If the game is about glory, and it is, then glory comes in a variety of guises. In Bilbao, it shapeshifted into a physical, mucky, grafting, sweaty, shithousing delight. Barely recognisable as such, but glory it was. Exactly what is needed to win a European trophy.
At last. This was one for the fans, the players magnificent in their application and commitment. Playing for the shirt has become a cliché, but for our lot, this meant everything. It was astonishing. I freely confess that 6 weeks ago, I would not have remotely believed they were capable of playing with such intensity, focus and resilience. Frankfurt away carried a seismic force that tilted everything on its axis. Then Bodo Glimt, now this as its culmination.
Huge credit to Ange for getting this through to his squad and in the process going against the attacking instincts he holds dear. This formation was right for the situation and perfect for the players, who took to it readily because these patterns and positioning in defence were familiar and comfortable. Turn round and they could see their mate, right there, ready to cover, rather than a vast expanse of green as sadly has been the case so frequently this season.
Credit to the players. Countless post-match interviews articulated their togetherness, a bond forged and fostered by their manager’s inspirational team talks. If you can catch it, Brennan Johnson speaks with touching respect about how Ange got the players to share their individual stories with one another and how this brought them closer.
If you’re here for post-match analysis, my apologies, absent partly because I watched the game on the big screens, partly because throughout the game I was in no fit emotional state to make any logical judgements, partly because, who cares? We won, that’s it. And VDV’s goal line clearance is the stuff of legends, to be spoken of down the generations.
What did come over to me were the interpersonal dynamics of the game, all the more important because there wasn’t any good football to distract us. Beforehand, in a rare moment of insight, I named Romero as the key. His performance became the touchstone for our success. Before kick-off, he took the players into the United half to perform the huddle in their midst and in front of our own fans. Then down came the mask. Rugged, muscular, devious, Argentinian they-shall-not-pass-do-not-yield-a-millimetre penalty box defending. He knew the potential influence of Maguire in that same role for United. That was his target, and reduced the United man to a whinging ineffectual lump. Every player took their inspiration from their captain, fulfilling their role and winning their individual battles, with Richarlison and Bissouma outstanding in this respect.
Anyway, what’s football got to do with it? Football fans are born shamen. We seek omens in the everyday configuration of events, or give fate a nudge by sticking to the same routine or wearing our lucky pants. A good Spurs pal of mine reconstructed his day in 1984 when we won the UEFA Cup by spending Wednesday evening repairing his van and listening to the match on medium wave radio. Lucky ring spanner anyone? While I wouldn’t go that far, in the build up to the game, my son and I weighed up the merits of the two teams but ultimately were reduced to begging that please, just this once. Just let the ball roll our way, just this once. So fate dictated that the cup would be won when two players both failed to properly connect with a cross and the ball bobbled into the goal. Just this once, it did roll our way.
With son and granddaughter in Bilbao behind the goal, I met good friends in the Antwerp then watched the match in the stadium. Fans chanting and screaming at television screens; I would call it bizarre except that watching people kick a ball around is inherently bizarre. The collective experience never fails to deliver. The second half was utter mayhem throughout. Perhaps fans wanted to make up for the artificiality of the situation, as if driven to generate the emotion to make it real, but the noise was deafening at times. I still managed to shout at Darren Fletcher when he mentioned Champions League qualification. They never get supporters, these people. It’s about winning, and nothing else.
Full-time and a pitch invasion, not with my knees though. Dad dancing with strangers, as uncoordinated as those giant inflatable figures with absurdly long arms and legs. Inflatables, flares, a Brazilian flag. Supporters flat out on the grass, star-shaped, ecstatic beyond words. Climbing on the screens. Why do fans always climb up structures in celebration? Such existential questions are for later. Meanwhile, consider why a fan schlepped a big speaker on a trolley to play Ossie’s dream by the portaloos near Northumberland Park station.
The club has a grip on me and my psyche, and I don’t want it to end despite the problems that follow. My match preparation consisted of lack of concentration, feeling sick and shortness of breath. I’m delighted that pushing 70, something still moves me as much as being a Tottenham fan does. I sobbed my heart out at full time, in public. I was sitting on the end of the row and a young woman steward came over to give me a reassuring hug and say how pleased she was for me. I mention her age and gender only because I assume she does not make a habit of cuddling male strangers of pensionable age. My granddaughter messaged her mum (my daughter) at full time simply to say, ‘this is the best day of my life’, and you know, it probably was. I’m proud and moved to go to the Lane with her and my son. Two days on and I’m still welling up at videos of celebrating players and fans. The one with the kids in the local primary has done for me today. Football eh, long may it continue to make idiots of us all.
