Armchair supporter.

I had another lousy Sunday - I got cold sitting in the car park and it wasn't even really cold.

And I was hurting quite badly. I got so stiff while I was waiting I got out of the car and hobbled around for a few minutes - it didn't help.

On the other hand I spent the afternoon drowsing in front of the television and watching Tottenham, my team get through to the quarter finals of the F.A. Cup.

I don't expect it to go very well because they have been underperforming for as long as I can remember - and that's a
very long time.

I started supporting them in 1967 which was the year they won the F.A Cup and as a nine year old that seemed like a team that couldn't fail.

I was wrong - they didn't win it again until 1982 by which
time I had well and truly grown up.

And while there were a few minor victories, it's been a very lean period. Last year they played better than they had for decades until they fell apart in the last four games of the season and it all fell to pieces.

So I'm not holding my breath but it was a nice afternoon spent in an armchair, forgetting about all the bad things in life.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Tottenham cake.

I'm making a cake;

A special cake just for me;

I'm making 'Tottenham Cake';

It's local to Tottenham in north London and was made by local Quakers who coloured the icing with fruit from the Mulberry tree in their meeting house grounds.

In 1901 when Tottenham Hotspur won the F.A.Cup for the first time, a local baker gave out Tottenham cakes to local kids and ever since then whenever Tottenham win something, everybody eats the cake to celebrate.

Well, this was just about the worst season ever - the team were in line to win any one of three competitions and came away with nothing.

Worse, in the last few matches of the season they gave away second place in the league to rivals Arsenal.

The sad thing is that the owners (a 'media conglomerate') probably think things went well. Next year the team is in the Champions league and you earn money just for being there.

Any fool knew that in the January transfer window they should have strengthened the team - they didn't.

We all know we'll be knocked out of the Champions league in the first round. If you think you can just improve on this year football doesn't work out like that.

The other teams don't stand still - they get better too.

When your chance comes you have to take it or it's gone forever.

I've supported Spurs since 1967, the days of Jimmy Greaves and Alan Gilzean, of Steve Perryman, of buying a standing ticket on the day at White hart Lane.

I had a blip in 1982 when I found my job required me to bribe customers with F.A. Cup Final tickets and Spurs were in that final.

I was so disgusted when I realised how corrupt football was (is) that I gave up on it for a while.

I also don't think £100 tickets are good value and I'm not good at booking 6 months ahead either.

But they were always my team.

So, because next season isn't something I'm going to be too bothered about I made myself a 'Tottenham cake' here and now.

Grrrrrrh!

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com