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RIP Tottenham Arthur

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1882 said:
Anyone know any more about him...?
I bet he's got a life story worth telling...
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One of the real faces of our support, as someone said he was always recognisable in an away support of thousands.

I've spoken to him a few times and seen him everywhere. He had been doing every game since 1955. A few years ago stopped doing European away games due to his health and old age. In recent years, the amazing thing is he never, or very rarely, paid to get in. He would turn up early and someone would give him a spare for free, because he knew so many people. On one occasion, I have seen him talk to the Spurs stewards at away games, I saw them give him a spare someone had handed to him. A few times he must have gone to the game in some Northern town and not managed to get in, which shows his commitment. I used to see him on the coaches (not official ones, National Express or whatever), this was how he travelled to away games as it was the cheapest way. For London away games he would walk across London to wherever it was. I think he lived in Hackney. One night about 10 years ago, we played Fulham away, I saw him at the game and then I went on a night out, and saw him again in Leicester Square walking home after the game!

All that much I know, I've also heard from others that he used to work in an expensive London hotel (not sure what exact job). He was married and his wife left him due to his dedication to Spurs, he hit the bottle and lost his job, and ended up in a homeless hostel in Hackney. Not sure if this is true, it probably has an element of Chinese whispers to it, but it's what I heard.

An absolute legend and I'm gutted that he's gone. I'm also gutted for him that he is missing this season. The last time I can definitely remember seeing him was Everton away last season I think, though some people say they've seen him this season, maybe I have (some of the games merge into one). As well as being one of our greatest fans, he is also emblematic of a different age before modern football existed. The fact that in today's money driven age he did not have so much as a Spurs membership yet still managed to go to every game due to his popularity and the kindness of other fans is a big fuck you to the forces trying to ruin our game. He was evidence that Spurs is still a community and that we look after each other, not just a profit machine, a corporation or a brand, despite all the efforts of ENIC, Sky, the FA, and so on. His dedication to the club is something that the money men and the corporates will never understand.

COYS let's win the league for Arthur!
 
palmers_green_yid said:
One of the real faces of our support, as someone said he was always recognisable in an away support of thousands.

I've spoken to him a few times and seen him everywhere. He had been doing every game since 1955. A few years ago stopped doing European away games due to his health and old age. In recent years, the amazing thing is he never, or very rarely, paid to get in. He would turn up early and someone would give him a spare for free, because he knew so many people. On one occasion, I have seen him talk to the Spurs stewards at away games, I saw them give him a spare someone had handed to him. A few times he must have gone to the game in some Northern town and not managed to get in, which shows his commitment. I used to see him on the coaches (not official ones, National Express or whatever), this was how he travelled to away games as it was the cheapest way. For London away games he would walk across London to wherever it was. I think he lived in Hackney. One night about 10 years ago, we played Fulham away, I saw him at the game and then I went on a night out, and saw him again in Leicester Square walking home after the game!

All that much I know, I've also heard from others that he used to work in an expensive London hotel (not sure what exact job). He was married and his wife left him due to his dedication to Spurs, he hit the bottle and lost his job, and ended up in a homeless hostel in Hackney. Not sure if this is true, it probably has an element of Chinese whispers to it, but it's what I heard.

An absolute legend and I'm gutted that he's gone. I'm also gutted for him that he is missing this season. The last time I can definitely remember seeing him was Everton away last season I think, though some people say they've seen him this season, maybe I have (some of the games merge into one). As well as being one of our greatest fans, he is also emblematic of a different age before modern football existed. The fact that in today's money driven age he did not have so much as a Spurs membership yet still managed to go to every game due to his popularity and the kindness of other fans is a big fuck you to the forces trying to ruin our game. He was evidence that Spurs is still a community and that we look after each other, not just a profit machine, a corporation or a brand, despite all the efforts of ENIC, Sky, the FA, and so on. His dedication to the club is something that the money men and the corporates will never understand.

COYS let's win the league for Arthur!
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You fucker. I feel all tearful now.

RIP Yiddo.
 
