Botswana trio in Spurs colours

Right now there are three men in Botswana (two players and the manager of the Botswanna Meat Commission FC - the adopted African club side for The Fighting Cock) wearing Spurs shirts with their name on the back because #thefightingcock wanted it.

Wtf you might be asking? Wtf indeed. Sibs is the one responsible for making the dream reality. Kudos to you son.

Here's more:

Three guys in a country based in the south of the African continent are today wearing Spurs shirts which were sent from London. All made possible by Spurs fans all around the world. They seem so genuinely happy and excited, especially as they can't really understand why a group of Tottenham supporters have picked them as their adopted team.

Sometimes the world is just a flippin' awesome place to be and it is just bizarre things like this that make it so. Thing is WE can make stuff like this happen.

(that last bit sounded a bit like a cult)

~ Sibs

Thanks to you and all members of THE FIGHTING COCK podcast for the lovely present sent to Sikele, Chicco Nare and myself. We are very grateful and will wear the shirts with pride. I will get you a photo of Chicco in his shirt too and send it through.

Modiri Garenamotse
BMC

Chicco 'dance' Nare, the manager of BMC, has yet to don his shirt for a photo opp. Can't wait to see him style it up.

If you're still dazed and confused, this is what you need:

The Official Botswana Meat Commission FC Thread - Facts, history and updates on BMC games from the Botswana Premier League.

BMC FC Christmas Appeal - Spurs fans from around the world donate to raise the money to get the shirts out to Botswana.

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A day in the life of Benny

If you haven't then you really should. That is, if you wish to see more hilarity as displayed below.

The place?

The Fighting Cock forum. Click here.

Click on the above images to go directly to the thread.

Thanks to Sibs of The Fighting Cock team.

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Randoms

Late lunch break. Chance to share some random gems from The Fighting Cock forum.

via ZoC

Click here for the thread.

"to dare is to do". 

don't want to come across as an old-fashioned, pedantic linguistic **** but if i do i don't give a sh*t anyway.

the original spurs battle cry, in Latin, is "audere est facere". now "facere" is the root word for "faire" in French, which we all know from our o level French is translatable as "to do/to make". this demonstrates the word "facere" is imbued with a far deeper and noble meaning than simply the one-dimensional "to do".... ie. do the dishes or do the shopping.... "facere" in this context is more properly translatable as "to achieve". ie, simply the act of daring is an achievement in itself.

"to dare is to do" is such a poncy way to translate "audere est facere". the **** who did it for sh**** marketing purposes on the basis that fans are too ignorant to appreciate Latin should be shot.

i'm willing to do anyone who dares to disagree.

a far more appropriate translation of the original battle cry - something the fighting cock has managed to encapsulate in just a few short months is this:

DARING TO ACHIEVE

Via S.L.R

For the thread click here.

The thing about a***nal is their manager is bigger than their club. More important to the club than the club itself. He was able to walk into their club and mould it in his image. Couldn't have done that unless the club was a blank canvas. Now all the scum talk about their history of playing the a***nal way. They don't even seem to know their own history pre-Wenger. Boring, boring *****.

Also check out the Hollywood Spurs thread for more gold like this:

thefightingcock.co.uk

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The Fab Five

A casual conversation online leads to a pub meet-up in the North of London, a nervous recording or two...then a big bang in the way of a website, the birth of a community, an iphone app and thousands of weekly downloads.

Welcome to The Fighting Cock universe and thanks for your support.

Here's our Top Five choice picks from The Fighting Cock podcast season thus far. Click on the episode titles to listen. Enjoy. Especially if you've not done so before.

Episode #05 - Hayley McQueen Loves Us

This is episode 5 of The Fighting Cock podcast, this week recorded (Wed 24th) at a secret location (ooh, hush hush) which wasn't a pub. Usual suspects present. We talk Tori Black, Hayley McQueen, Joey Barton (again) and Luka Modric (again, boo hiss boo). Spooky feebly apologises for last weeks Robbie Keane stat debacle and we've got a Utd defeat post-mortem and a City preview/hating session. There's also a shocking result in this weeks game of killer and the début of Nananalysis.

Emails too. Someone wins a book for the best answer re: What is the Tottenham Whisper? (although we still don't actually know what it is). Barry Glendenning gets slated and we slag off modern football and ask 'top 4 or trophy?' It will make you crymax.

