Last Saturday's Derby game was my first since the Southampton win and I could see why we've had the recent good run. Looking far more solid at the back, Clarke and Barratt having exceptional games but another goal given away at a corner(!!!!!!), and the midfield working overtime, oh for McCormack in August, this is a
Southend side that could still achieve the impossible.
The chat in my corner of the Spread after the game was of maybe a point denied but Derby defended well, got the breaks going for them in the second half, that we still lacked a little in the last third against a team of Derby's quality. (Though their lack of real pace upfront will tell against them next year if they do go up.)
So the future could still look positive but this weekend gives us a break and another game against Spurs, this time in the F.A. Cup Fourth Round, a great reward for the teams hard working 2-0 win at Barnsley in the Third Round replay. (Well done all who made the journey.)
The 0-1 Carling Cup loss brings mixed emotions from supporters but most feel it was a just result if a little unfortunate in the circumstances. (Penalties; then who knows?) I'm sure we will be up for it again and I see no changes from the side that played Derby if we remained injury free.
Will Lennon play, a player who will surely test Stephen Hammell's defensive capabilities? Defoe pushing our defensive line to the limit? Well the Carling Cup semi-final v Arsenal for Spurs could come to Southend's aid with Tottenham manager Martin Jol, desperate for some silverware, surely putting his best team out against their North London rivals who again have said they will put out a second team, though a second team that beat Liverpool 6-3!
This still leavers a few good players, Keane anyone, who can step in, but it's Lennon for me who could do the most damage. Tilly and Brush have some planning to do but they came so close last time so who knows, the Spurs players minds may be elsewhere and it's certainly time for Freddie to remind all those coaches watching why he's such a goalscoring talent. After a few beers in the Weatherspoon pub at Liverpool Street I'll be up for anything! It could be a special day.
That Carling Cup game was played on December 20 in front of 35,811, nearly six thousand being Blues supporters and we will all be there again. This followed on 17 years after our last League Cup meetings when, over two legs, a Spurs team with Saint Garry Linekar himself upfront squezzed through on away goals. Sep. 20 1989 brought an unlucky 0-1 defeat, only 15,734 watching, but two weeks later, Oct. 4, a packed 10,418 Roots Hall crowd saw Martin smash home an unstoppable header from a early corner to bring the sides level. Bennett scored two more and we then hit the bar but the two away goals in a exciting 3-2 win left us short. The F.A. Cup Third Round has brought us all our other meetings with the first on the 19th of February 1921, a 1-4 defeat at Roots Hall, 11,661 attending, Nicholls scoring our consolation. Though special mention has to be made of the the team who held Tottenham 4-4 on January 11 1936, a Bolan hat-trick and Lane scoring, the crowd, 48,839! We sadly lost the replay 1-2, Bolan again, but the crowd of 23,634 is one of Roots Hall's highest. Overall then we have played each other 6 times, 1 win, 1 drawn and 4 lost.
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Most away supporters are impressed with White Hart Lane, if not the area it's in! In recent years the ground has virtually been rebuilt, making it one of the best in the country. It is totally enclosed which really adds to the overall look of the ground and can make for a great atmosphere. Both ends have huge 'Jumbotron' video screens, built into the roof, which are a unique feature. All the stands are two tiered with a row of executive boxes/concourse and are of roughly the same height giving the ground a well balanced look. Only the East Stand on one side has a couple of large supporting pillars, otherwise there are no obstructions to your view. A TV gantry is also suspended from beneath the roof of this stand, whilst on top a gold coloured Cockerel sits proudly. Another unusual feature of the stadium is the Police Control Box suspended underneath the roof in the South West corner, looking like some kind of UFO!
As many of you now know away fans are housed in one corner of the ground in between the South & West Stands, where up to 2,900 supporters (if demand requires it) can be accommodated, in the lower and upper tiers. If you have a ticket for the upper tier then prepare yourself for quite a climb to reach the away area. You are though rewarded with a great view of the action from this section and the leg room is ample. The facilities in this newish stand are above average. On the downside there is little space between the away and home fans. As you would expect there is plenty of banter between the two, but the stewards tend to take a tougher line on the away support. On my last visit a number of fans were ejected from the ground, plus there were repeated warnings to away fans to remain seated.
One strange aspect of sitting in the upper tier is having the Police Control Box directly above you, where a number of uniformed faces can be seen peering down on the away fans. The delicious 'Football's Famous Chicken Balti Pie' (£2.20) is available inside the ground. I have always quite enjoyed my trips to Tottenham.
White Hart Lane is excellent and the atmosphere generally good, however it is wise to exercise caution around the ground and you may consider keeping colours covered.
Finding a decent boozer was a problem for many last time, though for one the Antwerp is popular with both home and away fans. To find it, take a right turn when you come out of White Hart Lane Station, and then right onto the main High Road. You go past the the ground on your left and then go right into Church Road. Walk down the road going under a bridge and the pub is on the right opposite Bruce Castle Park. There are bouncers on the door but there's no problem getting in. Another recommended is 'The Park' right by Northumberland Park station. This is a small comfortable pub about ten minutes walk along Park Lane from the away end. Also the Bricklayers Arms (no away colours) is also recommended. Also the Three Compasses which is situated in Queen Street (behind Middlesex University), which is a five minute walk from White Hart Lane Station.
There is also a Wetherspoons outlet called the Gilpins Bell which is a ten minute walk away from the stadium. A fair sized pub, it also has a good sized beer garden, which on my last visit on a hot day in August, was crammed with fans, including a sprinkling of away supporters. Coming out of White Hart Lane railway station turn right and then left along the High Road. You will pass the Bricklayers and Coach & Horse pubs and you continue along the road as it bends around to the right. The Gilpens Bell is located a little further down this road on the right hand side.
However the best bet could be the Weatherspoons pub at Liverpool St. station, where you can get a train to White Hart Lane station, a 10 minute walk from the ground, see the train section for times and fares from Southend.
Inside the ground alcohol is served in the refreshment areas. This is in the form of plastic bottles of Carlsberg at £2.50 per 500ml bottle. But please note that alcohol is not served in the away section at half time.
BY CAR: Leave the M25 at Junction 25 and take the A10 towards Enfield. Continue on the A10 through Enfield and at the roundabout with the Northern Circular (A406), turn left onto the A406 (Sterling Way). Turn right into Fore Road (the A1010) which becomes the High Road and you will come to the ground on your left. If you arrive around midday, you can park at the local schools which are very easy to find. For £5 you can park until 6pm which is ample time to get back to the car after an afternoon match.
There is another way to get to the ground avoiding the A10 and A406. When you come off the M25, take the A10 turning and then turn left at the first set of lights. This takes you into Bullsmoor Lane. Follow the road through until a busy crossroads with traffic lights. Go straight over and then you are on Meridian Way (A1055). This road takes you straight down to Tottenham. Just keep going straight (over roundabouts and traffic lights and past the site at Picketts Lock) until you pass Tesco's on the left hand side. After going through the traffic lights at this store, go through the next set and turn right at the lights after those (Sedge Road). If you park around this area you will be able to get away fairly quickly and will be close to Northumberland Park station (as mentioned by others) and conveniently located for The Park Pub which is right next to the station. There is also a lot of towaway zones directly around the ground, so check the parking restrictions before you leave your car or you might face a trip to Wood Green (not recommended at the best of times) and a £100 bill to get your car back!
BY TUBE: The nearest tube station is Seven Sisters which is on the Victoria Line. The ground is about a twenty minute walk away, but there are plenty of buses running up Tottenham High Road to the ground. You can also get a normal train from Seven Sisters to White Hart Lane station, which is nearest to the stadium, being only a few minutes walk away. White Hart Lane Station is served by trains from Liverpool Street, where there is a handy Wetherspoons pub and cornish pasties outlet opposite. (Buy a $12.10 day return from Southend to White Hart Lane station, try and catch the 11.06, there are then trains at 03, 18 and 48 for the 20 minute trip from Liverpool St., plenty of time for a pint or two. 1.80 for a Courage Best! Trains back are at 17, 32 and 47 past the hour.) Another station to get to White Hart Lane from is Northumberland Park. Come out of the station and cross the road and you are in Park Lane. It is a ten minute stroll to the ground.
Current Season
For the 2007 season, Tottenham switched sponsors from Kappa to Puma. The sponsor on their shirt switched from Thomson [1] to Mansion [2]. Their home shirt saw the removal of the blue shoulders, their away kit changed from cyan shorts to navy shorts, and the alternate jersey changed from yellow to chocolate brown.
On November 5, Tottenham beat the reigning Premiership champions Chelsea for the first time in the league since 1990, and for the first time at White Hart Lane since 1987.
As of 15 January 2007, they are eighth in the Premiership, behind Everton on goal difference.
In the FA Cup 3rd Round, Spurs beat Cardiff City in a replay, thereby progressing to face Southend United (whom they beat this season in the Carling Cup) at home on 27 January 2007.
In the Carling Cup, Tottenham have defeated MK Dons, Port Vale, and Southend United to advance to the semi-finals. They will face Arsenal across two legs, to be played 24 January and 31 January 2007.
In the UEFA Cup, Tottenham beat Slavia Prague in the first round and then won all four group stage matches - including a resounding 2-0 win away at Turkish club Beşiktaş, whose supporters gave the players a standing ovation after the game - thus finishing at the top of the group and qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition. Spurs have been drawn against Feyenoord Rotterdam of Holland for the 1st Knockout Round, However on the 19th of January 2007 Feyenoord Rotterdam were kicked out of the cup due to problems with hooliganism and UEFA have not yet confirmed whether Tottenham will be given a bye into the last 16 of the Uefa cup.
Support
Tottenham have a large fanbase, with home matches traditionally attracting high attendances. In several seasons during the 1950s and 1960s, Tottenham had the highest average attendance in England. In more recent years, attendances have been lower, partly due to the reduction in capacity caused by White Hart Lane's conversion to an all-seater stadium. In the 2005-06 season, Tottenham had the eighth largest average attendance in England.
The club have a reputation for having a large Jewish following, with some Tottenham supporters referring to themselves as Yids, a nickname derived from the Yiddish word for "Jew." The term was originally used as a racist provocation, but was co-opted by Spurs fans in the late 1960s, after years of having had anti-semitic racial abuse directed at them by opposing supporters, to deflect its impact and to differentiate themselves from other clubs' fans. A small element among the Tottenham crowd (including many gentiles) developed related chants such as "Yiddos!" and "Yid Army!" in an effort to fire up the team.
It is debatable whether, despite the fact that the Tottenham Hotspur's fan base is largely non-Jewish, the use of the word 'Yid' in this context is acceptable, given that 'Yid' is also (as stated above) used as a pejorative reference to Jews.
Rivals
Tottenham's biggest rivalry is with fellow North London club Arsenal, against whom they contest the North London derby. Their other main rival is fellow London club Chelsea. Other local derbies include games against West Ham United, Fulham, Charlton, Crystal Palace and Millwall.
(With many thanks to Wikipedia, the Internet Ground Guide, and the SUFC Database for there help with this article.)