Football, especially at the top level, has earned itself a bad reputation in many ways. Those who run the game both in this country and across the world abrogate their responsibilities towards the game and its supporters in favour of self-aggrandizement and financial gain. In these columns, I have consistently criticised our board for wilfully creating and enlarging the distance between club and fan.
The lasting and permanent impact of this victory is not, as countless pundits insistently intone, entry to the riches of the Champions League, but the bliss of sharing the moment with loved ones and friends. It rekindles our passion for the game and reminds us why we are so committed in the first place.
This win feels as if a burden has been lifted from our shoulders. I’m not so fussed about the reactions of fans of other clubs to my support of Spurs but this is a reward for years of loyalty despite the disappointments, which left me weary. Be a Spurs fan with confidence and swagger. See me wandering down the street, queuing in the chemist or shopping in Tesco’s, see that smile. You know why. Life is different now.
Talk to supporters as they celebrate, and watch the many videos doing the rounds. Note how many people say first, how overwhelmed with joy they are, then recount their family history. What sustains their pleasure is the faces of loved ones, often parents, sometimes as in my case, those of children and grandchildren. Skimming through social media, in this moment they connect the present with their past, how they are three or four generations in as Spurs fans, or how they reconnect with their fathers. Happy for themselves, happy for others, because of this shared joy. Only football does this as profoundly.
Spurs are by no means unique in this respect. However, family ties hold particular value for our support. We don’t have any gloryhunters among the fanbase, self-evidently because that particular quality has been in short supply for a generation. Those young fans seeing instant gratification have gone elsewhere and wear blue or red. Neither are community links part of our identity, as the fanbase is spread far and wide. Hence the value of family ties, with the flame being passed down the generations.
In the Palace game, returning to my seat from the busy concourse and straggling queue for the gents, I expected to eavesdrop on chats about how dire we were in the first half mingled with plans to reach Bilbao. Instead, I found a stadium uncharacteristically hushed in awe and respect as fans gazed at the screens sharing the names and photos of Spurs fans who have died this year, the first time I believe the club have organised this.
It was the best of tributes – simple, unfussed and moving. Words were superfluous, the faces said all that needed to be said. Young and old, each photo told a story. Every smiling face, proud in that frozen moment to be wearing a Spurs badge on a scarf, hat or t-shirt. It touched us all, because they are us and we are them, an unspoken bond that football creates like nothing else can. Rest easy, one and all. We are all Tottenham, forever. My one and only club, my undying love.
TOTTENHAM ON MY MIND 
Catharsis! Alan, you often throw in a veiled music reference to underline the mood of the moment. Here goes:
Shiny happy people laughing
Meet me in the crowd, people, people
Throw your love around, love me, love me
Take it into town, happy, happy
Put it in the ground where the flowers grow
Gold and silver shine
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing
Everyone around, love them, love them
Put it in your hands, take it, take it
There’s no time to cry, happy, happy
Put it in your heart where tomorrow shines
Gold and silver shine
LikeLike
Nice one! Great song too👏
LikeLike
Watched in the ground too, and the relief on the final whistle was palpable, like a weight being lifted, the hoodoo broken, many in crowd had never seen us win anything……was finally able to say to my lad “this son, is what it`s all about!”
COYFS
LikeLike
beautifully written
LikeLike
Great article Alan, so thank you for encapsulating what I’d imagine were a mirror of how most of us felt and still feel.
I went to my little exam invigilating job this morning wearing my COYS T-shirt and shared smiles and laughs with colleagues, teachers and quite a few of the kids about to sit their GCSE English Language exam. No one sneered and to be fair everyone I’ve spoken to has wished us well and are genuinely glad for us.
I spent Wednesday evening watching on my own upstairs in our bedroom rather than subject my long suffering wife to my rants at either officials or United players and it was an exhausting and sometimes traumatic watch. I looked out of the window up at the sky a few times to silently ask the man upstairs to please let it go our way this time and also had a word or two afterwards with my dear departed Dad who got me into all of this in the first place.
We deserved it and I’m genuinely proud of our boys for the way in which they achieved it and I hope that this winning trophies lark becomes a habit, rather than another long wait, as at 67 I may not see the next one otherwise!
COYS! My team since the early 60’s and always will be. I’ve also followed suit and got both my Daughters involved too, despite their otherwise good sense!
Keep smiling everyone and lets hope the summer transfer window leaves us all looking forward to our next adventure!
LikeLike
At the end of the game this 65 year old was in tears in front of the tv unable to speak to my sister on the phone for over an hour I was there in 84 seams so long ago. And for once we ve shut those who love to mock us its 48 hours since Spurs won a trophy..
