Tottenham Hotspur – White Hart Lane

White Hart Lane – Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs are on their way to Wembley – or so they sang back when Tottenham were actually en route to the biggest stage of them all.
What a difference a year makes. Spurs were sat high in the Premiership, playing in Europe & with one of the highest regarded managers around, whilst the mighty were sat at the wrong end of the old Division 3 and looking forward to the Johnstone Paint Trophy as our only realistic chance of silverware.

Fast forward to 2007 and we’ve been to Wembley and won, Spurs have sacked their manager and now have in charge for their first game the fancily named duo of Juande Ramos and Gus Poyet. Now we know that Ramos having just left Seville will be fond of oranges, here’s hoping that come 2200hrs on Wednesday night that he’s already sick his back teeth to the Tangerines.

The Ground
36000+ capacity, no doubt the crowd will be boosted by the fact that it’s Ramos’ first game. WHL is one of the best grounds in the country. Totally enclosed this enables a good atmosphere to be built. Both ends have huge video screens, built into the roof. All the stands are two tiered with a row of executive boxes/concourse and are of roughly the same height giving the ground a well balanced look. We’ll be accommodated in one corner of the ground in between the South & West Stands, where up to 2,900 supporters can be seated, in the lower and upper tiers. The upper tier is quite a climb, but the view is worth it.

How to get there
White Hart Lane – Laandon bound on a midweek night game, not many people’s first choice when the draw was made. Use the M6 to its very end (use the toll for £4 each way you’ll save hours), M1 South then hop on to the good old M25. At J6a put your hands together and pray hard. Pray that the M25 is open and running smoothly if it is the sensation will be better than if you ever won the lottery. Join the M25 and head towards Dartford / M11 / M20. At J25 take the A10 exit signposted Enfield / Hatfield. At the roundabout take the 3rd exit signposted A10 / Great Cambridge Rd / London N&C & Enfield. Continue on the A10 through Enfield and at the roundabout with the Northern Circular (A406), turn left onto the A406 (Sterling Way). Turn right into Fore Road (the A1010) which becomes the High Road and you will come to the ground on your left.
The stadium is located on the A1010 (Tottenham High Road) and is one mile south of the A406 (North Circular).

For the Virgin lovers amongst us – White Hart Lane mainline station is five minutes walk from the stadium, which joins the Victoria Line tube service via Seven Sisters. There is an excellent bus service from Seven Sisters running past the stadium entrance. Trains run from both Seven Sisters and Tottenham Hale to Liverpool Street Station and direct trains take about 20 minutes. A taxi rank is available at Tottenham Hale Station, which is also on the Victoria Line.

The plane, the plane shall I bother after the Naarrwwich fiasco? Spurs from Stanstead via train is a 30 minute journey leaving at Tottenham Hale.

Where to drink
The Antwerp is popular with both home and away fans. Take a right turn when you come out of White Hart Lane Station, and then right onto the main High Road. You go past the the ground on your left and then go right into Church Road. Walk down the road going under a bridge and the pub is on the right opposite Bruce Castle Park. ‘The Park’ is located right by Northumberland Park station. This is a ten minute walk along Park Lane from the away end. There is also the Bricklayers Arms & ‘Three Compasses’ which is situated in Queen Street (behind Middlesex University), which is a five minute walk from White Hart Lane Station’.

There is also a Wetherspoons called the ‘Gilpins Bell’ which is a ten minute walk away from the ground. Coming out of White Hart Lane railway station turn right and then left along the High Road. You will pass the Bricklayers and Coach & Horse pubs and you continue along the road as it bends around to the right. The Gilpens Bell pub is located a little further down this road on the right hand side.
Ale is available inside the ground.

Plod & Stewards
We`ll be sat right underneath the police control room so they’ll be able to keep a close eye on us. That said the stewards are known to be overzealous types and expect [plenty of calls to remain sat down.

Fear Factor Rating – 6.

Well here we are in unchartered waters with a place in the quarter finals in the country’s second biggest cup competition awaiting the winners of Wednesday’s game. Whether it’s good or bad timing following the Jol sacking who can say. The crowd will be boosted and who knows whether 2 full days on the training ground will be enough for Spurs to get to know their new boss, and him them. On their day the mighty can play some class football. Injuries and cup tied players aside the fans will make this a night to savour. Here’s hoping our display at Wednesday won’t be repeated this Wednesday.


Onwards + Upwards