If Stratford Hotspur happens, it ends there...
Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 7:10PM Guest blog by Jack aka tehTrunk.
Yes hello, you may remember me, I was the bloke what done them little cartoon things with the voices and stuff. I'm here today in a different capacity, to share my thoughts on the eerily quiet new stadium goings on at Stra...Tottenham Hotspur. I say quiet, but thankfully Karen Brady's constant barking does serve some purpose, if only in reminding us of the fact that we could well, genuinely, be leaving not just White Hart Lane but Tottenham itself.
Yeah, this could actually happen. WTF OMG?!!1! (I'm writing on the internet, it's allowed (lol))
Now, I'm not from Tottenham, I don't even live in North London. My allegiance with Spurs is the age old father son connection familiar with many football fans. You know, when dad creeps into your bedroom at night, gagging you with an Arsenal scarf in order to play hide the magic banana? Since those days, anything bearing the cannon of them lot down the road turns my stomach and reminds me of those mornings where I'd have to swagger into school like a cowboy. This then reminds me of cowboys which I also hate (I always preferred Indians). Suffice to say that sitting through Brokeback Mountain was a nightmare.
Alas, I digress.
Where was I?
Oh yes, I support Tottenham but I'm not from Tottenham, there we go.
These recent mutterings that we could be leaving Tottenham to take up residence in the Millennium Dome (er Olympic Stadium mate?!)have created a strange and uncomfortable conflict within my thoughts, much like when I catch a glimpse of Niko Kranjcar. As I've already covered but will tell you again, Tottenham isn't my home, the team Tottenham Hotspur isn't my local team so why should I care where the team plies it's trade? I don't know really, but I do.
History has always been an important part of this club, given that during the years I've supported them there has been little success, but it's been instilled into me that this is a club with heritage, with tradition. I'm sure most clubs think this way, but we support Spurs, we don't care what myths other clubs supporters perpetuate amongst themselves. We're onto a new chapter now, who knows where it goes. I'm enjoying, while it lasts, us grabbing headlines and having a squad filled with world class players, but this isn't why I support Spurs.
We all know about our cup runs, and double heroics and European glory glory nights so I'll save the maudlin mush.
Football is a business (no sheet Sherlock). It's easy to say, but it's hard to grasp what this actually means. Business' exist to make money. The chairmen, the board, they don't care about you, they don't care about me (they should care about me, I'm awesome. Not you though. D*ckhead) Does the CEO of McDonalds care that your burger doesn't look like it does in the picture on the board?
Daniel Levy is a business man. Don't ever forget that. For all his 'Spurs fan' talk, he's a business man. He's not big Dan from down the pub who wears a Spurs shirt on match days and gets asked to leave the pub when he's had a few too many and is getting loud sweary cross and scaring the couple who just popped in for an ale and glass of house white after finishing shopping, whilst he watches Spurs lose to Wolves at home (all in 3D mind). Levy, and the people surrounding him want to make money. This isn't all a bad thing, money has allowed us to assemble the squad we see before us today. Moving to the Olympic Stadium makes perfect business sense.
It's cheaper than building an entirely new stadium. It has a massive capacity. It looks well nice so will entice new fans. Having a massive, well nice stadium increases the club's prestige both at home and abroad. This will see a rise in the attendance, fan base and the type of investors and players we can attract to the club. Maybe it'll even see us become a more attractive option to a super mega rich foreign owner, who'll buy us Messi and we can win everything and be the best team in the world and even make it onto Sky Sports montages and have our players pictured on the front of the packets of football stickers found on the newsagent's counter.
Spurs, nay, football in general is entering into a dangerously vacuous and shallow era. This potential move to Stratford is a perfect example of that. Forget the history, forget about the locals, forget the name, we're going to move. We'll be Stratford Hotspur, it'll be just the same just we'll make more money and maybe win more stuff and then football will be more better, honest. Yeah, worked well for Wimbledon.
