The end of the line

[strader]

I can bet my last dollar he will be back.

No one stop supporting your footbal team. Ok my question to you is are you a FAN or a supporter.

Occasionally i am a fan of united as they play good football and i can choose to stop supporting them however never spurs. i have tried it but it wasn't possible.

Hartfelt, give it time as we are going through a really bad patch and it takes time. I truely believe when i all clicks we will play the sort of footie to die for.

 

[Jonesey]

This is how it ends with a whimper and not a bang. I'm writing this certain in the knowledge that it means nothing, but for me, today, it marks the end of thirty years' supporting Spurs. I like the idea of writing this declaration of independence as a farewell to a club that once meant so very much to me. Closure, to use the phrase that our American friends like so much.

Quite simply, to quote Morrissey when asked about Buck's Fizz's latest chart entry, these days 'I find it impossible to care.'

Unlike many on this site, particularly the ones who've only had pubes for a few summers, I feel no need to wear my Spurs' credentials on my sleeve. I know the kind of fan I've been ever since the first day Keith Burkinshaw took over in that year of the long, hot summer.

Spurs today is unrecognisable, as is football, from the era I was lucky enough to grow up in. No spirit of togetherness, no respect for the fans, no sense of humility. No apology for years of frankly disgraceful football given the levels of investment and the extent to which season ticket-holders, like me, have been bled, year in, year out.

Quite simply I don't want it any more. I don't want to be robbed of money by people who don't give a shit about entertainment, or honouring a sporting tradition, or conducting themselves with dignity, or even acting like men and taking responsibility for their mistakes. I don't want to have to put up with being treated with contempt by a corporation I've poured tens of thousands of pounds into. I don't want to be at The Lane when Levy sells the club, taking it even further from what it once was. I don't want to watch the current generation of Spurs' footballers strut around like little gods, releasing quotes to the media about their (woeful) performances, and pretending that they know anything about real life with their obscene wages and obscene lack of education.

I can think of not a single good reason to carry on supporting Spurs. It's just habit now. Nothing more. One empty promise too many, one disgraceful performance too far. A repugnant, vulgar, grasping, plastic culture permeating the whole shambles - the antithesis of the sporting ideal. Today I've kicked the habit. There is no more reason to believe, so I've stopped believing.

Thanks to all the people I've stood shoulder-to-shoulder with over the decades, particularly those in the Paxton. You know who you are. Solid through everything. Once we was Yids.

Hartfelt, I know exactly how you feel and declared the same thing to my friends after our miserable, appalling, disgusting, toothless, terrible, lacklustre and disgraceful performance on Sunday.

Having seen every game of ours this season along with lots of other matches I honestly believe we are the worst team in the Premier League. I honestly can't see how we can possibly become an attacking force under the present management and board and, knowing that Levy will neither sell up or change our coaching team until it's too late have already resigned myself to us being in the Championship next year.

We are in a severely dire situation but it's one which many on here - who I admire - with rose-tinted specs truly believe we will get out of. I, on the other hand, truly don't.

However, I still logged on to Spurs Community today and read your post - and I'm sure you will log on to see who's replied and what they say.

So, you see, your declaration bears the mark of a tormented man - but that's what us Spurs fans have had to learn to live with; being tormented.

I know you'll be back and when you are, I for one will welcome you with open arms. You are a true fan. I know that and so do you.

Don't be gone too long.

 

[Byron]

Ive read all the above comments and in fact some have bought a tear to my eye, but the fact is many come and go and all will be replaced. sorry to see you go Hartfelt but if you do ever venture back i will still be on the terraces giving every last bit of energy i have for this club. Your right that football clubs dont give a shit anymore but that doesn't mean we have to be the same. Were having a crap time at the moment, it might get worse before it gets better, who knows, but the time will come again when were winning and playing well and we can all look back and have a little smile about how bad we were. Always remember shit happens but Tottenham WILL be back.

 

[spud]

......spud should be making Hartfelt feel like he's some kind of person to be looked down upon just because he voices he's feelings about the state of the club and game at the moment.

I am among the most respectful people you could ever meet. Other people's opinions have value even though I happen to disagree with them. But when somebody declares - in un undeniably tough time - that he can take it no longer, I question his motivation. His own words, which I quoted, indicate that, ultimately, he is a fair-weather supporter. His self-pitying whine about being exploited is merely self-justification.

He seeks sympathy and consolation - his motivation for posting his 'decision' on here. He may be right about the state of football today, but it is merely an excuse. A point that he failed to address - and will not do so - is that he would be the same world class fan that he considers himself to have been if we had won our first six games.

I respect his opinion. I don't respect his years of pretence and his quitting when we are down. Good riddance.

 

[chivers!]

If you're after closure, why keep checking the site to see the replies to your signoff?
Go on now go, walk out the door, don't turn around now...I'm sure you'll be welcome, but you know what I mean. If it's over, it's over, move on, etc. etc.

 

[antlesh]

Would this thread be around if we were top of the league? no!!!!! That is why he will be back! and all you will look back on this thread and laugh! the reality ids life is getting more expensive and so will football! as for this poor run it is due to the fact we lost our two best players and we do not have the right manager to turn things round we are back to the stage we were at before BMJ took over. Hartfelt I understand how you feel but you know you just want a cuddle!!!

