Tottenham remembers, but Hotspur doesn’t show

Aside from the problems on the pitch of a team with no spine, an uninspiring captain and strikers who (mostly) cannot score, something else bothers me about Tottenham Hotspur. I’ve lived in Tottenham for exactly three years and on Sunday 9th November, yesterday at the time of writing; I attended the remembrance Sunday at Tottenham’s war memorial by the Town Hall.

Having attended these in my home town of Littlehampton and in my previous home of Finchley and watched many on TV, I’m a regular observer of the service and of the two minute silence for the fallen.

Tottenham’s isn’t much different from the standard service. A local priest, representatives from local political parties, our local mayor, our MP David Lammy and army and air force cadets was in attendance. Also a blessing from a local rabbi has been added to this, adding a touch of the local religious diversity to the proceedings.

However there is one notable absentee in Tottenham. Head a mile or so north from the memorial and you hit White Hart Lane – probably the most significant building in the area and home of a Premier League football team.

[linequote]Tottenham however, with a team formed in 1882 metres from where it plays now, does not turn up to the local service[/linequote]

If you go to the service in Islington, held on its green, you’ll see a representative from Arsenal with a wreath laid with the cannon logo on the centre. Tottenham however, with a team formed in 1882 metres from where it plays now, does not turn up to the local service.

This is Tottenham, for whom former player Walter Tull died in the First World War. For whom two Argentine players played for the club after the Falklands conflict and remain club legends. For whom there was a bomb threat during a televised game in 1991. Yet our owners don’t feel the duty to turn up and lay a wreath.

On this year and last year’s services, it coincided with a home game and an early kick off (Newcastle at midday last year, where huge sets of fans stood for the two minute silence and some for the remainder of the service, and Stoke at 1.30pm this year) meaning that there were “legends” present for corporate entertainment and members of staff free for the 25 minutes required. Not to mention thousands of Tottenham fans who would feel honoured to represent the club in such a way.

[linequote] I am concerned that with the talk of moving away for a season, the local people are being forgotten[/linequote]

Instead there is nothing. Now maybe it is the case that no one has thought to send someone, if that is the case then shame on you. Perhaps I am better informing the Tottenham Supporters Association, whose collective voice is better heard than this one person, but I am concerned that with the talk of moving away for a season, the local people are being forgotten.

We’ve seen no visible support from Tottenham Hotspur at the council summer markets, nothing at the Ploughman events held regularly, and aside from a pre-match fun day and a presence on canvas banners hung from street-lights after the 2011 riots, you would not know that there was a football club in the area.

This has a year to be sorted out, and I hope that in November 2015 we see Ledley King, Gary Mabbutt, Pat Jennings or failing that, anyone laying a wreath of poppies with a cockerel in the centre. If it falls to me, a local resident of three years and Spurs fan of 27 years, then I would be honoured to recognise the fallen on behalf of Tottenham Hotspur. Better that than nobody at all.