Episode #07 - Don't Make Us Destroy You

It's Episode Seven. No Spooky this week, Thelonious Filth deputises, gentle applause please. Part I kicks off with a colourful round-up of what the Fighting Cock team have been up to. It's massively off-topic, so deal with it. We've got tall tales and blatant cheek from engineer Al, the defending of the C-word and a transfer deadline review. We also ask; What does Rafa van der Vaart do exactly? Part II sees a surprising head to head finale in a game of killer. We've got feedback, including an email that asks the poignant question: At what point does glory and success meet? And there's a NextGen report (via WindyCOYS). If that isn't enough, TehTrunk provides comedy voices aplenty. We end with a Twitter re-tweet mission update (come on Tommy, you've been warned). Also THANK YOU to Case. Listen in.

Episode #08 - Tottenham Is A Glory Hole

It's Episode Eight and it's an orgy of podcasters. Part I includes seagulling, a re-tweet update, we review a quality result up at Wolves including Scott Parker's début, Bale on the right (why?), preview Liverpool at the Lane, forward tactics and ask the question two trophies or 4th place finish? Part II is jam-packed with a masterful edition of Killer and two BAE terrace songs (majestic vocals) sent in by listeners are sang by the team. Emails/feedback includes: Who will captain us going forward? Should Luka have been sold? Does Levy have a post-Redknapp managerial plan? We also discuss Ledley King and his knee and can success ruin the football experience? Also: Flav makes a nude threat and we slate Stratford lovers. Just because.

Episode #11 - North London Is Ours

It’s Episode 11. We discuss the North London Derby. Then we follow it up with the North London Derby. And then we sprinkle the pod further with the North London Derby. Part I includes: Favourite moments, Bell and Hare fight club, overall thoughts on the 2-1, van der Vaart's impact, we applaud the GIANT that is Scott Parker and Chicago Dan shares an amazing stat. Flav has some gooner quotes and Ricky gets bothered. We preview Newcastle with ample irreverence and predictions. Part II covers Forum Affairs with chit chat on Carlo Ancelotti, other potential hot seat suitors post Harry to England and White Ace cider. Engineer Al then has to go into bleep mode. We end with a discussion about the abusive chanting. Where do the authorities draw the line? Where do we draw the line? Controversial.

Episode #21 - Off The (Cycling) Tracks

It’s Episode 21, a much more sober and sombre one this week. Our glorious unbeaten run was brought to an abrupt end by a cyclist who referees in his spare time. Kaboul’s fire has been put out. Flav is on the brink of immortality in the POTW stakes. Windy goes Pearl Harbour wiv da knowledge. Dan Louw’s fantastic Away Days series makes another appearance. The FC crew remain full of confidence for what will be a pivotal 6 weeks for Spurs. Thelonious does Botswana, not literally obviously. And we’re having a party, bring your vodka and your…

For the full list of eps click here. For itunes download and subscription you need this link.

For The Fighting Cock iphone app, check this out.

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the fighting cock podcast team

@Flav_Bateman @Spooky23 @tehTrunk @RickyTFC @ChicagoDanTFC @TheloniousFilth  

@Alex_Prole @CaseTFC @jodmitchell 

@WindyCOYS @SibsTHFC

@lovetheshirt

This changes everything

It's The Fighting...it's The Fighting...it's The Fighting...APP!

Tottenham Hotspur faithful, immerse yourself into The FC world with a nonchalant tap of your finger and a smug smile. You've heard the pod, browsed the website, interacted in the forum and tweeted the re-tweets and hashtags. Now you can do all of that from your iPhone in one slick looking sexy app. Oh yeah. So what have we got for you?

• Easy access to the latest pod downloads + snazzy in-built podcast player
• Background Playback - you can play the pod whilst checking your mails/browsing/giving us a 5 star rating in itunes
• The Fighting Cock blog + Dear Mr Levy dot com article feed
• Pulsating Fighting Cock forum navigation (full or mobile version)
• Team profiles (so you can stalk us on match-days at the Lane)
• Sound-bites from the pod
• Easy access to contact us (we want your feedback/suggestions/recordings)
• Push notifications - get informed the minute the Pod is released
• Integrated Twitter updates from The Fighting Cock team + our hashtag assaults
• Ability to configure settings so you can control how and when you download updates

All for just £3.99 £1.49!

Please download this app so we have money to spend on booze and record the pod. Search for "the fighting cock" within the app store or click the button below.

 

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Love the app.

For support or any enquires please email us at thefightingcock [at] gmail.com

Screenshots

Movember Day 22

Movember Update (day 22)

Movember update.

Visit The_Fighting_Cock 'My mo space page' and my page.

We've also been updating the page and the thread over at The Fighting Cock forum with weekly photos on the growth and (lack of) styling of our majestic moustaches.

