Life without 1882

February 18th, 2015. To most people it’s just another Wednesday, but I woke up with a huge sense of excitement because I knew today I’d be able to see Spurs play in the quarter final of the FA youth cup away to Nottingham Forest. As a Spurs season ticket holder living in Nottingham for university, I was in a fortunate position where I was entitled to a free ticket and I could walk straight to the City Ground from my student flat.

After our impressive win against Manchester United in the fifth round, there was some talk on social media and forums of fans based in London wanting to go to the game if THFC could provide transport, much like Wolves did in the fourth round at Dagenham & Redbridge. However, after emailing the club, I was politely told that transport would not be provided. This would be my first experience of the FA youth cup without the camaraderie of 1882.

As I arrived in the ground, I was pleased to see a few Spurs shirts and scarves, but I was less pleased to see that there was no segregation, and the area in which Spurs fans were given tickets was actually part of the ‘family area’. Hardly conducive to any kind of atmosphere.

[linequote]I tentatively started some ‘family friendly’ chants and a handful joined in, but as we were mixed in with Forest fans, nothing was ever going to catch on[/linequote]

As kick-off approached I realized that this would be my first ever away game in which I would have to sit down, as it became clear that no Spurs fans were going to stand. I tentatively started some ‘family friendly’ chants and a handful joined in, but as we were mixed in with Forest fans, nothing was ever going to catch on.

Happily, events on the pitch were less depressing. Kyle Walker-Peters regularly burst forward with an incredible sense of adventure, as well as unmatched agility and dribbling ability. Unlike his namesake in the first team, Walker-Peters bursts into the heart of the pitch from the right-back position, and even finds himself on the left wing at times. Our central midfield pairing of Stylianides and Amos were tactically aware enough to drop deep to cover the relentless marauding runs of Walker-Peters and Anton Walkes.

Daly and Azzoui didn’t have their best games, but both produced some impressive service to Harrison, who looked equally at home at centre forward and on the right of our three attacking midfielders where he played later in the game. Josh Onomah played with all the composure and confidence of someone that is more than ready for senior football.

One of the more entertaining moments of the match was a 22-man brawl in the second half, not for the first time in this competition. Although it was just handbags, inexplicably, Azzaoui emerged from the scuffle with cramp in his calf.

[linequote]Josh Onomah played with all the composure and confidence of someone that is more than ready for senior football[/linequote]

Two similar yet spectacular goals from Walker-Peters and Azzaoui saw us go two-nil up early in the second half, and even though we conceded sloppily towards the end, the defence, marshaled by the majestic Cameron Carter-Vickers, stood firm, and we were good value for our victory.

As impressive as the on-pitch performance was, I hope that in the semi-final- ideally in the away leg as well as home- I will be able to express my passion for the lilywhites, and sing for the shirt with my 1882 brethren.