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It really is 50 years ago today that Tottenham
became the first team in modern football to win
the League Championship and F.A.Cup in the same
season. Ours was known as The Double, not a double,
not another double, just The Double.
The older I get the more I start to wonder whether
I will ever see anything like that team at WHL?
What I would really like to know is what THFC Plc
are doing or have done to mark this unique event.
Before the start of this season I contacted various
people at the club to see if anything had been planned
to commemorate the 50th anniversary. I had even
gone as far as suggesting that a match could have
been assigned as a 'testimonial celebration'. A great
way of making sure that such a brilliant achievement
was properly recognised, and maybe making a few
quid for the remaining players.
During the course of interviewing players for The Ghost
Of White Hart Lane, one thing that struck me was the
dignity of those players. These were the guys who shaped
the history of Tottenham Hotspur, the real legends, who
gave our club glory. I can still remember Bobby Smith
saying to me that the one thing he wanted to see this
season was for the club to mark their achievements in some
way, something that would be 'right and proper'. Sadly,
Bob along with many others, will not get his wish.
I've been told that there were various discussions
within the club, but it was felt that anything they did
would be 'setting a precedent'. As if winning The Double
wasn't enough of a precedent!
There had recently been plans by the Tottenham Tribute
Trust to hold a celebration dinner at a hotel in King's
Cross at the end of this month, but these have now been
cancelled. No reason was given, however tickets were very
briefly advertised at about £180 a head.
Spurs as a club could have been really positive about any
events to commemorate The Double, but seemingly have
chosen to put profit and loss above history and tradition!

The Why word?

You wouldn't let it lie...is all I hear in my
head.
As someone who considers himself to be a
'friend' of the Spurs Show, I'm finding it hard
to pluck up the enthusiasm to listen to the
latest offering. It features David Baddiel and
his crusade (not the best choice of words, but
hey), against the use of the Y word. I know that
it's slightly old news but he bought it up again.
Something about the whole campaign really gets
my back up, and I'm not sure why (Y)?
Part of me thinks that surely as a 'high' profile
Jewish figures in the media, David Baddiel
(and his brother), must have more important judaisic
issues to campaign about.
As someone who is follically challenged I don't take
offence everytime someone refers to Howard Webb as
a bald C**T. Agreed, it's different, but there are PC
similarities.
Maybe it's the PC thing that bothers me, and I can
forsee a future where football grounds are shut
down by the PC police, after fans were found guilty
of chanting 'We're by far the greatest team the world
has ever seen' when quite obviously they never were
the greatest team the world had ever seen!
I'm confused. I think it's this wedding!

That was the week that was...

Sunday 6th: Playing in SpursShow v Spurs Legend*
charity football game, suddenly I'm marking Mark
Falco and best mates with Anthony Costa. We got
stuffed and Spurs drew 3-3 with Wolves
Monday 7th: Could hardly walk, but felt good
knowing that David Howells had only scored 4
goals.
Tuesday 8th: Watching The Ghost Of White Hart
Lane march up the Amazon charts #1 Football
Biogs, and around #450 in bestsellers Books. I'm
told that my appearance on Radio4 Today Prog is
going to be bought forward to tomorrow.
Wednesday 9th: Address to the nation on BBC Radio
4 at 8.25 a.m. It's such a surreal experience, and I
manage not to cry or swear. My phone goes into
melt down afterwards, and I do a piece for BBC1
Reporting Scotland, Radio Scotland Newsdrive, and
a great interview with Peter Allen on 5 Live. Then on
to WHL for another glory, glory night!
Thursday 10th: Book launch day, lots of calls and
emails then on to watch Warhorse, which was great.
Friday 11th: Watched Reporting Scotland.
Saturday 12th: Articles in Guardian, Times and I did
another live radio sedtion for Off The Ball...Ghost is
out of stock at Amazon and creeping up the ratings!
Nearly in the top 100! first 5 star rating on Amazon...
I'm sick of hearing about me, and wondering how celebs
do it....only kidding dahlings!
* When I told my mum I was playing she said which side
are you on? Aah bless!

They want to be adored?

I must admit to being slightly miffed at
having some of our thunder stolen by
The Arse on wednesday. Like a child
demanding attention they screamed
"Yes, but look at me, look at me!".
I think that part of the problem is that
no-one likes them, but they DO care.
They really, really want to be adored,
(cue The Stone Roses).
Mr Wenger has managed to produce
some of the most unlikeable players
that have ever played the game.
Spiteful, whinging, ungracious, are
all words that could easily be used
to describe the culture of Le Professor.
Yes he undeniably has some very good
footballers, but what's with the attitude?
I'm positive that there must be a few of the
'thinking' fans at The Emirates who look at
Sir H of Sandbanks, and the media following
that he has garnered, with immense envy.

