman as the Spurs team I remember as a kid.

From that time forward we all know the teams and the names with Gazza, Waddle, Lineker, etc...

As for latest accomplishments, the 2008 Carling Cup victory and the CL run stand out most in my mind -- great memories. I think top 3 is possible this season, with a little luck, in combination with a real shot at both the FA Cup and/or EUROPA League championship.... time will tell.

COYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Technically, i've been a Yid since birth, with my grandad living & working in the area and playing for a war-time team that for donkeys years i assumed was a local factory non-league bunch, but when a large cockerel wreath turned up at his funeral, sent from the club, i realised it might have been more than i had considered (For any experts, his name was Edward (Ted) Clark, but as far as i'm aware there aren't any official records for the war-time games to turn to. Would love to be proved wrong).

From my own personal recollection, i vaguely remember my nan and my dad taking me to the High Road for our '82 cup final win, but first real memory is '84 and winning the old Waffa against Anderlecht on pens, then a 7 year wait for the '91 FA cup and me and a guy i went to school with ran with the bus all the way to the town hall. Since then it's been the non-stop rollercoaster of hope and the occasional diamond in the rough, the odd bit of joy but it's right now that i look at the squad and have an actual quiet confidence of some solid success, at the very least some consistency one way or the other.

 

[stevenqoz]

Following Spurs involves 'a lifetime of nearlyness punctuated by the occasional actuality"
This quote is one I made up and mention to new Spurs fans. I would dearly love to to see us turn this around pretty soon

 

[balalasaurus]

Small point to raise for history/fans and current atmosphere, the most despised clubs in opposition to Spurs are now:

#1 @RSEN@L, for then, now, and always
2- Chel$ki for all obvious reasons...
3- West Ham, they could be higher if they were any competition...
4- Real Madrid, H8 them now... they could climb up the list when we start meeting them in the CL
5- manUre,... they're just so "Blah" without old red face...
6- liverpool,... they could climb as well if they start competing for top 4....
7- Feyenoord,... bad blooded history still could get stirred up in EUROPA League
8+ other london clubs,.... none other than the above are really of issue...

Surprised you haven't included shitty in that list. Without their money we would have cemented our place as top 4 by now. definitely above manure for me.

 

[sim0n]

Surprised you haven't included shitty in that list. Without their money we would have cemented our place as top 4 by now. definitely above manure for me.

not really a biggy for me,... they did not spend that money taking OUR players

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

I have two sons, aged 7 and 5...

I sometimes what Spurs they are going to have growing up... will it be a successful, trophy-winning Spurs - or will it be like it was for most of us who came through late 80's and early 90's - who then had to live through the barren years, with fans of other clubs taking the piss all the time.

Potentially we're on the verge of huge things.

AVB. The man could lead us to glory.

The squad. As good a squad as we've had in the existence of my memory... can't think of a more exciting time to be a Spurs fan!

Off the pitch we've got things right. Baldini looks quite the capture - enticing the new players to live the Spurs dream.

And Levy... an astute Chairman who has lead us from the dark ages to now - possibly into greatness once more.

An exciting time to be a young Yid... (and older Yids, like the rest of us - may we finally see glory!)

 

[Flashspur]

I am Tottenham through and through. I grew up in a Tottenham family around Enfield before my grandparents went a little posh and moved to Wilmbledon. Its a pity my son doesnt support us as its breaks tradition up a bit but my grandad was Spurs and my Dad could not care less (he was Chavs less said the better) so maybe these things jump a generation every time. I was six in '61 and was taken to quite a few home games that season by my grandad. Ha, here is little old me at 6 thinking Spurs would win the double every year Unfortunetly not. Yes its been a long time between drinks at times but the club has some magic - style, ethos, mystique..whatever - and it has always been there as a constant in my life. Dont know how life would have turned out without it. Call me a Tottenham tragic!

Tottenham till I die!