I was concerned that Colin would think I’d taken liberties with his generosity when I arranged a few other things to do while in London on his birthday treat for me. I met up with my ex-colleagues for lunch yesterday and we had a good catch up of gossip, news and other stuff, all over a pizza for lunch. This morning, after my night out with Colin, I met WHL Sarah for a trip to the hallowed ground of White Hart Lane this morning before going home.
I needn’t have worried about offending Colin because he was thrilled I’d made the most of my visit. He’s such a generous soul.
Neither Sarah nor I had ever been to White Hart Lane for anything other than a game or collecting tickets for a game. Years ago, (In fact May 1981 so 29 years ago) I did queue all night there for tickets for the replay of the 1981 Cup Final in the pouring rain but boy was it worth it to be able to say “I was there” when Ricky Villa scored THAT goal – probably one of the finest goals in the history of The Spurs. Anyway, enough digression, I hit on the idea of doing a stadium tour this morning and when I suggested it to Sarah she was up for it too. Neither of us had ever thought of going on a stadium tour and yet for both of us it seemed like an excellent way to spend a morning.
We had so much fun. We saw the trophy cabinets, the changing rooms and all of the back of the scenes stuff that mere mortals don’t normally get chance to see. We even got to sit in Harry’s seat on the touchline. What a fab morning it was too.
In the home changing rooms, I sat in the corner seat and was told by the guide that none of our players will sit in that seat any more since the departure of the man known as the most miserable old git to have ever worn the shirt departed the club, supposedly for greater glory in a red shirt – you know who I mean don’t you? We heard many stories about the players’ antics and their little foibles that you don’t get to hear about when all you normally care about is making sure they win!
Anyway, I sat in the Directors Box and smelled the grass as it was being mown in advance of our first home game of the season. I LOVE that smell – walking onto the terraces and sniffing newly mown turf – it’s only the first game where it’s so apparent, I don’t know why. Maybe it’s just that your senses are more alert at that stage of the season.
It struck me that the preparations going on for the first (and subsequent) game(s) of the season were being meticulously carried out, just like the meticulous planning of my trip!
Packing loads into it has made me tired and glad to be on my way home but it’s also made me very happy to have achieved so much in such a short time. I owe a great debt of thanks to Colin for making it all possible. Thanks friend!
