The boo-boys of White Hart Lane

Week one of Premier League action produced one of the funniest results and subsequent reactions for football supporters. Woolwich was soundly defeated 2-0 by West Ham, and their fanbase entered what could only be described as an atomic meltdown.

Fans screamed, cursed and argued outside of the stadium. Twitter was full of videos capturing the infighting, yelling, and general buffoonery that one would come to expect from the Emirates. ArsenalFanTV was on hand to make matters even worse, causing more fighting, yelling and capturing more meltdowns in the crowd. I laughed. We laughed. I would dare say that everyone not an Woolwich fan shared in on the shadenfreude of the whole situation.

Here was a club that for yet another year was supposed to make a run for the title, and was brought down to Earth in a week one loss. We laughed mainly because of the overreaction from the fans, and how they could act so childishly because of one loss at the beginning of the season. These fans became a running joke all week, and we as Spurs fans told ourselves that this kind of reaction is what separates us from the scum. We lost 1-0 to Manchester United, yet the away support was in full voice and full of pride in their squad. However, this didn’t seem to last long because of the resulting reactions from the home crowd on Saturday.

[linequote]We laughed at the Woolwich boo-boys, and now White Hart Lane was becoming the same thing[/linequote]

Simply put, the home support acted much like those outside of the Emirates did last week. Not exactly a popular thing to say, but it does ring true. Even though we gave up a 2-0 lead, Stoke stormed back to claim a point, such is the world of football. I was up early in the morning before work to watch the match over in Birmingham, Alabama, and what I heard after the full time whistle shocked me: a rain of boos rang out in the stadium.

On Twitter, the typical meltdown I’d expect was happening, yet this time it was with more venom. People were jumping on the Poch Out bandwagon, and some were even wishing death on some of the players. This is not indicative of the whole support base, yet it was apparent that there were those who were becoming the very thing we made fun of the week before. We laughed at the Woolwich boo-boys, and now White Hart Lane was becoming the same thing.

I can understand being frustrated at the result, who wouldn’t? After such a positive first half, to give up a point at home was disheartening to say the least. Yet it was only the second game of the season. New signings coming in, some going out, and some players acting in new roles. One could expect some hiccups along the way. But to boo the team after only two games in unacceptable in my eyes. Maybe it’s selfish on my part, but hearing boos affects me so much because I can’t be there.

[fullquote]To see these fans showing so much hatred and frustration towards the players is worrying, especially since many are paying large sums of money for a season ticket or even a single one[/fullquote]

I became a Spurs fan not too long ago. I wanted to support a club that had a rich history and didn’t buy its way to success. I was immediately taken in with the club. I loved the atmosphere and the noise, the players and glory of nights such as the Europa League comeback against Dnipro. I live across the Atlantic, and travel isn’t an option because of money, so I can only get my Spurs fix through the television and importing merchandise from overseas.

When last year’s preseason tour came to Chicago, I packed my bags and made the long trip there to watch the match. It was my one chance to see the club, and I had the time of my life. That may very well be the last time I am able to see Spurs play live, and even if they come to the US again, White Hart Lane may never be an option for me. I’ve always told myself that if a chunk of money came my way, it would be spent on a plane ticket and a matchday ticket before anything else.

For now though, I wake up early morning to watch the match, even if I’m expecting a loss. Spurs are really all I have for professional sports, since the state I live in doesn’t have any pro teams: I have to travel hours away just to watch the closest teams. Because of this, I’ve put all of my support into Spurs. I love to watch each and every game, the interviews, and the replays, because this really all I have in terms of a connection. Thanks to the distance, my love of the club can only be through the media. It is because of this that I get angry whenever I hear the crowds boo after a match. It is mostly because I wish with all of my being that I could be there. It would be a dream come true to watch a match, any match, live in England.

To see these fans showing so much hatred and frustration towards the players is worrying, especially since many are paying large sums of money for a season ticket or even a single one. Football is supposed to be about enjoyment, camaraderie, and passion, and somewhere along the line a lot of supporters have forgotten this. There are many that can’t go to the matches that live close by that would love to go, only to see those that are there booing and ruining the atmosphere.

[linequote]Whenever you hear the boos rain down, remember that there’s always another supporter that would gladly take that ticket off of the booing individual’s hands[/linequote]

It is safe to say that booing has never helped in sports. If a club is having a bad day, then booing them is the last thing that will motivate them. Yet is appears that as the seasons progress, booing is happening more frequently, and sooner as well. It’s only the second week of the season and some are already fed up and have lost their patience. These people need to remember that if the manager is fired, then we go back to square one, and the process we are working so hard to get out of repeats yet again.

Simply put, those going to matches, and those that decide to voice their opinion online need to remember what football is all about, and what Tottenham is all about. We want a club that can give us glory and heartbreak, and to savour those moments that are achieved through hard work and skill.

If we wanted to be bored supporting a club, then we would all be Chelsea fans, but we aren’t.

There are hundreds of thousands of fans abroad that can’t make it to matches, and would do whatever they could just to experience the atmosphere of White Hart Lane just one time. Whenever you hear the boos rain down, remember that there’s always another supporter that would gladly take that ticket off of the booing individual’s hands so that they can improve the matchday atmosphere, even just a little bit.