LikeLike
Thanks for the relections Alan.
Whatever lies ahead, the monkey is off our back.
Tottenham is bigger than players and managers. It’s an idea of togetherness, through thick and thin. We are Tottenham. You might even say that we are super Tottenham, from the Lane. Audere est facere. Sometimes it takes some doing, but the Tottenham faithful deserved this.
LikeLike
I’m delighted (and envious ) for you long term, loyal fans (a few that follow on Twitter ), I genuinely really am. Thanks for a lovely article. From my own perspective , after 17 years of Spurs missing out, the best I can describe it is that I feel as if I can finally breathe out! Ivor Haskins
LikeLike
you’ve set me off again Alan 🥺
LikeLike
Alan its Ronnie
Don’t take this the wrong way but I frigging love you and your Blog!!
Its always a fantastic read full of common sense and heart!!!!!!!
LikeLike
The last post was me Alan…sometimes I have a problem with WP but its probably me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The “Fisher” Bard strikes again, life does feel different for now. Here in the USA, right now, we live in scary times. Unless we’re rich, which I’m not (monetarily), we are dealing with job losses, rising food prices, threats of cutting back any health insurance we may have earned, loss of retirement savings, and also facing the utter disbelief of people outside watching on. While I am still swinging for the fences here in Hollywood, the overall atmosphere is fear and anxiety. But then this EL run came along, and then Wednesday, where we had almost 600 LA Spurs fans at one pub plus a Masonic Lodge space, kitty corner from each other. And we roared and won, and when I did my daily outdoor swim today in the sun, I literally felt “joy”—after having watched the bus parade for 2.5 hours earlier. Real “joy” of life. Thank you Ange, the Spurs players, the team, and the fans all over…(there are more Spurs fans in the woodwork than I ever imagined)…and to the Fisher Bard here for resonating with many of us. Thanks for giving us some rays of hope. COYMFS!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Emotion. That’s all.
LikeLike
Hi Alan. It’s been a crazy few days & having just read your piece I am in bits 🥹 Thank you for , as always , putting my thoughts into words in a way I could never do. I was in Bilbao while my boys were at WHL so as a family it feels like we had the total experience. We came together for yesterday parade (after a change of plan so I could get back in time and 35 hours without sleep!). A day of recovery and then another day of celebration tomorrow. We talked with my mum late yesterday about how Dad would have loved this and how he is the reason me & the boys are all enjoying this now, the connection with the past that you mention. Being in the High Road yesterday & seeing the outpouring of joy from the fans & players together was fantastic, just need a bit of recovery time and reflection to take it all in. Love to all your family xx
LikeLike
As ever, Alan, thanks for putting so many thoughts so well. This 81 yo lifelong fan (first stadium visit at seven) felt all that, and dragged the old legs up to the corner of High Road and Lansdowne Road to watch the coaches roll by to a fury of noise and jubilation. It was all gone in minutes and involved hours of waiting, but it was absolutely worth it.
But (and it would be unlike ANY lifelong supporter not to manage a but) I note the passing-over of the Postecoglu style transformation rather rapidly, and have to say as someone made by experience into a realist, that if we were able to justify a rejection of Ange-ball for this occasion, then we should have justified it throughout a disastrous league season also, together with rather more resistance to defeat. Either this man has been converted by experience at last into a realist who will attack and defend as circumstances merit, or he STLL has to go.
That might seem churlish in the after-glow of glory, but it still needs saying.
Brian
LikeLike
Well spoken Brian &, as you say, it needed saying.
More from me on this subject at a later date meanwhile…
From a fellow realist.
Hibberni.
LikeLike
Thanks Alan sat with my son, in an unused disabled space. Not sure that will become a tradition. Agreed the atmosphere was special and the depth of it unimaginable, ditto the photos of those departed. Extremely poignant.
Yesterday I went to the parade and found the breadth of the spurs family many of whom probably don’t get to many games, what a joyful 7 hrs. The addiction is strong and right now very powerful. Ange speech to crowd once again fully on point. He has won a major trophy in 2 seasons, it took Bill Nick THREEand we finished 18th in his first UP THE SPOURS. Hope to see you tomorrow for another celebratory few hrs. Mal.
LikeLike
Thank you, Alan. Michael
LikeLike
We need to bask in the afterglow of victory. Enjoy and saviour every moment. It’s been a rough ride. We just have to kick on now and become regular winners. The Q is will the man at the top invest in proper 1st team players?
LikeLike
Thanks for a beautiful write up. It’s Saturday and I’m still basking in the glory of it all. I was at The Lane in ‘84 as a 21 year old and was beginning to think I’d not see another glory glory night. Watched it with my son and I now feel less guilty about making him a Spurs fan!
