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Taking the plunge

6 min read
by Hanik Kotecha
Back from living abroad, Hanik Kotecha is now a season ticket holder.at Wembley. Does he feel like more of a fan now?

Over a year ago, I wrote a piece called Time to Change the Relationship Status? Long story short, it has changed. I am a now a bona fide season ticket holder. While this is due my privilege of living at home again not having to worry about the bills anymore. Does it feel any different now that I’ve taken the plunge? Yes and boy do I wish I did it sooner.

Let’s first start off with the Wembley issue. Why would anyone become a season ticket holder this season, after moving from the Lane and then next season moving into the new stadium? Well joining now, gives me access to the new stadium, but more importantly for me, I don’t know if I can stay on a season ticket holder and there is no way I was going to give up on the opportunity. I was over 56,000 in line for the season ticket line and in desperate need for some loyalty points if I wanted to go to an away game. There is no doubt that Wembley is a terrible experience versus the Lane. Even when I went to the Gillingham game last year where the stadium wasn’t full, and I was stuck in the West Stand; there was more atmosphere. Wembley is soul destroying in that way. However, when I look around in the upper echelons of Wembley, I see something I rarely saw at the Lane, young kids. While it had made me slightly more conscious of what I say in the stands when you listen to older fans who went when they were young, it’s a part of life that they value dearly; even if Spurs were shit at the time. So, all these young fans are getting blooded in, when you read the matchday programme nearly every kid says that the famous person they want to meet is Harry Kane. For them, going to Wembley isn’t going to the Ritz, it’s going to cloud nine. When we score, after going absolutely mental and you look around and see a kid’s ecstasy still ongoing that’s what Tottenham is about. Pure joy.

Talking about pure joy, the watching the current Spurs team is sheer joy. It’s just silky smooth to watch. The team is starting to shift into second gear. After last season where I have experienced seeing Spurs lose for the first time in front of my eyes and even the first couple of home games at Wembley, where I thought what on Earth have spent my money on? It’s been a small price to pay for what we have seen in the last couple of weeks. The Swansea game left a bitter taste in the mouth due to the result, but I was able to blood my German friend into a Spurs fan. Watching Marcos Alonso score twice at my end, seeing Burnley equalise late on. What was going on? For us to then beat Dortmund in the Champions League, where, quite honestly, I was expecting a draw at best. To pummelling Liverpool where I got to meet up with a couple of mates from the away section, and they sat in despair. I all I felt was bliss (it was even sweeter in front of them). The lows of the frustrating draws and disappointing loss against Chelsea are being paid back in spades. And yeah, it’s not as good as the Lane, nor did any of us expect it to be. However, if I had only pitched up for the first game, without the season ticket, I probably wouldn’t have returned. That stupid drum, non-vicarial atmosphere and some old git next to me who had nothing positive to say and expect to be entertained. How quickly things can change.

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Not only the ridiculous thought of a Wembley hoodoo is changing, but my life is also definitely evolving. Before, when I was planning my weekend, I would check if Spurs were on TV and try to plan my day around this. However, if a friend asked me to go out, I would spend time with them instead of watching the match. I mean, I could always just check out Match of the Day in the evening or record it if I was planning on going out in the evening. Can always just check my phone for the score. No biggie. These days, the first thing I do is check the calendar and see if I am making the pilgrimage this week (or multiple times). My life is revolving around the club, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Before the explosion of the Premier League abroad, it was great just to see a live game of Tottenham overseas, and now I get to experience them with my own eyes.

For me, this brings up the point of what is it to be a fan. I’ve got a bizarre history relating to my love of Spurs. When I was living abroad and had never been to the Lane, am I less of the fan? Part of me wants to say yes, as there is an intangible difference between the person who has gone and who hasn’t. The other part of me screams no. There’s a lot of good fortune to be able to go to see Spurs, and it takes a particular person to choose Spurs (or at least it did a decade ago). Put it another way, am I now more of a fan now? Does making time to see Tottenham make me better than those who don’t? Well, the narcissistic prick inside me says: Of course, it does. The realist would point out that there it is a privileged position to be in, having the choice to spend my weekends watching Spurs. And bar the West Ham game the other night, it’s a very nice privilege to have. There is no doubt that my fan experience is now going to be different, whether or not I renew. Part of me is a bit sad by this, especially if I have to walk away from my season ticket. What on Earth will I do over the weekends? Even at Wembley, there is the oneness between us Spurs fans. Walking around the stadium before and after a game is a rare moment to think that everyone is a decent person, ‘cause they’re Spurs, and so am I. No care about class, race or any other rubbish separator. It’s more than a cathartic experience; it’s what life should be like. Being seen as nothing other than what I have chosen in support and what I’ve fallen in love with is a rarity in daily life. While it is the case whether or not I am season ticket holder I do get to experience more often.

