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The Glory Game Stateside
by Rob Francis
The Spur
The Glory Game by Hunter Davies, one of the best football books ever written, is a detailed fly on the wall look at a year in the life of Tottenham Hotspur back in the 70s.
Drama in the dressing room; the joy and despair of the players; the glamour of playing in Europe; the private lives; cocktails with the eccentric millionaire supporters; or travel on a notorious "football special" with crombie-clad working-class teens en route to invade an enemy stand - it's all here. The good, bad, and ugly of the beautiful game's most storied professional league.
The book was officially released in the US in mid-September 2001. It can be ordered through Amazon or visit and support your local independent book store.
Guvnors available at Amazon UK
 Guvnors stands out as the refreshing exception in a sea of otherwise crappy books (and films) about the hooligan scene of the 70s and 80s. This one actually captures the reality of the phenomenon.
So many of the other books, notably the ones by the Brimson Brothers, come across as phony and mostly made up, yet you just know Manchester City terrace boy Mickey Francis was the real thing, he's got the prison record and the scars to prove it. Forget the rest, this is the one that puts you right into the head of the hoolie.
He's willing to tell the truth even when he's on the receiving end of a result, and the book includes two encounters between City and Spurs. His first taste of action was inside and outside City's original and legendary old ground at Maine Road, in Moss Side, one of south Manchester's most run down districts, when Spurs fans attempted to invade the Kippax. The other occured way down the Seven Sisters Road, in the heart of one of Norf London's meanest areas.
Great to see this book bubbled up from underground 90s "word of mouth" distribution to relative fame on Amazon UK.
Hot Spur Konnektions
SPURS PIX & HISTORY
"We're The Park Lane, Paxton, Shelf Side, Tottenham"
Chingford Spurs
Spurs fans in Prague for the UEFA Cup
Spurs section at Bay Arena for Leverkusen v THFC
Spurs chanting in Europe: UEFA Cup 2006/7
Nayim from the halfway line
Ossie's dream, one of Tottenham Hotspur's classic terrace songs for those "Up fo the Cup" games
Interesting slice of video history on YouTube of Spurs v Anderlecht 1984. Thanks for the new link but way lower quality than the first one uplodaded to youtub
Did you know The Dave Clark Five were called The London Beatles? They hailed from Tottenham, and one of their coolest hits was Can't you see. Dave's the one jacking the bass.
Norf London Urbscape: Photo Gallery
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#1:
"Harry Potter" on location
in Palmers Green N13 |
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#2:
End of the line |
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#3:
Way out |
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#4:
Gilbert & George |
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#5:
Webmaster's former abode: Barbican, EC2 |
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London Clubs
The London Scene
This column is gradually being updated. Coming soon, a fresh look at our local London neighbours (and us) in the top four levels of the football pyramid, from the Premiership through to Football League Two.
For now: Chelsea and Arsenal - the two least favourite clubs of everyone else!
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London clubs in the order of their finishing rank for the previous season.
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Blueskis Want Euro Champs
CHELSEA (Prem. Finished #2, down 1). The multi-million pound global SW6 superstar soccer circus took two seasons to win the Prem with their unlimited funds, but they only lasted two seasons at the top before being dethroned by Manure as Kings of The Premiership.
"World XI" signings like Ballack and Shevchenko failed to keep them on top, and worse still, they have joined Arsenal in being conspicuously unable to lift the Euro Champs trophy.
They still have a devastatingly strong squad, but there's a sense that Abramo and the Special One's rift is one reason why they are not cleaning up as expected. Plus there may be signs that Abramo's getting a little bored with his toy.
Who supports Chelsea? A few of the old racists that we all knew and hated still find their way into the stadium, and the glory hunters that surround them don't seem too bothered. This explains why their fans are among the most loathed and despised on the planet.
Their fans think we are their main rivals. Yes, we hate them (as many do the Spammers, present company excepted) but these latter two teams cannot seem to grasp that there's only one overarching derby in London. Always has been, always will. And that's Spurs vs the Filth. Only Millwall v West Ham can outdo that in venom and passion, but that is a local domestic, ours is one the great world rivalries.
Ass wi'out Henry? No probs, but no Prem toppers
 ARSENAL (Prem. Finished #4, unchanged). The N5 outfit had displaced Manure as the champs of England until Ambramovich came along and within two years established CFC as the top dogs. Last year Manure amzingly recaptured the crown, but all of this leaves Arsenal in the wake of the new power elite of billionaire owners and struggling in the shadows of their own Invincibles era.
But Arsenal did make the Euro Champs final not so long ago and their relative recent success in Europe still outshines Chelski so far.
The Arse have kept their cheque book increasingly close to their chest, with no major star signings and the loss of yet another club icon, this time of course lynchpin scoring ace that is, was, Thiery Henry.
But make no mistake Arsenal's success is no longer dependent on Thierry Henry's presence as we saw last season. They have two of the top ten players in the league right now in Robin Van Persie and Cesc Febregas. Adebayor is one of many others who are also big talents, and the team plays for each other like no other.
So continued shrewd talent spotting from manager Arsene Wenger has kept them in the second band of clubs along with Liverpool, and now perhaps also Spurs and Newcastle too. But big spenders Chelsea and the phenomenon that is Man Utd, stunning the world by showing Chelsea the door last season, are still miles out in front as the only two serious contenders for Premiership champs.
Who supports Arsenal? They are on a par with Manure as the undisputed kings of glory hunters both at home and abroad. The vast majority appear to be devoid of personality, weird looking, and desperate to associate with a success story to enliven their own sad pointless lives.
The American variety appears to be obsessed by that typically adolescent male fixation with weaponry, firepower, and militaristic imagery, perhaps to compensate for their own feelings of inadequecy and powerlessness.
Coming soon: the rest of the professional football clubs in London.
Meanwhile, please visit our Palace friends over at the Holmesdale.
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Premiership fixtures
Championship (2nd level league) fixtures
League One (3rd level) fixtures
League Two (4th level) fixtures and
results
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