You can scream at me until you're blue faced, the endless clichés that 'we have to do it to compete', 'we want to win stuff what with City getting better now', 'Liverpool will bounce back sooner or later'. I don't care. I didn't support Spurs because they competed, because they were amazing, I support Spurs because they're Spurs. Sacrificing what we are in order to get to what we perceive is a higher level is like the bloke who ditches all his ugly best mates because he wants to be more popular with women. He's a lonely, boring, desperate tool and everyone can see it but him.
I know my thoughts don't represent those of all Spurs fans, and I don't look down on anyone for feeling differently (I really do to be honest). I just see this as one of many examples of how appalling our society is now. It's like saying that I think my mum is fat and ugly and I want a new one with less droopy wangers that way it'll reflect better on me and then I'll be happier. I don't think you're fat and ugly by the way Mummy, Trunky wuvs woo.
If Stratford Hotspur happens, it ends there for me. FC Hotspur of Tottenham or whoever else likely pops up it'll be. You can take your Gareth Bales, VDVs and whoever else and shove them. Along with your reality TV, IKEA furniture, tabloid newspapers, celebrities, Thomas Cook holidays and most of all your Sky Sports.
If all of you told Levy where he could stick his plan, it wouldn't happen, fact. But you won't.
Think on.
Be sure to visit We are N17 for your anti-Stratford fix and latest news. You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook.
Previous Stratford/N17 articles by Spooky:
N17: Home is where the heart is
A nail in the coffin of Stratford?
For some, it's a brutal interrogation...
Reader Comments (559)
If we move we are finished; we end - Tottenham Hotspur is no more. It is not a continuation of the club, but a mutuation of one into a financial venture. Tottenham will cease to be of importance to this new monster; this beast will feast off of the fruits of the only decent thing to have come out of the area - period. Such a shame. I think we all agree, we are TOTTENHAM Hotspur FC, the most proper footballing team the world has ever seen!!!!!
p.s. kyspur---check your private messages on NYSpurs
p.p.s. isn't the land we've acquired (at market value, or what's more likely, above market) worth more to us than to any potential buyer? That is to say, are we willing to lose the money we spent on the land+the money we'd have to contribute to UK Athletics to improve their facilities?
Next Planning Committee Meeting---Jan 11, also a Jan 24 "Special Meeting" which was just put on the schedule. I have a strong hung that that's the day we present our s106 proposal.
Next Full Council Meeting---Jan 17.
What a load of drivel. "If Stratford Hotspur happens, it ends there for me" Good for you. Fuck off then.
Anyone who would turn their back on the club over a move of less than 6 miles should just leave now. In my eyes abandoning the club you claim to love so much would be a slap in the face to every other Tottenham Hotspur fan. You would therefore deserve just as much disrespect as the last judas that slapped us all in the face.
Dear Mr Levy,
We don't really want to go to Stratford but at least it would rid the club of this rambling idiot.
Yours sincerely
Every true Tottenham Hotspur supporter
Spursguv,Stlouise, PMI , I think I love u guys, and count the for and against Stratford its unan.should stay put if only them bastards Haringey would cough it up
tehtrunk.
If you can drop tottenham hotspur at the drop of the hat, you are not just too much into us. Good riddance. I have ever went to WHL only once in my life thats because I'm a Singapore supporter and will never have the privilege that a Londoner enjoy every weekend.
When the new stadium is up, be it at Northumberland or Startford, I will make my next trip there although it willl be cost a fortune and 16hrs for me to get there from my part of the world.
Can't you see it? Spurs is no more just a London club its a globally supported club. While a lot of us understand the emotional ties sone had to WHL, many of us support the club because of loyalty and also what it represents and not with its geography.
If you think Spurs represent some part of your sweet memories of childhood and nothing esle, I sorry to say the ties are shallow. You have no right to crticise the management what they think best for the club.
Let me give you an anology, have you ever switch homes because of practical issues ?; Better location, good prcie upmarket etc ? What were your considerations, progress isn't it ? So if you can switch homes and upgrade but the club you support suppose to have some moral obligation to keep to a poor run down location of London ?
