My eyes see no glory
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 1:01PM guest blog by Chris King
My eyes are closed.
All I have is darkness. The black of darkness illuminated only by memories; of a time when peace existed in this land. It was a land where fan stood together with fellow fan, each with the same song in voice and heart. Each with a dream they held true.
My eyes are closed.
All I can hear is the noise of unrest; the incessant din of anger and hatred. We are in a battle with ourselves. No longer do we cherish those same dreams. No longer do we sing from the same hymn sheet. We are now heading in different directions, with tears and bitterness the only likely outcome.
My eyes are closed.
Open them he says. Open them and see the majesty of our plans; the glory those plans will bring. Our time here is up. The future is elsewhere. This land is dying. If we stay here, we will also die. He extends his hand. Come with me. Let me lead you to the Promised Land. We will set up home on yonder plains. This is our destiny.
My eyes are open.
But still I cannot see. I cannot see the truth. I cannot see the shared vision. I cannot see the future in exactly the same way others do. Oh eyes, poor misguided eyes. Give me the clarity this issue calls for. Give me the chance to soar high in to the sky – to look upon the dying soil, that very Promised Land and see. See for myself why this is the only option left to us.
My eyes are closed. Only my heart can see.
When it’s hard to be objective, it is always easier to be dramatic. That’s what a lot of people will be accusing Spurs fans of in the coming months; being overly dramatic. Yes we do like a moan and our board does like to install an element of drama in to our lives. But this drama is not ours. This drama need never have started in the first place.
If London hadn’t have won the Olympics, we would not be at this stage in our club’s history. If those who had organised the bid had nailed down a definite plan moving forward, from the point Boris stumbles on stage and drops the Olympic torch at the feet of the delegates from Rio, we would not be at this monumental precipice, which is forcing supporter against supporter; tearing the fabric of our beloved club apart.
I hear and read different views on a near hourly basis at the moment. ‘SAY NO TO STRATFORD’ reverberates around the stadium, outside on the streets, on WebPages and through a multitude of twitter timelines. Those who shout or type with venom and anger, do so with an unwavering passion. They know not what the answer to this mess is. All they know is that the final outcome has to rest with their club, our club, your club still residing in N17. To some this battle is just about a postcode. To others, it is all about the postcode.
Yet their actions don’t hold true with everyone. “It’s all right for them, they have a ticket… they can moan about leaving, but leaving would mean I may also get a ticket.” For the dissenters, history is unbending – we are Tottenham, we have to stay Tottenham. For the, shall we call them free thinkers or liberal minded supporter, a football club is more than just its history – it is its future as well. Mr Levy now claims we have no future in Tottenham. The NPD is dead in the water, as will the club be if we fail to secure the Stratford move.
Clearly this argument can be countered, and has been in this open letter from Martin Cloake.
The sermon appears to have changed and some, not all, are buying in to the new faith. It is a faith that appears to rely on the highest bidder taking some kind of control over the future of the club. A future existence that may rely as much on concert ticket sales as goals scored on the pitch.
My heart has been blinded.
A good friend of mine doesn’t want to move, yet he is far more objective on the subject than I am. His view is that the soil is no longer fertile. That the land is dying. Football is more than just 90 minutes of watching over paid, often underachieving stars. It is as much about what goes on between fellow supporters; before, during and after the game. We are all sold the view that the atmosphere is far better away from the Lane, but it’s surely made worse by the fact that our patch is being eroded, killing the pre- and post- game enjoyment associated with a trip to the match.
Think of the number of pubs that have come and gone, even since the start of the Premier League.
The Cockerel, The Corner Pin, The White Hart and Northumberland Arms. It’s like a roll call of fallen soldiers. All gone, replaced by expanded merchandise outlets or blocks of flats. A last game ritual for him was to finish the season off with a pub crawl along the High Road; a pint in 12 pubs. That last happened three years ago. Now there are simply not enough pubs. Instead they drink in Liverpool Street and dive in and out, spending just enough time in N17 to watch the match, before heading somewhere else for their fill of beer, stories and football songs.
