TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM — Over the last few days, you will no doubt have heard a variance of the idea that Tottenham Hotspur deserved this torturous day. I wanted to sit among their supporters for a few hours because the point is this: the owners may have long had this coming. These people did not.
Theirs is the ultimate triumph of hope over experience. After so much pain endured, it is a happy ending. “Believe, believe, believe,” they were told at kick-off. They will play Premier League football next season and this can never, ever be allowed to happen again.
At full-time, tears of disbelief. Delirious hugs with strangers. Buckets of sweat on the hottest, most fractious day of the year. It takes nearly losing something to realise what it means.
The Russells have been coming here for 30 years. “This week I got the all clear from prostate cancer,” Norman tells The i Paper. “It would have been unfortunate to have a heart attack four days later.”
“This is the most sick and nervous I’ve felt,” says Ben. “Am I allowed to swear?” asks Naomi. “Please Spurs – don’t ruin my f***ing life”.