 

[tottenham4life]

I fcuking love spurs! I could never give it up! i have stopped smoking, eating junk food, but i cannot and will not ever give up on my beloved spurs.

sorry you feel that way i truely wish there was saomething i could say that would make you change your mind but after reading that i dont think i could.

take it easy.


though after saying what you just have i know you will keep an eye out over them. somethings can be given up others cant be.

peace

 

[DC_Boy]

I've been supporting spurs nearly 50 years now and have not the slightest interest in quitting

I loved our result today

I bet most of the big 4 fans don't feel like quitting as they drink in ever more success

I bet Hull fans don't feel like quitting

west ham have probably discovered a few coming back to the fold

people can quit spurs whenever they want and fair play to you hartfelt for all your great support over the years-

but to quit in our hour of need - well that's up to the individual - the vast majority of us true fans (whatever that means) will rally behind the club

 

[gloryglory]

My girlfriend asked me ...

You don't like the board, you don't like the Chairman.

You don't like the manager or any of the coaching staff.

The players change all the time and your favourite ones always move on.

You don't admire the style of the play or enjoy most of the games.

You don't win many matches let alone trophies.

You don't like most of the fans, aren't from Tottenham, and don't think much of the area.

What exactly are you a fan of? What is the mythical entity that is 'Tottenham' and why are you attached of it?"

Answers on a postcard - I sure didn't have one.

 

[peter123]

The key point here is the best players.. Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane all f**k off once they get a sniff. Make no mistake the Steve Bulls of this world are history.

I gave up my season ticket in '97 with my dad. Not because of the time but simply because the players get paid too much and don't respect the fact that the people in the ground pay their wages.

Campbell is obviously a worse situation (he literally stole money out of your pockets). But I see people on here defending Robbie Keane and it makes me sick. All I can say is you guys paid his wages.... he kissed the badge and suddenly out of no-where he f****d off!

Supporting any football club these days (I mean investing heavily in time/money to support a club) is like falling in love with a whore.

 

[Houdini]

Hartfelt, you will still be looking for our results, scorers, etc etc.......because supporting Spurs ain't a fashion, its a way of life....you have more chance of forgetting your own name than cutting the cord, mate!

 

[chris4673]

:clap:

I am among the most respectful people you could ever meet. Other people's opinions have value even though I happen to disagree with them. But when somebody declares - in un undeniably tough time - that he can take it no longer, I question his motivation. His own words, which I quoted, indicate that, ultimately, he is a fair-weather supporter. His self-pitying whine about being exploited is merely self-justification.

He seeks sympathy and consolation - his motivation for posting his 'decision' on here. He may be right about the state of football today, but it is merely an excuse. A point that he failed to address - and will not do so - is that he would be the same world class fan that he considers himself to have been if we had won our first six games.

I respect his opinion. I don't respect his years of pretence and his quitting when we are down. Good riddance.

 

[Azrael]

My girlfriend asked me ...

You don't like the board, you don't like the Chairman.

You don't like the manager or any of the coaching staff.

The players change all the time and your favourite ones always move on.

You don't admire the style of the play or enjoy most of the games.

You don't win many matches let alone trophies.

You don't like most of the fans, aren't from Tottenham, and don't think much of the area.

What exactly are you a fan of? What is the mythical entity that is 'Tottenham' and why are you attached of it?"

Answers on a postcard - I sure didn't have one.

Well, surely there must be some sort of feeling as to why you are a fan??

 

[PAULUS]

agree with you mostly harfelt, but no matter who is manager or who owns the club,or how bad things are going for the club, i will always be a proud supporter of my mighty spurs

 

[Azrael]

^ You feel the same as Hartfelt but you still call us "mighty"? Isn't that something of a contradiction?

 

[Hartfelt]

Oh dearie me.

Sympathy? Self-pity? Self-justification? Do you really think I give a toss about any of that? I don't have to justify myself to anyone except my family. I don't need the validation of people I don't know. The reason I posted on a Spurs' site is self-evident.

As for the timing of my decision, people like you don't get it. I've seen Spurs in far worse situations than this. We all have. I saw us relegated for fuck's sake! Today we have an abundance of talent, a good manager (probably) and money in the bank. It's nothing to do with a shocking start to the season or the fact that we've barely played since the Carling Cup. It's to do with the erosion of my perception of the club. As I've explained.

World-class fan? Funnily enough I don't think there is a rating system. All I've stated are facts about my attendance to contextualise my post. Obviously I'm not doubting for a second that you're the real McCoy and feel more for Spurs than anyone else could. Spud, as the Goons call us, is about right.


By all means disagree with my post, discussion is what it's about, but your tone is well out of order. You don't know me and you wouldn't be quite so gobby to me in person. I guarantee it.

Respect? Don't make me laugh. You've never learnt the meaning of it. You can't bid me good riddance. I'm proud to say I've never been with your kind.

.

