Ray of hope. Spurs vs Arsenal

By Jon P
April 22 2004

Maybe it is time for a little ray of hope. I can’t help thinking that Sunday’s match has parallels with a certain game in April 91

All of you boys and girls know the Spurs folklore which has grown up around the Tottenham 3 Scum 1 result of the century, but many of you will be too young to remember what it was like in the build up to the game.

The scum were arrogantly taking the double for granted at the time, while Spurs, surprise-surprise, was a club in crisis. We really were on the verge of extinction financially, our football was mediocre at best and Gazza was far from fit (an hour at Norwich the previous Wednesday was the only run out he had had in months). It all looked very bleak.

I like most Spurs fans that day went to see the good old girl that was Wembley Stadium more in blind hope than expectation. We were bound to lose - but maybe, just maybe, the gods of football might smile on the good of the white over the evil of the red. I can honestly say that I had never felt such excitement and exhilaration in my life as I did when “that” free kick went in. The second goal was dreamland, yet Arsenal still had time to come back. Lineker’s second was ecstasy – it really doesn’t get any better than this.

I didn’t stay for the lap of honour, as I had an urgent appointment with a few beers to keep. Walking down Wembley way I noticed me and my mate were the only ones smiling. The Arsenal fans were in shock, stunned silence, their arrogant little swagger had completely drained away.

Excuse my indulgence, but April 14th 1991 was mine and many other Spurs fans “day in the sunshine”. 3-1 against all the odds. Nothing can ever top it (well maybe a Defoe hat trick in the World Cup final might come close). It’s a result that has sustained me through 13 years of what has really been 95% of tripe at Spurs.

My point is that miracles can happen. Its always darkest before the dawn, etc.. The Scum have the same arrogant heads on them this year. Spurs are in a genuine backs to the wall situation. I will be praying to the gods of football again. Surely its time the younger Spurs fans had their “day in the sunshine” as well.

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