If that picture mirrors your very own, then what difference does it make where you go to see the game? The pubs around Stratford will be no better, but at least – and this is Mr Levy’s argument, we’ll be able to leave our meeting points later with no fear of getting to the ground.
My heart is closed.
He may have a point, the mate that is – not Mr Levy – but I don’t buy it. I’m blinded by passion, by familiarity, by a need to remain true to our history. Clubs have moved in the past. We all know about Arsenal and nomadic teams like QPR, but that was in a time before I was born; before football was the beast it now is. I can’t think of any club that has proposed such a dramatic move (other than when Wimbledon threatened to go to Dublin), where they’ve adopted the almost American like franchise model. Putting pressure on their local council before moving to another, more welcoming venue – do they even want us in Stratford?
A lot will be said until a final decision has been made by The Olympic Park Legacy Company. Mr Levy will claim, in cloaked daggers aimed at the heart, that those who do not follow the exodus are putting the future of the club in jeopardy. He will wipe the slate clean, go back on every highfaluting statement he ever made about NPD and use us, the fans, as pawns in his battle against the local council and the decision makers.
Some of us will be made out as bad guys in this; accused of fighting an unnecessary fight. They will say that we will bring the honour and heritage of the club down with our protests. They will mock us – as they do Liverpool and Manchester United fans that stand up for their own causes. They are the very people who wear the same replica shirts, sing the same songs and once shared the same dreams. The club is split and it’s hard to see where the winners will come from in this argument.
But there will be winners. More fans will get access to tickets; more revenue will be made by the club if we fill a 60,000 stadium out. Bigger, better stars may be attracted to the club, bringing bigger riches with them. In 20 or 30 years time, a new legion of fans may wonder what the fuss was all about. Why we even cared that we were leaving our home, when you consider the better home that we may move to. It just doesn’t have to be in Stratford!
Yet all of that, the future, rests with a body of people charged with making a single decision that could throw the club in to turmoil either way. Move to Stratford and Mr Levy alienates a body of supporters that will turn every public outing in to a protest. Lose the Stratford bid and there is nothing. No NPD, no Plan B (Stratford) and apparently no Plan C - and definitely no answers as to why NPD is no longer viable?
This whole internal battle appears to hinge on one thing – are you for the future or stuck in the past? You can’t be for both. We all know we have to move. To move, not just to challenge for the top honours, but to potentially compete just to exist, as money strangles the life further out of the beautiful game. Our argument is not to stay in the current stadium; it is a simple request for clarity and honesty. Something we feel our loyalty as fans at least deserves. Misguided? Very much so!
The battle lines have been drawn – are you with us or are you against us? Say no to Stratford.
Say no to Stratford – but then, do we really have a say?
Chris King was a regular on the old Shelf and held a season ticket in the Park Lane Upper. He now lives in Leeds, where he spends most Saturdays trying to teach his 20 month old daughter the words to Spurs’ songs.
Reader Comments (180)
I may not have read up on this as much as some of u but isnt the NDP no longer viable because Haringey council have refused to assist us in pretty much any capacity in terms of improving transport links and developing the surrounding area? The club just cannot afford to do this on its own and build a new stadium. It will bankrupt us and regardless of what some may say the vocal minority who we see regularly post their comments against the move to stratford will be the very first to voice their displeasure if we were to slip down the table and lose our star players as a result.
Also the reference to west ham fans waking up at 4am to trash our pubs?? That may have been a joke but i know some of u old dinosaurs are still living in the 80s which i cant help but feel is partly responsible for such a protest against the move to stratford.
South London Yid, I think you're a little naive if you believe football hooliganism doesn't exist any more.
I don't live in the UK. But I'll pledge $300.00 US to improving the transport link or tube.
How about everyone else who cares about the team?
Spurs supporters acting alone carry no weight or importance. All of us combined could be formidable.
Does Lammy (and whomever) have an e-mail address?
John White said it’d be a possible ‘Sugar-style mediocrity’ in case Spurs stayed in N17. Worth mentioning that Sugar actually backs Stratford up, doesn’t he?