Hang on lads I've got an idea...

I so enjoyed last night, that it has stirred me
into re-blogging.
I feared the worst and hoped for a draw
never really thinking that we would only
go and blow the bleedin doors off!
I thought that everyone stood strong and
really showed how good they can be.
I was thinking this morning how clever Lord
H of Sandbanks was in making us look shocking
v Fulham. Weekend off for everyone!
Someone needs to show Lennon re runs of
the final attack and ball to Crouch because if
he could do that all the time then Bale can
rest and rest!
I love the way people just keep waiting for us
to screw up and how we just keep letting them
down.
Let's hope that we can keep things going and
plan for the second leg...
I'm proposing a gladiator style contest at half
time in the second leg where Joe jordan takes
on Gattuso. I'd love to hear Paul Coyte talk us
through that one...

Different era...

Sad to mark the death of Ralph Coates. I was lucky
enough to have met him earlier this year and can
only say what a really great, genuine guy he was.
I was there in 1973 when he scored that goal and
exposed my young ears to the Spurs roar at Wembley.
One of the great things about him was that there
was no way that he could be described as looking
like a sporting god, but boy what a footballer.
Quite apt that we were drawn v AC Milan today,
as of course Ralph was part of the side that beat
them in 1971/72
Rest in peace Ralph. Great hair for an angel!

Win win?

I've been busy. No make that I've been
very, very busy and have managed to
neglect my blog. I'm starting to think
that I'm not cut out for the dedication
needed to blog all the time. Where do
they find the time? It's Twitter all the
way for me at the moment. Sort of like
fast food blogging.
Anyhow met a really nice Chelsea fan the
other day, who went to his first match
in 1959. He has been a season ticket
holder for a long, long time and was
telling me that every time they play
Spurs he feels like taking out some space
in the programme which says simply...
"I was here when we were shit!"
I fully expect us to win 17-0, but even
if we manage not to then at least those
travellers from Woolwich will be off the
top. COYS

Glory, glory nights...

After the drama and effort of The Emirates
it's all hands to the Champions League tonight
at The Lane. I hope that 'Raymond' VdV is fit,
as his very presence seems to make a difference.
It's nice that Sir H of Sandbanks will have a
selection problem up front. One thing is for
sure, Robbie Keane can get his feckin tracksuit
on now.
I'm starting to think that there are signs that
the Spurs fragile mentality is on the way out
and really hope that it's not another false dawn.
If we could learn to defend properly I would be
even more confident, however if we could defend
then we wouldn't be Tottenham Hotspur!
I'm really looking forward to The CL theme tune
ringing around WHL tonight, and I'm starting
to think that it suits us!
COYS

What reasons do you need?

I know it's his job, but Sir H of Sandbanks
is quoted in today's press as saying that
it's not impossible for us to challenge for
the Premiership this season. We are 9 points
off after 13 games, and let's just see what
happens this lunchtime...To that end, I've
decided to sacrifice my own 'enjoyment' in
order that you should all gain.
I'm going to see if the fact that we've not
won away at any of the top 4 (as was) since
H was a boy is in any way to do with me.
Therefore I shall be taking my kids to
either the cinema or for some retail therapy.
The things we do!
In this world I think that you are only as strong
as the weakest link, and unless we are 100%
on it I fear the worst (or the usual!) COYS prove
me wrong...

Look into my eyes, not around the eyes...

I thought yesterday that it was a bit daft
of Sir H of Sandbanks to have a go at the
crowd. To be juvenile, I don't quite seem
to be able to remember the number of
Championships that he has won? I'm
inclined to think that the crowd were booing
Webb, and probably not the players or the
management.
What should be noted however is that we
find it very, very difficult to break certain
teams down. There also seems to be a
lack of energy and pace against these sides.
We seem to flog an idea to death, last season
Lennon, or long ball to Crouchino, or The Bale.
I think there needs to be a bit more invention,
more freedom of expression and less coaching.
I would chuck out Sir Les and Sherwood and
replace them with Derren
Brown...

0-4, and we won 6-5...

Well, well, well, it's nights like that which make
me realise what a weird, weird world we live in.
It seems like decades ago I was sitting in the San
Siro after about 35 minutes thinking 'why do we
always do this?' Total Tottingham.
Each and every one managed to play a part and made
me know exactly how proud Lord H of Sandbanks felt
after the game...All 36,000 of us should stand up
(oh, you were!), and take a bow.
I loved listening to the recording of the 2nd goal(?)
on Radio 5 live, Alan Green was going ballistic.
COYS.