In my last trip to WHL, I met really nice people along the streets, Yes, I feel for them if the club do relocate but if you are Daniel Levy, you can' t be emotional about these issues. The future of the club is at hand. We have been in the doldrum for too long and any further concession of financial advantages will set up back again.
The difference of 250mil pound is staggering, Its the equivalent of 10 years of our transfer budget.
Don't worry its Tottenham Hotspurs at Straford. We can call it what we like but that name willl not change, its still going to be Tottenham Hotspur unless someone force us to change .In years to come, the legacy left behind, even if do move to the Olympic stadium is that we were once part of Tottenham, which is poiganant and sweet ok..I'm not gay)
As for criticism that DL is a businessman. Well, its important how you discern tha defination. For the good of the club, I hope DL is a very good businesman after seeing what happened to Liverpool. But if your slur is that he in for profit, I think you know too little of the club. Did you know that he had enforced salary cut on HIMSELF during 2008 ? How about pleading with Harry to spend money this Jan window.I f he had intention of selling the club to a richer owner that is because he know he probably a hidnrance to the club progress and has taken the club as far as he can.
DL is th best chairman in the league par none.
"many of us support the club because of loyalty and also what it represents and not with its geography."
To speak of one is to speak of the other.
Tradition = Geography. Not for me.Probably means little for most global Spurs fans which will outnumbered the Londoners many times over. Most Spurs fans in Singapore that I know of don't care of it will be Northumberland or Startford.. I believe its the same in Russia, China, Arabia, South Africa etc.We just want to see the team do well.
You guys in London don't get it, Spurs and the premier league is no more a English phenomenon. Its a world wide phenomenon since the inception of the premier league in 1992. Thtas expalain the Abramovich, the verky and the Aby Dhabi. Your identidy has changed unless you want to be back to where you begin, behind the the italian league or the German league.
Get on with it and follow the vision od DL.
coys !
My eyes have seen the glory of the cups at White Hart Lane,
When Tottenham move to Stratford I will never go again,
Levy ripped my club apart, but the passion still remains
You can stick your Stratford Hotspur FC
...Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur...
I am a fan of Tottenham, and that's all i'll ever be,
The Seven Sisters road, Oh those Seven proud trees
We hate those pikey Gooners, and we follow the Yid army
You can stick your Stratford Hotspur FC
Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur...
If you'd prefer to stay in Tottenham but say you don't mind moving to Stratford, you're not helping your preferred choice. That will be considered a vote for a move in the money men's eyes and prove divisive.
We need to present a solid front.
No to Stratford.
It's 5 miles away, City moved across Manchester (about 5 miles) and you won't find a city fan who regrets the move. Bolton moved about 5 miles to the reebok in fact nearly all clubs that get a new ground are likely to move a few miles to a new ground. For me it's simple - I've enjoyed us being half decent recently, we move to a much cheaper stadium there's a much much better chance of us having a few quid to spend on players keeping us competitive. As such personal selfish notions of history go out of the window, to dare is to do.....it is about the glory etc etc
thentrunk.. and those who say no to stratford. I have a new club for you if we do go to the Olympic stadium and you don't want to be a part of it.
It's Liverpool. They(the scousers) stuck to tradition so much that they asked and recalled a manager in the 80s thinking he will help to revive their glory days. That's sticking to tradition at all costs. Like you, they don't care about the money men too though money was the reason of their demise. They keep harping about the glory days when that was 20 years ago.When things don't go too well on the field, its the fault about the manager and NOTHING to do with things off the pitch. Like you, they believe as they have tradition, its a divine passport to success. Its seems we have a perfect match for you in terms of IQ . haha..
Maybe you can enjoy thier relegation fight and sing about the great old days. That will be so cool to be a part of. By that time, we can be sure there will be no more money men and talk about a new stadium..
Fuck it, I'm off the fence, this thread is awesome. Fuck Stratford I'm joining the rebel alliance. The quotes from VDV have turned me. I wont ditch us if we move but I'm fighting the money cnuts all the way cos I love N17 and all its shoddiness, I love the community and I love the stadium.