JW also gave a sort of virtual choice between Tottenham Hotspur and Tottenham High Road. Quite unfair way to paint a black picture of those fans who in fact want THFC to remain THFC and conserve all its attributes. Such as stadium, pre- and postgame customs and rituals. Or even alleged traffic problems as a part of the whole match day ceremony. I called it unfair as those fans as well could ask John White (very much in his own fashion) what he would choose: High Road Hotspur or Stratford Hotspur. Provided there’s been any historical or even mythical Hotspur in Stratford at all.
We are told more and more fans seem to travel to watch Spurs from beyond North London. So any extra 15 minutes wasted while walking from WHL railway station or Seven Sisters shouldn’t be a problem once people trouble to take such long trips anyway. A long journey usually requires some spare time to be reserved regardless. Besides, no means of transport would deliver you directly to your seat in the Stratford ground even if you purchase the most expensive season ticket.
I let myself call present traffic problems the alleged ones. I’m convinced it is not a real issue. It was brought up once as a part of club’s policy towards the authorities. It found then some fertile soil among fans as, of course, everyone must have experienced some sort of difficulties while going to the game. No doubt. However apparently it is not what could stop people from coming to N17 once it hasn’t happen up to now. And surprisingly the argument that jumps now to WHL defence is one that’s usually used by pro-Stratford group. Namely the alleged 35k waiting list people enrolled to, when they didn’t even have a clue that Stratford would come into consideration. Or in some cases even before Olympics were awarded to London City. Apparently they didn’t bother about traffic as much at the time. The 56k redeveloped WHL – most desired solution. However it requires Daniel Levy to proof his ambition as he would surely face serious problems while trying to carry out his original plan in Tottenham. But that’s what we call an ambition.
In terms of economy we seem to agree Mr. Chairman knows better. Hope he will come up and say NDP is viable again. Then we possibly won’t ask why now. Just agree once more he’s right as usual. And the 35k will be given an opportunity to gain their season tickets. Cockerel and all the pubs will be saved. The High Road stroll before and after a game will bring us pleasure as always. Let one name here what one wants. Whatever one cherishes in Tottenham the most.
I am also on the waiting list and am having numerous problems with the ticket office about my loyalty points ( somehow my one hotspur international membership got deleted :s) and so coming to the lane is almost impossible (spend about 400 € for a game against Fulham last year) I even find that English fans should have priority over international fans when it comes to tickets ...
But i'd still not choose for comfort and accesibility in stead of tradition , roots and selfrespect.
We are Tottenham , not some franchise club selling out to the highest bidder, we have style , a soul and a reputation.
Well written piece btw , moving and all that
anonymous - are you smoking crack?
I truly hope so - mail@davidlammy.co.uk - let me know how you get on. ?
PS.
Don't. under any circumstances use the 'N' word (northumberland park development) while conversing with Lammy - he'll fcuk you up bad!
Spot on Spooky! Lots of like-minded images, e.g. splinters on following posts.
When, as Stratford White Sox we next win a major trophy will the party celebrations be held at Newham town hall?
Ouch! Frank.......you just did it. you just made the perfect argument, one that can't be argued. We'd become Nomads! Tottenham Nomads from the Lane! I like that. just in case
You lot are looking at it from too narrow a perspective.
With AEG on board, the victory parade would be held in the 02 and beamed in to every house around the world, with live link ups from supporters clubs in Australia, China, India and Brazil.
And....Tottenham?
Isn't it "...and Leicester", Tom?
Now that would be a good move, Tom.
If we do move to Stratford, an official Tottenham Tottenham Supporters Club has to be set up. I'd join - i think a lot of fans would join ha!
I second that motion but I fear Lammy would hunt us down and skin us!
stop it Frank!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adrianwarner/2011/01/ignore_the_london_taxpayer_at.html
Personally, I can't wait for the open topped bus parade in that industrial estate between Stratford and Hackney Wick.
I can feel the glory already.
haha
I can see AFC Tottenham playing in the Southern Counties league 6 in a few years!!
