Tottenham’s agreement to play Champions League games at Wembley means no fond European farewell for White Hart Lane.
But does the old place really need one?
The ‘remain’ camp claims the club is just after the money and has turned its back on 117 years of tradition, while some insist the Lilywhites will struggle to recreate the intimate, buzzing atmosphere of European nights at the Lane if the doors are thrown open to tourists and fair-weather fans at the 90,000-seater national stadium.
And the diehard Gooner haters will tell you: ‘Arsenal did the same for two seasons back in 1998/2000 and fell flat on their face.’
They are all fair arguments, but here are six reasons Spurs fans should be over the moon about next season’s Wembley tie-up…
1. Safety and numbers
Staying at White Hart Lane would put a real strain on access and seat numbers, which might all lead to not meeting UEFA safety, access or rights requirements.
The stadium is already 4,000 seats down due to early work on the north east corner and being in an already congested area makes it a nightmare to get to and around – even as a regular.
Should Spurs reach the quarter-finals, like last time, UEFA would demand 200 seats for worldwide press, plus 475 VIP seats and a further 2,010 corporate tickets.
That would leave a capacity of less than 30,000, which is huge step backwards for a club with 50,000 on the season ticket waiting list.
2. It’s a trial run as a giant club
If indeed it is true that Tottenham will struggle to create an atmosphere in a big stadium, is it not better to do it while having White Hart Lane to fall back on for league games?
That way the players and fans have a safety net, a trial run before 2017/18, when home games will forever more be played in a vast 60,000-plus arena.
3. It’s better than Arsenal’s deal
The Gunners may have crashed out of the Champions League group stage in both their Wembley campaigns, but their national stadium experiment had no clear knock-on advantages regarding big-games.
They did not move into the Emirates until 2006, by which time all but two of the names in the dressing room had changed – Freddie Ljungberg and Arsene Wenger.
Spurs should boast largely the same squad when the new ground opens – and they will also have a whole season of home games there in 2017/18 to get used to the big-club mentality.
4. It’s undeniable progress
Even if, like Arsenal, Spurs crash out of the Champions League after three games having not gelled with National HQ – does it matter that much?
This is all part of a long-term project and the key factor is progression. The most important thing is finishing in the top four again and earning back-to-back Champions League appearances in what will be a much more difficult domestic season.
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5. History is history, don’t ruin it
White Hart Lane’s romance with European competition down the years is probably over-egged. Spurs have, after all, only ever enjoyed two seasons in the European Cup.
And, though the north Londoners reached the semi-final in 1961/62 – losing to Benfica on aggregate – their 2010/11 campaign under Harry Redknapp will not be beaten.
Spurs may have won two UEFA Cup finals at home, but both were draws and no offence to Wolves (1972) and Anderlecht (1984), but they were hardly against continental giants.
White Hart Lane’s final memories of European Cup matches are currently victories over Inter Milan, AC Milan and a quarter-final loss to Real Madrid.
Three rounds, three giants of the continental game. It had never happened like that before and it is unlikely to happen that way again.
Spurs fans, suppose you go out in the group stage having failed to overcome average opponents. The lasting memory would then be failure rather than glorious defeat.
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6. IT MIGHT NOT BE THE END
It is yet to be confirmed but Spurs could yet be back at WHL for European games if they finish third in their Champions League group and end up in the Europa League. That could give them the best of both worlds with three games at Wembley plus a Euro farewell for the Lane.
Although, they still have the league campaign – and that gives fans 19 games to reminisce and raise the roof with nostalgic choruses of glory glory hallelujah.
Who knows, if they lift the Premier League title on their final White Hart Lane home game then that would make up for everything.
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