A bit more than an 'otdog...

I tweeted yesterday about the Gomes/
Clutternberg incident, and how I felt
the whole thing was a really useful
smokescreen for Sir Arold of Sandbanks
to mask the fact that he got the team
at OT wrong.
I'm not sure how he thought Feckin Keano
was going to cause Rio and Vidic problems,
and I'm not convinced that Little Azza was
the right choice.
Anyway we will continue to lose to top sides
if we don't turn up, roll up our sleeves and
give it a go.
I'm interested to see which Spurs turn up
this evening, and also which Milan. On the
strength of the first half at the San Siro, I
can see us getting beaten. However I have
a suspicion that H is on a large bonus to
get us into the last 16...
Know what I mean?

La bella figura

Off to Italia in the morning. Managed to
get a ticket somehow...now got to sneak
past those Italian policemen.
Really excited as I guess that's why I put
up with watching the likes of Iversen, Sinton,
Armstrong, and Stuart Nethercott to name but
a few. Pay day.
I hope that we manage to 'turn up' for the
occasion, and wonder how much we will miss
VdV? I think that Sir H should bring back Wilson
P for this game, although I'm not sure about
the free kick count. I'm wondering why Sandro
was not in the CL squad? Or is he?
Anyhow I've packed my sharp suit, sunglasses,
and some tea bags, and with the immortal words
of Bob Hoskins rattling round my brain, 'the mafia-
i've sh*t em.'
Ciao, ciao...

Dedication...

In all the excitement I forget to mention how
pleased I was last weekend when Manchester
City beat Chelsea. Every year I get worried that
some motley bunch of 'Superstars' will break the
11 straight wins which was set by the Double
side 50 years ago. I've got neither the time nor
the inclination to check it out but my instinct
tells me that there are very few, if any, sporting
records that are still around after 50 years...
I'm off to phone Ross and Norris McWhirter, I'll
kep you posted!

Me and Bill

I really enjoyed the CL match last night. I'm
still firmly in the H is a lucky manager camp,
and against a really good side, with another set
of officials things might not have gone so well.
R VdV is a different class of player and even
makes Luca look invisible. Tom was lucky
to still be on the pitch, and he was actually much
better when we went down to 10 men.
Still did not understand the subs. Crouch is
always good for defending at set pieces and better
at holding up the ball than Pav. Also why Lennon
when I would have bought Wilson on to defend.
My theory on Keano is that it somehow was in
his contract, but he still looks like a pub player.
Saving himself for Milan...
Bloody hell, Champions League. Bring on the San Siro!

I don't geddit!

There are certain things in life that I
will never understand, as you get older
this becomes easier to accept.
I'm still bemused by some of the things
that 'arold does, and for the life of me
will never understand some of them.
Firstly throw some kids into the car
crash that was the Carling Cup farce,
then loan two of them out to Ipswich and
Bristol City for the rest of the season!
Talk about building them up then knocking
them down...Surely Sir 'arold of Sandbanks
knows more about psychology than me?
This is on the same day he declares that
only Charlie and Bassong are our only fit
"centre halves"? Answers on a postcard
please...

Positives?

There really were not all that many. It
was a horrible place to be, three seats
away from the Gloating Scum. It's the
sort of thing that Levy and Sir H should
be made to witness.
I was pleased to see some of the kids
before they go 'out on loan' forever.
I think what it proved is that their
2nd tier is stronger than ours, and
also that with dodgy keepers they will
win *@*K All. Here's hoping...

Trapped

Dan the man has just gone on record as
saying that The Champions League is "not
a goldmine." I've read this about 4 minutes
after being fleeced for a ticket for the CL
home game against FC Twente. It's a 'Class
A' match so £44.00, (I only want to watch the
thing not play in it!). I then did a quick sum
on the back of the nearest fag packet: average
ticket £53.00 x 36,000 = 1,908,000.
I feel trapped,trapped in the goldmine!

COYS

Stop,start,stop,start, I just can't seem
to get going with this new season lark.
If we can't beat West Brom then I'm
going home. Billy G could be captain,
which probably says something about
the other lot in the changing room.
All I keep thinking of is when he was
shown sitting down at the end of an
Arse match (possibly at Birmingham)
like a sulky schoolboy.
If you sulked when playing for Les
Arse, then you're in for a shock!