All those in favour of Stratford, ur not allowed to post here anymore or read DML or TEH's threads anymore. They belong to Tottenham supporters not you lot . By the way would you let your wives and sisters stand the street corner if it paid the mortgage? I thought so
Morning folks...sleep well
read through the posts since i went to bed last night and i see ham has been replaced by the equally detestible jos - never heard of this jos either...anyway welcome gooner jos...jos the goon? jos the mentally challenged. or just jos the cunt? yeah jos the cunt. jos the cunt that cant understand that tottenham playing in east london and stratford is sooooo WRONG even if stratford was .0000000000000000000000000000001 miles from WHL.
As for the bafoon who said we're wasting our time protesting (may have even been jos the cunt) you aint gona quell us that easily dear boy - not even close. people like you make me sick - sit on your fat arse and do fuck all and happilly see the soul ripped out of the club to see your deprived mind hope for constant success to satisfy your desperate head. tell that to gandi, tell that to winston churchill, tell that to Christ 'oh boys there's nothing you can do, you might as well give up'
Sorry?? no thanks. NO FUCKING WAY - we'll fight until we die thankyou.
I now hate pro stratford spurs fans more than gooners - i really genuinely do.
This is symbolic of the biggest issue of our time- globalisation, the EU, western financial imperialism, everything has its price including communities, families and individuals, no more citizens only consumers, no more supporters only consumers, no more to existence than what I experience with my 5 senses, no more districts, counties, countries, no more England on the EU map, once vast, worldwide global market full to the soul destroying brim with battery consumers with no idea of who they are, where they're from and what they believe in, ruled by masters safe in the knowledge that no uprising can ever be forthcoming from a mass that has no culture, history or fight, not one nutter willing to leave the comfort zone and die for what is right. 2011 is the year, the people will rage this year, rage against the powers that be, and Stratford Hotspur is a big part of that for us.
Now, does anyone fancy a nice Sunday morning pint?
I fancy many pints watching what will be my FC Hotspur of Tottenham on Tottenham Marshes.
Come on you Lillywhites :)
I'd rather we build the NDP, but if that's not really affordable and the OS is - then I say move because we need a bigger ground.
The tradition for me is my great grandad taking my grandad to the game saturday after saturday - my grandad taking my dad to games saturday after saturday - and my dad taking me to games saturday after saturday.
My family may be from Tottenham, but who cares about that if I can't take my kid to see my team play ever other week?
Do people realise how few season tickets we have come available each season? And doing without one is just too expensive.
I've been a Spurs supporter since 1978. Over the last two decades, through the pain of following mediocrity week by week, year after year I believe have the right to call myself a true supporter.
Each season has started with fresh hope and the dream has stayed alive. But, until the last 5 years, the hope, that sparkled all too briefly at the beginning of each season for two decades, has spluttered out - usually before mid point in the season. In the last 5 years hope has been sustained - we are still some way from the peak but here I am in January with the dream still alive for the 2010-11 season. This is a sign of how far we have come.
Football, like most things in life, changes constantly. Money talks and, much as I dislike this, it is a fact that we can't get away from. Wouldn't it be great to build a team around a group of players that we had developed ourselves from youths and that we could rely on to see out the best years of their careers with us. That sort of world might have existed once but it doesn't any more. Teams are largely fashioned out of mercenaries and long term loyaly of players is all too rare (please let our current team prove me wrong). In my mind that undermines the purity of being able to support a true football entity but, on the bottom line, if we want to compete at the top level, we have to keep up with the times and if I wanted to stay pure I guess I'd be left supporting non league football.
I hope there are points of principle which I'd stick by - the Spurs tradition of how to play the game is one that should last, whoever wears the shirt.
I think the same principle applies with the stadium. If we are to look forward to even the possibility of competing at the very top - and I think that is an important principle of being a Spurs fan - that we aim for the very top, then surely we need a larger stadium.
