A Stadium Tour of White Hart Lane

I had promised George a stadium tour at White Hart Lane for his birthday present and after lunch we headed off to Tottenham to go on the 2pm tour. We found our way to the temporary shop along the side of the stadium where I found out that if we had wanted to go on the stadium tour we should have booked in advance. Panic ensued as we waited to hear whether there was space for us to join at the last minute - and forget getting the George's ticket for free (he is a junior member) - you can only get that if you book in advance. I was struck by the difference we experienced at Emirates immediately. Our Junior Gunner friend who did the tour with us at Emirates just showed his card and he was welcomed in. Not at Tottenham. But I didn't let my irritation show as we started the tour.

We saw all the hot spots at White Hart Lane. The stadium is really showing it's age but I was glad to see that there were workman there, hopefully sprucing it up - it needs it. There is still no start date for the new stadium according to the tour guide, but they are going to build it onto the side of the old stadium so that they can build and play concurrently. Highlights of the tour included the ancient communal bath in the away changing room, the diggers re-seeding the pitch, finding out about Body Armour being the new kit sponsor and answering several of the tour guild's trivia questions correctly. All in all, I was a little put off by the guide's near-constant put downs of Arsenal. Advice to Spurs - you only substantiate the point of being the lesser club if you feel the need to belittle your rivals all the time. You are a good club and you don't need to be better than Arsenal to prove it.

We finished at the temporary shop and after a toilet break in their MOST DISGUSTING PUBLIC TOILET I HAVE EVER USED, we bought a football and some shorts (for Toby!). Spurs have changed their kit maker, and the Puma kits were being sold for a steep discount. My neighbour, a big Spurs fan, was surprised to see Toby pairing his new shorts with his favourite Arsenal top.

It was a contrast to the welcome we had at Millwall and Charlton.