Hotspur Towers - Come all ye Faithful

The new season is upon us and the members of the clan are grouping together. Replica shirts have been aired and are in evidence. The word 'believe' is heard above the mumbled conversations. 

Be it at 'The Lane' or in front of a TV screen or within earshot of a radio almost anywhere the Tottenham fans are coming.

A salute to the Tottenham faithful.

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Once upon a time match day meant tearing around like mad and the dash to catch the train so you could be at Tottenham's main gate before 12. Then if you were lucky you would catch a glimpse (and sometimes a word) with the players who had been in for treatment that morning. The important thing was you had to be round the East Stand by 1 to ensure being at the front of the queue for when the turnstiles opened and be first up on the Shelf.

Left - Its 1935 and the faithful are about to watch Spurs beat Manchester City 1-0 in the Cup. Just under forty nine thousand crammed in that January afternoon to watch us win with a Willie Evans goal.

These days waking up on match days means another twelve hours to kick off, plus four or five more if its a floodlit match getting to bed as the sun comes up. Suddenly getting to the ground so early doesn't seem quite so silly.

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Right - described as 'passionate and colourful characters' These two from January 1954 are showing their colours.

We also include  a dip into the trivia bucket.

When Maradona later played in Ossie's testimonial he said "I felt like I was playing at home I was very happy and I fight very hard to win the game." That night the spurs fans chanted "Sign him."
 
And talking about the Argentine when Spurs signed Ardiles and Villa, Keith James wrote in the Daily Mail “If Spurs had signed Batman and Robin they could scarcely have created greater curiosity.” 

It was Ricki, who was known as a joker, who said when asked about the tactical advice given to him by Keith Burkenshaw at Spurs and the Argentinean World Cup winning manager Ceasar Menotti “ It is the same in both countries. The only difference is that in Argentina I understand them.”

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The Park Lane End has changed over the years, on the left its back to the early 70's (I'm guessing) while on the right snow doesn't stop the clan gathering. Flat caps are in the majority but various head gear and silk scarves are present.

Tottenham were taken to a replay in the 1982 Cup Final before winning the trophy and the press were quick to inform us that one of the lucky ones to get a ticket for the second game was Kim Lawrence. Not sure about playing in those heels.

Tottenham have always attracted female fans. The picture below was one of the ones that arrived in the in-box when I asked if the reader had any pics of WHL. So cant tell you about the ladies but looking at the hairstyles and the scarves it must be the early 50's.

Micky Hazard is credited with saying - "There is a hundred reasons to cry about Spurs but there are a million reasons to smile."

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This one from Gary Mabbutt “ I loved playing for Spurs and every part of the club. When you are at a club for 16 years, your name becomes synonymous with them. When that  club is Spurs that’s something special.”

Glenn Hoddle - "you have to be a strong character, you have to be brave on the ball, to play at Tottenham in front of those fans. If you show that character and that ability the supporters will be behind you forever." Another one from him - “ My all-time favourite goal has always been my volley against Manchester United. I don't mean to sound big headed because I wasn't a great goal scorer but I scored great goals."

A lovely quote - Tottenham Hotspur is much more than a club. The supporters are very special they live and breathe for that club. - That from the rather special himself Jurgen Klinsmann.

Teemu Tainio - “I’m Spurs through and through, I’ve always been a Spurs fan and there is only one club for me".

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'E I adeyo we've won the cup.

Have to confess when I first saw this pic (I suspect back in '63) that this picture was a fake. But its appeared in official journals since then so maybe the fans really did get to hold the Cup Winners Cup, even if it was through the locked Nicholson gates. I bet the insurance company had a panic!

This on our last season in Division 2 - However, the loyalty and influence of the Spurs fans was crucial in seeing us escape from Division Two at the first time of asking. They followed us every step of the way and they were there in their numbers home and away. Our average home league attendance of 33,417 made us the best supported club in the Second Division that season. In fact, it was a figure bettered by only six clubs in Division One.

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I've used images from this series before but here is another of the fans arriving. Its Oct 16th and they are on the way to watching Eddie Baily score the only goal as we beat QPR 1-0 in a Division 2 clash.

Sir Walter Scott wrote “Then strip, lads! and to it though sharp be the weather, And if by mischance you should happen to fall. There are worse things in life than a tumble in heather, And life is itself but a game of football.”
Scott died in September 1832, fifty years before Spurs were formed.  So maybe he knew something.

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A little more face paint that the picture above as we find ourselves at the '81 Cup Final. I always think of the film Clockwork Orange when I see this pic  (yes it was about ten years earlier, but).

Below - Just think you go to school all week with an Arsenal fan and guess who you meet when you get to the game!!

As its 1949 I'm not sure if those trousers are still in stock at the Spurs Shop.

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The faithful and White Hart Lane feature throughout these articles, maybe especially so as we are celebrating 'The Lane' this season. There is also a series running on Facebook looking at the Milestones, along the Lane.

Many thanks to those who sent me pics. Special thanks to The Summerhil Group and Spurs Nostalgia. Keep up the good work.


COYS
Keith Harrison.
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