LikeLike
Such beautiful words, thank you and my the wonderful memories generated this week be repeated soon. Still on cloud nine!!!
LikeLike
Beautiful — thanks for sharing, Alan! Glad you were able to watch it at the stadium. Cheers from a Spurs fan in the US. COYS!
LikeLike
What I find incredible Alan is that our under 21s contributed about 4 goals and 2 assists along the journey, The youngish Sarr had a couple of goals/assists as well along the journey. Thats about 10 goals/assists from the youth. Now we have very young medal winners, one as young as17 years old. Indeed, Spurs is primed for the future.
A quick observation as well: injuries that have severely hampered our league performance had the opposite effect in the cup final i.e. the loss of 3-so called “creative chaps” probably led to the right set-up for the occasion without taking away anything from Ange. We might have a knock-out football GOAT in the making in Ange.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Alan, Daveyboy from Spurs Odyssey here. A superbly written piece summing up the drama and emotion of an epic night. I didn’t fancy the pub so opted for a stream that lived up to the occasion, staying clear and steady all night. Which is more than I can say from myself. And I think it was relief more than joy for me. Get that monkey off the back finally. COYS.
LikeLike
BHA N° 2 & back to reality…
Well if that wasn’t a reason to rid ourselves of Imposteglou then we must be prepared to expect Championship football next season…
Please don’t give me the ‘aftermath of Wednesday’ excuse; examine the tactics instead and perhaps wonder why some more of the youngsters weren’t given a chance to play.
Does nobody see how difficult it is for us to move out of defense into a MF transition where we can at least compete there and maybe play through the opposition with only two holding MFs and no other choice but to feed either touchline?
Hibberni.
LikeLike
Thy true moniker should be “ugh-churlish!” But each to his own!
LikeLike
WONDERFULLY PUT.
Alan, YOUR WORDS SPEAK TO ALL FANS, EVEN THOSE WHO DON’T SUPPORT SPURS.
Looking forward to your next one. Colin m.
LikeLike
Alan, what a wonderful article . You sum up beautifully what it is to be a SPURS fan. If there was a NOBEL prize for football literature, you would win it hands’ down. Thanks again and UP THE SPURS !
LikeLike
In a world of black and white thinking….where the pain either side……of the truth……presses in……we need many reality checks.
They dont really come as solutions…..but the do reflect the truth and that gives perspective.
The equations of the summing up of Ange’s tenure are very difficult. How Levy will sort that out in bringing focus for next season who knows but reading your blog Alan certainly gives us measures and you conclusion was to just accept it,the Trophy and enjoy. Personally there is on one person who should have got it and he made the greatest save anyone has ever seen….and he wasnt a goalkeeper.
Great Post Alan!
LikeLike
Nice comment Ronnie… we crossed swords in the past on another (infamous) blog.
Hibberni (Hibbs etc)
LikeLike
This was so good at almost brought tears to my eyes – again! The club runs as a constant thread through supporter’s lives, and if we are lucky passes down through the generations. I’ve started work now on my grandchildren.
Thanks again for finding the words Alan
LikeLike
First season, Ange gets us into Europa—which we win in the second season. In the second season, Ange gets us a trophy and into Champions League with an expanded kitty. Hmmmmm? PS For all their wins, and plaudits, and talented squads, Arse and Citeh win no cups and end up in the same tournament as us, anyway, for next season. PPS And, we get a Super Cup final to contest—and if we win it, wouldn’t that be a season opener?!
LikeLike
Luis Enrique was available at the time but what did we end up with…
His position as a player; attacking midfielder and it showed with his team of youngsters last night.
Levy, just stick to writing the cheques, please!
Churlish Hibberni.
LikeLike
Thanks for the read! Still buzzing, but of course – because the club is so poorly run, coming back down to reality.
Why are they dragging out the manager process? The board/Levy has never heard the phrase “sh*t or get off the pot.”
Meanwhile, while we debate, speculate and conjecture, Liverpool is linked to the dynamic and exciting Florian Wirtz.
We twiddle our thumbs. The whole PR team needs to be canned, forget about whether anyone’s Ange in or out.
Drama FC, Turmoil FC. Beyond frustrating.
LikeLike
Some of us, as long-term supporters, (I’m 73 this year) must remember that, ‘having suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ for so long, we have the strength to ignore the outpouring of biliousness espoused by the punditry (mostly ex-players who don’t have the intelligence to take their badges and become coaches themselves), blogs, the Australian press and even some of our players, after Friday’s news.
Hibberni.
LikeLike