To donate or join the team, click on the link and ‘donate to my team’ or ‘join team’. Rejoice the 30 day journey of moustachery.

What a mess. Talking of which...Mo Bro's, get yourselves looking good for the end of the month.

PENHALIGON’S POP UP BARBERSHOP

For the second year running, Penhaligon’s is joining forces with Movember to raise awareness and funds for men’s health charities in the UK. Movember challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache throughout the month of November.

It’s been over 140 years since the doors of Penhaligon’s first barbershop opened on Jermyn Street and now exclusively for Movember we’re bringing back our gentleman’s shaving service. For one month only Mo Bros will be able to experience a complimentary Mo Trim at our flagship boutique in London’s Covent Garden.

Penhaligon’s
41 Wellington Street
London
WC2E 7BN

To book online visit: www.penhaligons.com/shop/movember or call 0203 040 6120

Throughout November, Penhaligon’s will also be donating 20% of sales of their shaving products, both online and in their UK boutiques, directly to Movember.

Penahaligon’s is an English perfume house, founded in the late 1860s by William Henry Penhaligon. Established as a purveyor of fine fragrances and luxury gifts.

It's the fighting...

It's not a six year old bottle of Kentucky Bourbon whiskey, it's not an adult pay site for men and it's nothing Peta should be worried about. The Fighting Cock is a THFC podcast. Our aim is to bring you truly genuine opinions on all matters Spurs. We hope you enjoy our efforts.

Visit thefightingcock.co.uk to stream/download, read our blogs and sign-up to the forum. You can also subscribe to the pod on itunes or via RSS.

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The Fighting Cock community

Home

Podcast

Blog

Forum

the fighting cock team

@RickyTFC @ChicagoDanTFC @Flav_Bateman @tehTrunk 

@TheloniousFilth @Alex_Prole @Spooky23 @sibsTHFC

@lovetheshirt

www.thefightingcock.co.uk

Movember Day Four

Movember Day Four

Movember update and it's day four and not a lot is happening in the mo-area of my face.

If you want to get involved and highten awareness you can join our team The_Fighting_Cock and visit our 'My mo space page'.

We'll be updating the page and the thread over at The Fighting Cock forum with weekly photos and updates on the growth and styling of our majestic moustaches.

To donate or join the team, click on the link and ‘donate to my team’ or ‘join team’. Rejoice the 30 day journey of moustachery.

the fighting cock podcasters

@RickyTFC @ChicagoDanTFC @Flav_Bateman @tehTrunk 

@TheloniousFilth @Alex_Prole @Spooky23 @lovetheshirt

www.thefightingcock.co.uk

Movember, Day Four.

Two shades of stubble. Mo stubble is three days ahead of the rest of the face. Looks rubbish and messy at the moment, but trust me. The foundations are being built for thick hair of majestic trampesque quality.

Check out the thread over at The Fighting Cock forum for other participant photos and updates.

For previous days, click on 'Movember' directly below this article, next to 'tagged'.

JD talks Spurs

Fighting Cock message board member 'boxbat' was present at the Q&A Fans Forum with Defoe firing back the answers to questions posed. Below are some of the stand out quotes. Nothing ground-breaking really other than the fact the player is focused on CL qualification rather than winning domestic cups. In your face silverware.

So I was lucky enough to go to the Fans Forum with JD at the Lane last night. He was on good form, answering questions on a variety of topics. I put the question to him about whether he would prefer to win the FA Cup and Europa League or qualify for the Champions League again, and he didn't hesitate much in choosing the latter. So there you go, I guess that's the modern footballer's mindset these days.

A few other things from off the top of my head:

- Modric called the strikers 'greedy' in training after Ade and JD each failed to pass against Newcastle; JD says he felt he had a good chance of scoring and was going to shoot, that's just the way he is.
- JD claimed he doesn't feel any joy over Rooney's England ban - reckons it shouldn't need to take something like that for him to force himself into the team.
- Everyone laughs at Pav's dress sense.
- JD is most impressed with Tom Carroll out of the youngsters
- JD thinks Modric is our most irreplaceable player
- Bassong is an attention seeker, Sandro hugs everyone when he comes into training
- Niko is the most frequent supplier of nutmegs
- JD reckons he's sharper over 10 yards than Bale, also says he's fitter than he's ever been
- JD has been offering a bit of advice to Coulibaly, namely, not to rush his shots when through on goal
- Adebayor 'hates' a***nal

...and quite a bit more besides, but there's a taster.

For the full thread, click on into The Fighting Cock forum. Sign up whilst you're at it.

