The Fighting Cock by Martin Cloake
There are some great independent Spurs blogs and podcasts being produced at the moment and I always try to make my small contribution to raising their profile when I can. Lately I’ve been picking up on The Fighting Cock and the 1882 movement. I’ve followed a couple of the lads involved on Twitter and recognise some names from back in the day on the old TopSpurs message board, and there’s a real energy to what they are doing.
I’m going to sound as old as I feel when I’m listening to the podcast now but it’s really encouraging to hear what sounds like a new generation creating something and questioning the blandification of modern football. The Fighting Cock is above all passionate about Spurs, but there’s a recognition of the bigger picture that chimes with a growing feeling that’s coalescing around the Stand Against Modern Football initiative. Having come from a generation at Spurs that, despite our fanzine experience and efforts with various independent supporter initiatives, has not really made the impression we once thought we could, what’s most encouraging is the can-do spirit that pervades The Fighting Cock crew. They are a reminder of what football supporters are capable of, and of a spirit that is, in one of the great Steve Perryman’s favourite words, “proper”.
Full Disclosure
It’s only natural human instinct to reject things we don’t understand. For immediate illustration of the inherent truth of this pop-sociology catchphrase, look to the chorus of boos that followed Andre Villas-Boas and his Tottenham side back into the dressing rooms at White Hart Lane last week, after the squad failed for the third occasion in a row to hold their nerve in the dying minutes of a game and prevent an unfavourable result. It seems fairly obvious to me that a large section of his most vocal abusers in the home sections at the Lane don’t trust AVB because […]
1882 – An Admission
I need to say sorry and ask for your acceptance… My name is Dave and I am 39 – I have two kids, a dog, and a love of Spurs. Unlike most supporters I can’t give a romantic story around why I love the club – most of my friends were West Ham fans. I was just always… Spurs. As I said most of my mates at school were West Ham and as such the crowd often dragged me to Upton Park… it did nothing for me intellectually nor spiritually. Every now and again I could drag them to Spurs […]
Levy – Hero or Villain?
The Football Chairman is a precarious position to hold. They are ultimately responsible for all failures and very little of the success that a football club may behold. Look at the reign of Alan Sugar. His time at the club will be seen as mixed blessings: While off the pitch he saved the club from the nightmarish Irving Scholar, on the pitch sustained success never really appeared. If you are a chairman you can rarely be perceived as an all round good guy. Recently some fans have made their feelings known about Daniel Levy, that he has been bad for […]
David Bentley: To Russia with Love
I am going to say it. Thank you David Bentley and the best of luck in Russia.The Peterborough born winger may have failed to light up White Hart Lane, but Tottenham fans shouldn’t be too quick to discount the effect Bentley has had on our team, his mere presence at our club has taught us quite a few things. The Bentley Effect Never buy an in-form Englishman If you take a minute to ponder this lesson you will immediately forgive Bentley of all his sins. The winger burnt Daniel Levy so bad that he hasn’t made the same mistake again. […]
1882: All tickets sold
The Fighting Cock is amazed and proud to announce that all tickets for the 1882 blocks have been sold. The 1882 movement is about getting like minded Tottenham supporters together to support our young players. On 13 September 2012 Tottenham’s academy side take on the might of Barcelona’s youth development programme at White Hart Lane as a part of The NextGen Series. There will be at least 600 of us singing our hearts out for our young players and the shirt they wear. There are still tickets in the other areas of the West Stand. If you can’t make it […]
1882 – The Past and Future of Tottenham Hotspur
Like 10,000 others, I will be attending White Hart Lane on Thursday night to see our Academy side take on the prodigious talents of Barcelona’s illustrious La Masia development centre. But really the result of the game holds no importance to the home faithful, and you can be assured not a single boo will be heard. Instead the night will be a celebration – a pledge of allegiance to the shirt, and all it represents. Perhaps fittingly, this celebration takes place at youth level and even more apt is the name, 1882, because this game takes place within a week […]