There is that ineffable emotional connection to the club that is no longer the same. Would I recommend anyone to get a season ticket? If you have the time and the money, yes get yourself a ticket especially if you an emotional connection to Spurs. If you don’t have that regard to the club, I don’t know why you would bother with football at all. For me? I’m not going to lie. I love Tottenham. And I have no plans to stop.

All views and opinions expressed in this article are the views and opinions of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of The Fighting Cock. We offer a platform for fans to commit their views to text and voice their thoughts. Football is a passionate game and as long as the views stay within the parameters of what is acceptable, we encourage people to write, get involved and share their thoughts on the mighty Tottenham Hotspur.

2 Comments

  1. Tony
    06/11/2017 @ 10:54 am

    Not certain whether I’d want a Season Ticket?

    I agree with a lot of the comments here but don’t get the relevance of having a season ticket in relation to how often I’d go?

    I’m a Bronze member, so far this season I’ve only missed the Chelsea Game and the Bournemouth game, (just because of other commitments). Probably gonna miss Stoke, but other than that already booked up for West Brom and Brighton, and fully intend to be at every game at least until after Manchester United, (not looked any further than that yet).

    Obviously I’m on the Season Ticket waiting list and if the opportunity came up I’d think about it, but right now I roughly know where I like to be, can always get that area, and as someone who moves around a fair bit within that section I get to meet different Spurs fans each time which mostly I enjoy.

    If I had a Season Ticket that would limit who I got to be around. That might be great, they might be a good crowd, but I always think what if they weren’t, or what if someone really got on my nerves and I was stuck with them every game?

    Also, what happens if I want to bring someone? I’ve forced a few mates to attend games, and though I have to wait for the guest option which limits where I want to be and that sometimes see’s me stuck up on level 2, how does it work with a Season Ticket? Do I get a pre booking privilege for the seat next to mine?

    Mostly though, the way I see it, I pay for what I see. I’ve paid for a membership so the more games I go to the more value the membership is, so I’m already committed, (both as a fan and a member), no matter how we’re performing. Those occasions when I just cant make a game because of work, someones wedding, or whatever, if I had a ST I think I’d resent not being able to use it?

    Don’t get me wrong I’m not critical of season ticket holders, but as a Spurs fan, who lives within London so can access Wembley or, (what I’m going to call), New White Hart Lane, easily, I cant imagine why a season ticket would get me attending more games than I already do?

    • Hanik Kotecha
      13/11/2017 @ 5:21 pm

      Hey Tony,

      I can’t answer all your questions or concerns, but I’ll try and answer as many as I can before I need to get to work.

      Let’s start about attending more games. The benefit that you currently get by attending what games you can and not having to pay for games that you don’t attend. The value of the season ticket is more significant if you attend all the matches as you do get a slight discount on the ticket prices + you don’t have to pay admin fees. The other significant advantage is the application for away days, with a season ticket you have prority to attend away games.

      You are right that if the area around you is not to your satisfaction, then you are pretty much stuck, though I’m sure you could ask the club to move you (if it was possible) and this might also tie into bringing people. I’m fortunate to be in a decent area (not great, but I’ve had worse seats before) and with a place being free next to me, so I can always have a friend next to me. If there were more than two of them, then I would either have to get a new ticket or not sit with them. You don’t have the option of pre-booking seats next to you.

      For not being able to use my ST, so far hasn’t been an issue. Though for Xmas I am travelling to see family and will have to find someone to attend the Southhampton and West Ham games, I’ll probably put it up on the ticket exchange or lend the ticket to a family member. It will be a pain, but so far nothing has come up that is more important than a Spurs game. There are solutions, just nothing truly convenient.

      The one thing that wasn’t brought up is being able to guarantee a seat at the new stadium. If it’s still within budget to attend; being able to say that I went to the first game at the New White Hart Lane, will be worth the money and time in my mind. But that’s a personal decision.

      Honestly, the way you have laid things out. What you have is a good deal. However, I still remember that it took me over four years after moving back to the UK to go to White Hart Lane. It was almost impossible back then to attend games that fitted my calendar and budget. Essentially, I’m trying to make up for lost time.

      Hope this provided a bit more light, but shoot me a message on Twitter or my website if you want to chat some more. Or maybe even see you at the social for Tottenham vs the Scum by TFC?

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