It will take so long to gain promotion to the Prem (or Euro Super League as it will be in the future) that we may as well remain in our ickle 36,000 and pretend we've been promoted upwards and we're a small club fighting for dear life.
On the subject of 36k, makes you think, we're in the top 20 most profitable clubs in Europe with a relatively small capacity. So 52k would be fine, IMO, no need for 60k no need for anything more - considering one of the topics covered here has been whether the risk is far too great (if...if...football and money implodes).
We need to be consistently strong. Which we are, just need to be stronger which we will be (if NDP happens without all the agendas) - but anything more isn't worth it.
The main division is, fans are passion, emotion, belief, hope, highs, lows, struggle, elation, glory, singing, crying. We LIVE it.
For Levy/ENIC/Lewis/AEG its about profit, viability, shareholders, bottom line. They invest the funds, I invest my soul.
They can be rational and cold. I can't.
btw Chris King - loved the piece. The Corner Pin though died when Lou did (RIP)
I wonder what it'd be like to win a trophy that merit's an open top bus parade :-(
@spooky
Thats a good point mate. You would rather the demand alway be there than the other way around. 52000 every game would be tastey enough for me : )
Historically, Newham Council have granted such a tour for a club that has finished 6th in their league, DY.
We might get two a season if that's the case.
@ Spooky, totally agree, i think the capacity of NDP stadium would be 56,250, surely that's enough? Under 4k less than OS, there should be no argument, NDP is the only option... but in the eyes of the board that's not the figure that's important, it's the cost that matters... that's surely what Levy means when he says it's not viable. But what value do you put on heritage and the place we call home? It's priceless!
We're still in the dark... same shit, different day!
Chris, I've got the bus keys and putting the route from Stratford to Greenwich into the TomTom as we speak...
I wonder what it'd be like to win a trophy that merit's an open top bus parade :-(
Jan 27, 2011 at 12:09 PM | DY
-
Seems these days you have to either win the title or the Cl to get one of them. If you're a small club you're permitted to parade the FA Cup, but then small clubs don't win them often.
@ Spooky. Well CL it is then.
@ DY & Spooky:
I thought if we were in Stratford, we'd automatically win everything, every single season?
Another thing, in Stratford, would we still be "Yids", or would we have to be renamed "Banglas" or something?
[Awaits abuse from Guardian readers.]
What about at Spurs v WH games from seasons past, us lot sticking up for NL and taking the piss out of the East? And vice versa. Or do the logistics of rivalries no longer matter?
Machine, did you not get the memo? No longer matters. Money at the door is the new banter.
Machine, odds of us meeting Hammers in the cup are few and far between.
I'm just wondering if an article about JJ would attract several hundred posts on numerous occasions, after all isn;t he the one that 'divides the fans'?
Do we now care more about past / future than the players who play for us?
Hmmm, curiouser and curiouser.
Nicely written work there Chris btw, you are to be commended for your eloquence.
For the board themselves a 60k stadium might be reasonable only when erected in Stratford. Makes all the investment less risky for them as they hope to attract more people there. Not only in order to watch footballing Spurs. But also some other kinds of entertainment possibly offered to them by PLC in between. Different people of course, not exactly of type having attended WHL so far.
But if it is supposed to be N17 back again, a 60k-seater might be too large. Might be. Myself I don’t know for sure, although, already showed some reservation if it can be filled up each game. But Daniel Levy claimed he knew it well when NDP was originally revealed. He started to dream about jumping to the next level rather than climbing up there. I can’t forget his enthusiasm while having been interviewed at the time. Everything seemed so planned in details.
However, each year’s financial reports show this club is profitable. Always being considered among 20 biggest clubs in the world. And all this having only 36k stadium. They were somehow capable of achieving this. So if the idea does possess at least a shade of promise to turn out profitable, I would resign myself of any modern convenience. In favour of staying where we are and developing WHL only as much, as it is not going to jeopardise club’s condition. Which means to continue our climbing rather than start to jump. Profits may not be huge. But everything else could be preserved.
