It's a Long Way to Tottenham

Posted by Logan Holmes Aug 19, 2007

How I envy those supporters who live close to Tottenham and can leave for the game after their dinner and be home again within an hour of the final whistle. It must be great to jump in the car or take the bus to the game without having to make all sorts of arrangements to enable you to get there.

Obtaining a ticket is the first priority - getting on to the e-booking system as soon as it opens to ensure you've bought that all important ticket, especially for the local derby against Arsenal in a month's time.

Booking the airline seats, trying to obtain the cheapest seats but if you book too early and they change the date of the game for television, you're left with another problem and I've been caught out like that more than once.

Tuesday,14th August,2007

Early afternoon flight to London Luton airport, train to central London and a meal before the game. Then the underground train to Tottenham for the 8pm kick off.

Expectations are high for the first home game of the season, even after Saturday's poor performance and defeat at Sunderland. Two minutes in and Everton got an early free-kick and scored a simple goal. Not what I had been wanting. Things looked up and Spurs started to exert some pressure and equalised from a corner, a Tony Gardner header. It didn't last long and Everton re-established control, scoring twice before half-time. In the second period for all their effort Spurs couldn't score.

10.00pm Game over, disappointing defeat but Spurs didn't deserve anything from the game. Train out to Gatwick airport - hard bench for the night, all the comfortable ones had been taken before my arrival at just before midnight.

Wednesday,15th August, 2007

5.30am Slept reasonably well, flight home at 7.00am - it was on time and I arrived home at nine o'clock.

Saturday,18th August, 2007

5.00am Early alarm call to set off for the 6.45 flight to London Luton. Arrived in London at 9.10am, in time to have a coffee in Starbucks and have a leisurely read of the morning papers. A short stroll through central London before brunchand the underground train to White Hart Lane.

Had an interesting chat with a Barcelona fan extolling the virtues of his team's new signings. The closest stsation to the ground was closed for repairs so I'd a long walk from the next station - that's going to be problem when I try to get home immediately after the game.

Enjoyed the game - Spurs won easily against Derby County - three goals in the first fifteen minutes and a fourth after half-time. That should ease the pressure on the manager after all the newspaper talk of problems at the club.

4.50pm Match over and I had to be at Luton for the 7.00pm flight. It was going to be difficult and that walk to the station was very long but eventually I got a bus which helped. Arrived for the train at King's Cross at 5.48pm - on time and was at the airport for 6.45pm. Rushed through security - the flight had been called so I ran to the gate and made it with minutes to spare.

Flight on time and I arrived home at 9.00pm.

It was a good day - Spurs won and I've just realised that the day marked the thirty sixth anniversary of my first vist to see Spurs playing at White Hart Lane.