If the Northumberland development wasn't on the table, or another viable option in Tottenham, then I think the Stratford option would have been a no brainer. I think Stratford gives us a unique one off opportunity to have a London home ground, a stadium fit for the best and infrastructure that supports sustainability in the long term.
On immediate emotional grounds, the Northumberland project has been my preferred option. I love the plans for the stadium (other than naming rights - but I'd live with that) and that it stays absolutlely true to the locality of the club, but I have doubts about the local infrastructure (trust in local travel planning?) and I am most worried about how the debt will affect our future sustainability.
To keep the dream alive of Spurs continuing to aspire to be the very best (surely a core belief for any Spurs supporter), I believe we have to grow. No change is not an option. With a lot of sadness on weighing things up I would take the Stratford option (it isn't Milton Keynes!) unless I could be convinced that the Northumberland project was sound financially and did not leave us boxed in, in terms of further potential in the future.
Thanks gooners/mike lee for your latest contribution. DannyMackay and Dallasspur? wonder what inspired those names. firstly mr lee its davemackay. try again dear boy. dallasspur? oh i see in line with laspur etc. well done. no really well done, very original...
Moving to Stratford will guarantee prawn sandwiches for everyone.
And we can sell WHL to West Ham.
I hear the the Saudis are moving the Kaaba 5 miles out of Mecca, something to do with poor access and not enough capacity during the Hajj.
:-) u my friend r an ignorant little prick.
Holy shit. I have quite a bit to catch up on here.
...on the plus side, prayer mat sales will double and they'll be able to compete with Christianity.
Jos /Mac you write some real crap. I feel there is a massive difference betwwen those who go and those who watch. Watching football contributes to ratings advertising fees ,the clubs sponsorship deals and TV money. Going to football contributes much much more. If football was played without fans if it had no history would anyone give a toss. I realise there are 23,000 who are waiting for season tickets, but the fans who watch abroad seem to want their cake and eat it. If you dont go to the ground of course you want pot noodle success because you cannot have the same attachment to the club, you just want gratification like a baby on a nipple.
We were promised NDL. Means nothing, we follow like Lemmings.Pathetic. Levy is a great chairman but has got this wrong. Take more time over NDL extend one end of WHL .Stratford, 80,000 capacity hows that going to work then. The mugs that have the season tickets will pay full whack while what anyone can pop over from abroad for a susidised ticket will get in cheap because of a tenuous link with the club. Will local kids come in for free to make up the missing 20,000 fans or so. How will the locals who come to Stratford feel about supporting a team called Tottenham. Stratford will be a global name for about 3 more years. Why not incorporate into our name.
As for the fakwit comparing our situation with Liverpool, mmm they havent won the league but have won every other bloody thing up until 5 years ago. Of course they were sold a big shiney American dream as well look where it got them. Atl east their fans wont eat shite they may have to watch it for a while but they wont have to eat it.
Just gonna spin a point made above a number of times if you dont like WHL or Tottenham N17 fak off let someone who does take your place you miserable fak.
DY you my friend are a fucking piece of shit
I'd love to dismember you, you fucking little prick
FUCK YOU AND DIE CUNT
HAHAHA... I'll be in Park Lane later mate, bring it u little bitch I'll rip ur fucking face off! What pub will u b drinking in?
I'll be drinking on your mums pussy head dick hmmmm
:)
Come on chaps, behave.
Thought so...
yeah not surprised you thought so.
she's been that kind of gal for many a year...son :)
ill be in the stratford arms - come see mummy and daddy little gawwy cutey DY
I don't care if Spurs were to move to the Olympic stadium in Stratford, in fact I would prefer it. My affection with Tottenham Hotspur has nothing to do with the location known as Tottenham or N17, much the same as my love for hamburgers has nothing to with Hamburg. Today the Premier league is all about the club's brand name, which is why you find supporters are not just local, but come from all over the world. This is the 21st century, so all you dinosaurs need to wake up and smell the coffee.