 

[Hartfelt]

Fair point. But it's because, as Houdini says further down, checking the site and the scores are part of the umbilical cord. Will that be severed? Who knows?

It's the commitment to going to WHL week in week out, or more recently Europe, and the passion that used to make the week shitty after we lost, that I'm packing in.

Obviously I'm also interested in where other people are at with Spurs, which was part of the reason for the post.

 

[antlesh]

Oh dearie me.

Sympathy? Self-pity? Self-justification? Do you really think I give a toss about any of that? I don't have to justify myself to anyone except my family. I don't need the validation of people I don't know. The reason I posted on a Spurs' site is self-evident.

As for the timing of my decision, people like you don't get it. I've seen Spurs in far worse situations than this. We all have. I saw us relegated for fuck's sake! Today we have an abundance of talent, a good manager (probably) and money in the bank. It's nothing to do with a shocking start to the season or the fact that we've barely played since the Carling Cup. It's to do with the erosion of my perception of the club. As I've explained.

World-class fan? Funnily enough I don't think there is a rating system. All I've stated are facts about my attendance to contextualise my post. Obviously I'm not doubting for a second that you're the real McCoy and feel more for Spurs than anyone else could. Spud, as the Goons call us, is about right.


By all means disagree with my post, discussion is what it's about, but your tone is well out of order. You don't know me and you wouldn't be quite so gobby to me in person. I guarantee it.

Respect? Don't make me laugh. You've never learnt the meaning of it. You can't bid me good riddance. I'm proud to say I've never been with your kind.

.

You still here????

YIDO YIDO YIDO!!!!!

 

[spud]

Sympathy? Self-pity? Self-justification? Do you really think I give a toss about any of that? .

Yes. Everything that you have written screams it.

You don't know me .

You're right; I don't. Neither do I claim to. All I know is what you have written. You may be the best friend that a man can have, a prince among men; I have no idea. I am commenting on what you told us about yourself, not who you are.


You, on the other hand, claim to know me. You say that you don't consider me a proper fan. 'People like [me]' don't get the timing of your decision. You are '...proud to say [you've] never been with [my] kind'. Nice.

You go on to say (and well done on the sarcasm here)

Obviously I'm not doubting for a second that you're the real McCoy and feel more for Spurs than anyone else could.

That, my friend, is the nub of the matter. How 'good' a fan you are is not - as you appear to belive - linked to longevity (although, for the record, I've got a few years on you) nor the amount that you spend on following the club; nor, ultimately, anything tangible.

Grading levels of fandom is in any case irrelevant. Either you are a fan, or you are not. Simple. It is part of you. Changing that is about as easy as changing your skin colour. So when you say 'I can think of not one good reason to carry on supporting Spurs' it gives you away. You don't need a reason to be a fan; you just are. The reason you became a fan is overtaken as it becomes part of your identity. An immutable part of who you are.

That is why any amount of boardroom ineptitude, financial mismanagement, managerial incompetence, exploitation of the fans, or lack of caring by the players is utterly irrelevant and is merely an excuse. Why using it as a reason to change betrays the fact that - irrespective of how many years you have been attending matches - it was all, ultimately, a pretence.

Let me give you an example of somebody who is a fan. Somebody else who I don't know. gloryglory is a fan. His girlfriend told him, with unassailable logic, why he should not be, and then asked him why he is. He had no answer. He didn't need one. He just is. That, my friend, is being a fan.

So no, Hartfelt, I clearly don't get it. I get how you can stop going to games. I get how you stop buying the merchandise. I get how you have nothing but contempt for the people who run the club and those who represent it on the pitch. I get how the club becomes a lesser part of life when you grow up and deal with the real world. I get how your family becomes the most important thing, and you realise that sport, including Spurs, is ultimately a distraction.

But I don't get how any day, apart from your last one on this planet, can represent 'the end of.......supporting Spurs'. Because if you really are a fan, it doesn't happen.

 

[ero1x]

Why is he a tosser? For expressing an opinion? That is the idea of a forum just in case you have forgotten!

And actually I sort of agree with everyones sentiments in small pieces except yours funny enough.

Just because we sold Berba you thought "whats the fucking point" - a true fan wouldnt think like that. A true fan would look to try and identify a positive that could be taken from all the doom and gloom merchants.

To put it another way, Spurs could sell the whole team for all i care and replace them with whoever they want, because I support Spurs as a club and its tradition, not individual players.

If you dont want false dawns each season, why dont you support Man Utd or Chelsea, even Barca or Real, at least they will have a higher probability of living up to your expectations each season.

To give you credit in closing you do once again pin your flag to your chest which gives you more reason for hope than some.

I guess my point is, if you dont like it and cannot change it, then leave, go elsewhere, do you really have to blight the forum with all your doom and gloom? Surely there are other sites on the internet who would like to be recipients of your well thought out, lengthy posts containing big words that you had to check on a thesaurus!

Think thats about it for now - for all us real fans, lets keep our fingers crossed for later this afternoon.

COYS

PS - Maxilopez - Since you retired from supporting Spurs so long ago, why are you still hear beraing, belittling, moaning and being as anti-spurs as ever?

Over and out..........

:clap::clap: