If anything is to be garnered from last night’s exit from the Champions League it should be a feeling of pride. Every single spurs fan should be walking around today strutting, chest firmly puffed out like the cockerel that adorns the west stand at White Hart Lane, for nothing that’s happened during our first season in Europe’s elite competition should make us believe we don’t belong there.
Well, almost nothing. There’s one think that made us stand out from a regular champions league team and that was us, the fans. As the team were staring at a rare European home defeat and a crushing 5-0 aggregate scoreline the stadium was still rocking. Every man, woman and child stood as they went through the repertoire of songs as a sign of respect and appreciation for what the players and management have given us this season. In any other stadium, especially those based on these shores, most fans would’ve left and those who remained would’ve greeted the final whistle with boo’s and be demanding a change in management and overhaul of the entire team. Not that we’re completely adverse to such things, but not on this night and not in Europe.
I’ve seen in places that was a sign of a small club enjoying their moment in the limelight but it’s far from that. It’s a sign of a club that has a loyal following, a following where the majority have grown up experiencing nothing but disappointment, hanging onto the hope that one day they’ll be able to experience the likes of Inter Milan, AC Milan and Real Madrid visiting north London as their parents did before them. Twenty years ago today Paul Gascoigne scored a goal that lives in every spurs fans heart, a goal against the enemy at Wembley of all places. Maybe Crouch’s goal in the San Siro or Bale’s hat-trick in the same arena won’t become as iconic as that goal but I’m sure the generation that witnessed those events will remember them with similar fondness.
Whether we’re in the competition or not next season and become a regular competitor will determine how often the events of the past 9 months are discussed. Whether you’re Arsenal, Barcelona, Manchester United or Real Madrid for this season at least you can’t claim to have been the most entertaining team on the continent and that’s what it’s all about after all isn’t it? Even in defeat I’d be surprised if one fan left N17 last night wishing they hadn’t gone and wanting their money back. Those who sold their tickets after the first leg (and there were plenty) wouldn’t know what it’s like to be a real supporter. The 30,000+ there last night and the millions watching TV around the world, enjoying what was one final foray this season do, because it’s not all about winning and never has been.
It’s about entertainment. It’s about memories. It’s about travelling to Bremen with a few friends not expecting to get anything from the game. It’s about meeting new people, sharing a drink with Bremen fans and discussing how much cheaper their tickets are than yours. It’s about looking back at moments you’ll never forget in a game you somehow managed to only draw when leading 2-0, but every memory is a positive one. It’s about sitting in a pub watching Inter Milan, the current champions of Europe taking on my beloved team at the home of football. It’s about jumping up and down in pure delight with every goal we scored and having United, Chelsea and even an Arsenal fan congratulate me. For what I’m not entirely sure as I did nothing but smile and giggle like a little girl for an hour of the match.
These are things that will live with me for the rest of my life just as Gazza’s free kick will. So what if we lost to a better side. So what if Gomes made another clanger or Pav missed a couple of chances. That’s football, that’s sport, that’s life. The players have given me something that can never be taken. Am I being greedy if I ask for one more memory to be created this season? A top 4 finish would be nice if I’m not.
COYS
Submitted by THFC1882
