I’m sure that many people think that footie fans generally and my ‘dog shit hill’ friends in particular are no more or less than a bunch of beer swilling thugs. I am here to tell you that this could not be further from the truth. The friends we have made through this game and my beloved Spurs are among my most loved and most cherished friends.

I have spent today, still painfully fragile and still breaking down in tears often, with these wonderful people who have shown me nothing but love and kindness. They are an amazing testament to the fact that love (of all sorts) comes from the most unexpected places.

At half-time, they were down under the stand and I was so faint that I spent most of the break in my seat, where I got this rare shot of us ahead of our arch rivals…..shame we couldn’t keep it up but there is hope for the team and hope for me…..to dare is to do.

I have dared, I have done, can I hold it together long enough to reap the rewards of what I have fought so hard for?

Last year, my folks had arrived to see our 'promised land' and the year before, I was making omelettes