Prick
Grew up down the A10 from spurs, and apart from the fact that the lane is my local prem team, the biggest thing woith stratford will be the shitty running track around the pitch. Anyone who has ever ventured to an athletics stadium come footy ground will know that even the spurs faithful will most likely make a sound like a big highbury libary of old. Don't do it levy, think of the bricklayers arms, please
There it is again 'brand name'. Makes me want to puke.
public.relations@tottenhamhotspur.com
customer.care@tottenhamhotspur.com
email the club peeps
Easy to abuse everyone who disagrees with u on a forum, would love to stay and chat little boy but i'm about to leave, I'll be in the Victoria in less than an hour and we can discuss ur points then...
We all have an opinion, however come what may I'm still supporting Spurs I suggest you do the same.
DY people will get heated on this debate as you and your ignorant childish crew cant see your backing the death of our football club.
therefore i will label you a prick - you and your followers are the worst kind...even worse than gooners.
When you step inside WHL today you bring shame on yourself and your family...bill nick, the cockeral and all spurs greats in the heavens will be looking down on you and wondering what came of their great TOTTENHAM Hotspur
you wont still be supporting spurs come may if we are going to stratford.
in that event you will only be supporting spurs if you follow FC Hotspur of Tottenham
sigh...all these aggro over nothing. Levy preferecne is the Olympic stadium, he is in charge you are not. I'm not sure who is the gooner cunt or mentally retarded when that happen. I DON'T GIVE A FUCK IF YOU LIKE GOONER MORE THAN STRATFORD HOTSPURS SUPPORTERS
btw, just don't go there when we are at Stratford. We WON'T MISS YOU. While I plan my next holdiay to the new stadium be it Northumberland or Stratford.
btw, if you still don't know, the fact that we are able to talk about buidling a new stadium in bankrupt Europe is because of TV money. TV money from the emerging world. Like it or not.So don't talk about having the cake and eat it about fans from abroad.
For the time being, I will watch Spurs like many fans around the world on TV everyweekend from my part of the world while you can protest till your ass burn. Ciao !
WE WILL PROTEST UNTIL ARE ARSES BURN JOS THE CUNT
And yes if we move the fans that make that great atmosphere at WHL that you hear and see on tv everyweek will NOT go and we will go to FC Hotspur of Tottenham and the OS will be a library full of people like you.
I say that at FC Hotspur of Tottenham we have stand called 'THE JOS IS A CUNT STAND'
Ciao :)
Like i said cake and eat it. Pathetic.
on the train now mate...
For your information i'm not backing the move, I just disagree with the way you're abusing everyone that disagrees with u... everyone's entitled to their opinion and it's clear ur just an ignorant spotty little virgin.
No fan wants to leave WHL, no fan wants to move to Stratford, but if we do I won't stop supporting Spurs! If u choose to support FC Hotspur that's up to u, I couldn't give a fuck, but spouting your shit on this greatest of Spurs blogs and abusing fellow Spurs fans is not on, u r a disgrace to this great club.
COYS
Jos, you won't be watching the game on TV today because it isn't televised.
Isn't the Olympic Stadium only a stones throw from Hackney Marshes where the club started from? Forgive me if my geography is out! I have great memories of going to the Lane with my Dad and now with my son but he is like me when I was a young supporter in that he wants to see us beating the best in Europe regularly not just a one off season here and there. We were born in to being Spurs fans and could never stop supporting them for moving, thats just the way of the modern game and Sky are to blame for that but would you rather the club gets left behind and history is all you have to cling to?
I apologise to DY although i disagree that abusing pro stratford people is wrong. i agree phsical abuse of pro stratford people is wrong but verbal abuse is justified imo.
You though i love...deeply
OS is not a stones throw from hackney marshes and we didnt play at hackney marshes. we played at TOTTENHAM marshes.
if the OS was a stones throw from tottenham marshes that would still be irelevent. As soon as you drop out of TOTTENHAM, TOTTENHAM Hotspur dies. but this isnt even just dropping out of tottenham and into somewhere else in North London - this is going to the EAST END.
We are not an East London club!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!