Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Newcastle United
Premier League
Sunday 25th August 2019
Although
I’ve been to White Hart Lane on a few occasions this was my first Spurs away
match with Newcastle United for over 32 years. My first visit was way back in
December 1984 and what a memorable occasion that was. The Toon lost the game
3-1 after taking a shock lead with a fabulous solo effort from Chris Waddle.
That Waddler strike won Goal of the Month on Match of the Day, but that wasn’t
the best thing I clapped eyes on that afternoon. At half time, there was a Xmas
parade around the perimeter of the pitch and walking next to Santa Claus was
the gorgeous Linda Lusardi, so what a treat for this teenager to see my
favourite page 3 lass up close and looking stunning!
The
following season I witnessed a miserable 5-1 defeat, memorable for the only
United goal scored by the late Alan Davies. In the 1986-87 a late Peter
Beardsley goal saw a rare away point at White Hart Lane, then later that season
a 5th round FA Cup tie and my last visit to the Lane. This game saw
another Spurs win, another Clive Allen goal en route to another Wembley cup
final, but the main recollection is the overcrowding in the away section, which
could have seen a disaster akin to what happened at Hillsborough two years
later. 
782
High Road,
London,
N17
0BX
Capacity:
62,062
Current
92 visited(91 because of Covvy groundshare) - recompleted
After
the carry on with various delays and over stretching the budget, the long wait
for the new Spurs ground has definitely been worthwhile - because it's a
belter!
The
ground has large sweeping curved roofs with four-tier stands on the West and
East sides. The Paxton End has three tiers and
opposite is the 17,500 capacity South Stand, the single largest stand in the
country, which is topped off with a large gold coloured cockerel mounted on the
roof. Overall the stadium is stunning and if it isn’t the best ground I’ve been
to then it's definitely in my Top 2.
Tottenham
Hotspur(6th) 0
Newcastle
United(18th) 1(Joelinton 27)
Premier
League matchday 3
Att.59,245
Admission
£31
“It’s
a funny old game” as a former Spurs legend used to consistently say and today
was a prime example of that. After the horror show at Norwich last week
Newcastle were the complete opposite, showing an abundance of passion, fight,
with every player fully committed to the cause. Even the winning goal had a
touch of class about it. United’s seventeen pass move was rounded off with Matt Ritchie placing the ball into Atsu, who
curled the ball into the path of Joelinton who took a touch and fired in his
first Premier League goal.
It was backs to the wall for the majority of the game
but as the clock ticked down, I couldn’t see the home team scoring with the
Toon defence literally throwing their bodies on the line to hang on to those
first three precious points.
#HeedHopper
282
miles door-to-door
Megabus
depart 0610 arriving at London Victoria 1320.
Return
on 2345 back in Newcastle at 0710 on Monday morning.
What a
long but thoroughly enjoyable day! The prolonged journey to London went much
quicker in the company of Valerie and Verity, two new friends I made on the bus
who were also travelling to the match. “The Two V’s” are mother and daughter
who have given up their season tickets this year and like myself are attending
their first Toon match of the season.
 |
| Pie Man, Heedhopper and Valerie |
When
we arrived in London we headed up to Tottenham Hale where I arranged to meet
Simple Pieman for a few bevvies in The Volunteer. After a few drinks my new
friends headed towards the ground for a drink in one of the away pubs, while me
and Pie stayed for another drink. It was great to catch up with my Spurs
supporting pal, who finally got to play host as we have been meeting for a pint
in Newcastle regularly over the last 13 years.
After
the game I met up with my old Geordie-exile pal Decka T and his girlfriend
Nena, helping him celebrate his birthday after that fabulous win. We called
into the GBG Antwerp Arms where the majority of Spurs fans were very gracious
in defeat, congratulating us on our win and wishing us all the best for the
remainder of the season. We headed back into central London for something to
eat in The Metropolitan, then after we said our goodbyes I rounded off my
day with a nightcap in the JDW in Victoria Station to top off a classic
matchday.
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