What is Tottenham Hotspur?

Just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in. This Stratford saga is never ending.

I posted the below over in the thread 'The East End itch Levy can't quite scratch...' at The Fighting Cock forum. I've made some amends to it for this blog. Promised myself I wouldn't got back to discussing this, but then it's one of those subjects that fragments us (an already fragmented fanbase).

Be sure to join in the discussion.

What is Tottenham Hotspur?

Its difficult to talk about this question because you can sit and attempt to quantify what constitutes emotional detachment and what defines a club and what it means in practicality for hours and still not get anywhere when attempting to use said arguments in relation to a potential move away from N17.

So what is Tottenham? Is it the fans? The area? Do you define a club by its traditions and if so, what are traditions? Style of play, memories of games? Players? Celebrations? Infamous away trips? Hatred for other clubs? The Lane? The journey into the Lane? So much goes into constructing the DNA of a supporter and club. I think its all of the above, all mashed together in a sexy gooey kinda way.

Football is emotive, so surely it should be based on emotions?

What? Oh yeah, PLC. I need to remember to get a tattoo of that on my back.

If we moved down the road, say to another part of North London, there would be a transitional period for all of us attempting to move on from the fact we've left WHL. It happens in life when you leave a job, split up with your partner or someone dies. You think its all gone and it wont be the same again, its all changed, but you adapt and you end up embracing the present and look towards the future.

No matter where we play, you could argue, Spurs exist because they exist in our heads and in our minds. If there were no Spurs fans they'd be no club. Now before I drown in deeply philosophical musings that I'm struggling to articulate because I'm sober...what I'm saying is, I do get that history DOES count and everything this club has achieved will not suddenly disappear because we've shifted home.

Or will it? Will people look back on it with some degree of detachment? Will it matter if that happens when I hit the grand old age of 70 and new young football fans don't much care for whatever happened back in the days of HD and 3D tv, what with their 'Watch the game with retina-cam' via your fav player with Holographic TV™.

I wasn't alive in the 1960s yet that side, those players, they feel and belong to me as much as any player or team I have watched in the modern era.

Spurs won the double in 61. Eight FA Cups. Trophies in Europe. I could name 50 flair players off the top of my head that made their mark for our club. These are the things we can't lose because what has happened can never be changed, but the clubs actual physical persona, its character and its appearance will forever morph into something completely different. And why? Because at that (this) moment in time Stratford was more affordable and feasible than N17.

Revenue, 60K + attendances, new supporters, corporate hospitality to die for, transport links made in heaven...all this has nothing to do with what happens on the pitch when Spurs play. I'm talking in the purest sense here. If it takes another 10 years to get the NDP sorted I'd rather wait then spend another 100 years in N17 than to uproot and move to another part of London just because it's a more fiscal do-able option in the short term.

I get its a business. I get shareholders and investment. But that doesn't mean I should conform. Tottenham (like many clubs) have copyrighted everything to do with the club. Brand. Tottenham the brand. You want use the THFC club badge on your blog because you're a fan? Sorry, no chance. Pay Spurs first for the privilege. Or be sued. Why? Because you can't be making money off the Tottenham brand. That's modern football. If I'm in the minority that wish to hold onto the last surviving romantic notions, then so be it.

Why the mad rush and the opportunistic short cut with the OS bid? Football might well implode in the next 10 years, we don't know. The mad rush is because of those shareholders and their demand for it. They invested money. You can't argue against their argument. But again, why should that concern me?

I guess football has moved on and I'm refusing to move with it.

Billionaires are buying up clubs left right and centre and changing the competition and the landscape of competitiveness. Again, I'd rather be this plucky team on the outside punching our way in. And if we get in, and we enjoy a cycle of success and then lose that cycle. So be it. That's football. Not everyone has that honour of silverware. Nobody is at the top forever. We've not quite been at the top for a long long time. I'd welcome it. Would even be acceptable in small doses.

So it all comes back to what you define as heritage and would constitutes an acceptable sacrifice (i.e. leaving North London to settle in East London) to consolidate progression and that competitive spirit in this age of money.

The club would have moved had they won the bid. That's the scary thing. The power of our custodians over the voice of the dispensable fan all too evident.

We are Tottenham, a small club they say, yet we always compete or at least show ambition to and the last 15 years or so (the barren 90s) has been down to bad management on the pitch (and off) in terms of managerial appointments. We still make money, we still splash said money. And look at us now, with the monopoly practically dead, we are always in with a chance. It's exciting. Let's not forget its all the depression that makes the good times good.