Unless we do not believe this club would exist in another 129 year time and want this generation to consume all the profits right now. Possible satisfaction might be doubled if we won PL with what we have now. Both approach and conditions. Won’t we look stupid if we win CL this year without any of those announced investment? By 2016, when Stratford new venue might be ready, there will not have been any Bale or Modric on board anyway. Do not let us be spooked (sorry, not intentional!) by big names who may refuse to play for Tottenham if we don’t move to Stratford.
So does this club need a jump? Well, it depends what Mr. Chairman is really aiming at. He claimed they had no intension to sell. But he’s not an antique collector. He’s a business man.
http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/futureplans/news/a-fitting-place-for-bill-in-new-stadium-plans-200510.html
Daniel Levy, Chairman, commented, "This seemed an ideal way to make Bill a part of the fabric of the new stadium, continuing the memories of how much of a role he played at the current stadium and in the heritage of our Club. I think it will be a much-loved feature of the new designs and fans will enjoy walking past Bill and maybe stopping for a photograph or two."
Maybe Levy will replace 'Bill' with a giant pound sign at the gates in Stratford.
nthnth,
Actually the reported 'profit' which was the headline figure from 2010 is something of a mis-representation. It was 'operating profit before interest / football trading /ammortisation' that was bounded about at circa £22.8 mil.
We actually made a loss of £6.5 mill before tax last year.
small point, but still relevant nonetheless.
TMWNN, it was a different sort of 'bill' he had in mind as a tribute.
$
@tricky,
Players will always come and go, but I never thought I'd see the day the whole club ceases to be in Tottenham.
Tricky,
Maybe Levy will erect a giant statue of himself in Stratford, just between the 'fan experience' friendly 'Frankie & Bennys' and 'Nando's'. A rub of his bronzed, bald bonce will bring the Stratford Spurs luck - for a pound a go, of course ;-)
I think I'm too cynical to believe that money now is the ONLY driver in football now.
All the emotive ideologies that are being discussed, the only people the matter to are those not in a position to influence the outcome.
I still love my spurs though.
Wish I didn't sometimes.
People who want us to move because they believe its the only option and don't care to waste time considering (or asking the club to consider or explain) other options (even though Stratford will take a while to 'build') will dismiss such emotive sentimental bullshit as 'the gate' saying that it will no doubt find itself parked on the new site in East London.
They will tell you the Gate, in Stratford..."It's only five miles away from where Bill used to live"
Point being, all that's happened, will go down in our history as that bit when Spurs become an East London club and future generations will delve into our 'north London' past with much interest etc etc
etc
so now we have graham roberts joining, glen hoddle and alan sugar in the we'd move to stratford if necessary gang, and gary mabbutt sitting royally on the fence. So far I've yet to hear a spurs legend in the N17 movement?
Surprised with Roberts.
Thought he was more maverick in terms of going against the club. He didn't turn up for the 125th anni did he? Wasn't invited?
All these ex spurs players and managers have to say the right things or risk being excluded from the 'circle' who are wined and dined every match day.
I bet if you asked any of the current playing or management staff they probably wouldn't be anti-Stratford either...
Yes, footballers are renowned for their off field intelligence. Whatever they say must be gospel.
HR loves to put fans backs up and takes every opportunity to have little digs so Im sure he would love to move to stratford and then piss off to England.
Footballers come and go too so Im not overly concerned with their opinion. I rekon VDV would want us to stay though.
Anyway they have been gaged from saying anything anti -stratford.
Regarding the argument over distance (from N17 to Stratford).
It's only 5 miles - if it was 50 miles, would it make a difference? Because apparently geography doesn't matter.
Footballers should be seen and not heard, although in the beanpole's case, 'put down' would be more appropriate.
Wonder what Bill Nick would say......?
VDV wouldn't care about moving, he's a pikey.
spooky the geography thing is relative, how many miles east is ok, how many miles west? ok I realise the move east will take us out of north london which is a pretty large issue for me. Enfield for instance is about 4 miles north of whl is that ok? barnet is 8 miles away but is north london, does that make barnet more acceptable than stratford? everyone has there own opinion.