We need a bigger ground, not because I'm concerned about the £££ but because we have loyal hardcore fans who want season tickets and they are much needed because 50k will make more noise than 37K. The extra revenue will obviously help to bolster the rich and spoilt millionaires that wear the shirt with a fraction of the loyalty we possess. That's the hit right there.

I probably still haven't got my point across in the best way, but I guess what I want, what I need as a fan is different to how others might perceive things. Some are simply focused on the fact that a bigger stadium will equate to more money that will somehow guarantee success and glory. Might. Might not. It's a risk either way. Would prefer to retain our identity. I do agree we need to be ambitious. But want us to anchor ourselves to some of that emotive stuff that glues as together. That's the identity with all the romantic caveats attached.

You know, from my front door, Stratford is thirty minutes away by tube (and I don't even live in London). But I'd still rather spend 1 hour + getting into that sh*t hole in North London.

That's just me.

It's launched!

Oh yeah baby.

We have ourselves a spanking new glossed up website for the podcast. Props to Casey for sticking it together. We didn't even ask him to do it. He just stalked us online, stopped short of sending us his scented boxer shorts and instead gave us this:

www.thefightingcock.co.uk

It's glorious. We accepted the gift gleefully.

The podcast will still be available here on DML, but the new site will allow for a more community type feel for the shows allowing us to indulge in a little ego-massaging with comments from our listeners who wish to partake. There's a message board, so click in and sign-up.

Episode 8 is now available.

Follow us on Twitter: 

@tehTrunk @Flav_Bateman @RickyTFC @chicago_dan_TFC @TheloniousFilth @Alex_Prole @Spooky23

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Not so Bravehearts hanged, drawn and quartered

Hearts 0 Spurs 5

Spurs break Hearts. Tottenham on the fringe in Edinburgh. Freedom of the park that even William Wallace would be proud of, or not so proud. Okay, so that last one is hardly slick. Talking of which, just how slick was the Spurs last night?

Hands up if you somehow got sold on the idea that we were going to find it tough and that Hearts would stick it to us with some hefty tackling and bruising shoulder barging only to find them attempting to play football without the physicality? Not quite, hey? They more or less allowed us to run the show from the off, supremely confident in possession and in movement with some rather delightful (oh yes) passing and vision.

Wasn't just a hot knife melting butter. This was an ice cream in hell. For them. For us, feet up on the sofa (for the many that didn't travel) and almost embarrassed for the home side when applauding every time we scored.

Gulf in class, obvious. Even if I was one of the people who was sold on that idea of a 'tough' 90 minutes. What with Livermore the only apparent natural centre-midielder. He played well, very well, along with Niko in the centre doing a little bit of that dictating stuff that other 'injured' Croatian does so well for us.

Defoe looked sharp. Sexy sharp. Rafa once more leading the team forward along with Lennon and Bale doing their thing down the flanks. I can't fault any of the performances to be honest. Very encouraging to see both Livermore and Lewis Hamilton play a part, the latter with a great driving ball out to JD who crossed in for Lennon for a rather smart counting attacking move ending with yet another goal.

Everyone had a solid game. Huddlestone also making an appearance and no shock with the ball to Bale resulting with a goal. It's what he does so well. Hearts gave us a scare early in the 2nd half with some sustained pressure before that Bale goal ended any ridiculous dreams of a comeback or a more realistic ambition for a consolation.

It was a good work out and more importantly, its great to see us be so professional and swaggeristic. We got on with the job, killed the tie played some wonderful football. No need to get carried away with it. But no harm in basking in some of the unity out there. Obviously, better teams will ask far more sterner questions. But we can worry about that at Old Trafford on Monday.

For now, good work. Well done Harry, with half a midfield.

Be sure to check Episode #4 of The Fighting Cock below. Slight Bermuda triangle of an issue with the original article meant it didn't make it's appearance on some news feeds when it should have and got lost in the abyss of transfer gossip.

Robbie Keane and The Tottenham Whisper

Welcome to episode 4 of the The Fighting Cock podcast recorded on Wednesday 17th August from Ricky's living room.

We chat Everton postponement and the build up to Hearts in Europe (build the side around Livermore!). We also take a look back at Robbie Keane in Lilywhite (legend or tainted?) and attempt to decide if Gomes is worthy of his number one shirt. And emails too. There's also a controversial game of Killer (the Burkinshaw divide) and we're left scratching our heads asking: What is the Tottenham whisper? Don't forget to get in touch with your feedback and questions at thefightingcock@gmail.com.

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The Fighting Cock podcast - episode #4