I seen him for the last time at QPR away last season, had a quick chat with him. Top bloke who I had seen for years at away games.
Another rumour I heard is that he refused to have a shave until spurs won the league again. I mentioned in another forum how poetic it would be if we actually went on to win the league this season. The ultimate tribute to the ultimate spurs fan.
 
palmers_green_yid said:
One of the real faces of our support, as someone said he was always recognisable in an away support of thousands.

I've spoken to him a few times and seen him everywhere. He had been doing every game since 1955. A few years ago stopped doing European away games due to his health and old age. In recent years, the amazing thing is he never, or very rarely, paid to get in. He would turn up early and someone would give him a spare for free, because he knew so many people. On one occasion, I have seen him talk to the Spurs stewards at away games, I saw them give him a spare someone had handed to him. A few times he must have gone to the game in some Northern town and not managed to get in, which shows his commitment. I used to see him on the coaches (not official ones, National Express or whatever), this was how he travelled to away games as it was the cheapest way. For London away games he would walk across London to wherever it was. I think he lived in Hackney. One night about 10 years ago, we played Fulham away, I saw him at the game and then I went on a night out, and saw him again in Leicester Square walking home after the game!

All that much I know, I've also heard from others that he used to work in an expensive London hotel (not sure what exact job). He was married and his wife left him due to his dedication to Spurs, he hit the bottle and lost his job, and ended up in a homeless hostel in Hackney. Not sure if this is true, it probably has an element of Chinese whispers to it, but it's what I heard.

An absolute legend and I'm gutted that he's gone. I'm also gutted for him that he is missing this season. The last time I can definitely remember seeing him was Everton away last season I think, though some people say they've seen him this season, maybe I have (some of the games merge into one). As well as being one of our greatest fans, he is also emblematic of a different age before modern football existed. The fact that in today's money driven age he did not have so much as a Spurs membership yet still managed to go to every game due to his popularity and the kindness of other fans is a big fuck you to the forces trying to ruin our game. He was evidence that Spurs is still a community and that we look after each other, not just a profit machine, a corporation or a brand, despite all the efforts of ENIC, Sky, the FA, and so on. His dedication to the club is something that the money men and the corporates will never understand.

COYS let's win the league for Arthur!
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Lovely words mate and thanks for sharing that with us. Wow, what a guy he was and a true symbol of dedication and passion for the club. As you rightly said:

COYS, lets win the league for Arthur!!
 
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palmers_green_yid said:
One of the real faces of our support, as someone said he was always recognisable in an away support of thousands.

I've spoken to him a few times and seen him everywhere. He had been doing every game since 1955. A few years ago stopped doing European away games due to his health and old age. In recent years, the amazing thing is he never, or very rarely, paid to get in. He would turn up early and someone would give him a spare for free, because he knew so many people. On one occasion, I have seen him talk to the Spurs stewards at away games, I saw them give him a spare someone had handed to him. A few times he must have gone to the game in some Northern town and not managed to get in, which shows his commitment. I used to see him on the coaches (not official ones, National Express or whatever), this was how he travelled to away games as it was the cheapest way. For London away games he would walk across London to wherever it was. I think he lived in Hackney. One night about 10 years ago, we played Fulham away, I saw him at the game and then I went on a night out, and saw him again in Leicester Square walking home after the game!

All that much I know, I've also heard from others that he used to work in an expensive London hotel (not sure what exact job). He was married and his wife left him due to his dedication to Spurs, he hit the bottle and lost his job, and ended up in a homeless hostel in Hackney. Not sure if this is true, it probably has an element of Chinese whispers to it, but it's what I heard.

An absolute legend and I'm gutted that he's gone. I'm also gutted for him that he is missing this season. The last time I can definitely remember seeing him was Everton away last season I think, though some people say they've seen him this season, maybe I have (some of the games merge into one). As well as being one of our greatest fans, he is also emblematic of a different age before modern football existed. The fact that in today's money driven age he did not have so much as a Spurs membership yet still managed to go to every game due to his popularity and the kindness of other fans is a big fuck you to the forces trying to ruin our game. He was evidence that Spurs is still a community and that we look after each other, not just a profit machine, a corporation or a brand, despite all the efforts of ENIC, Sky, the FA, and so on. His dedication to the club is something that the money men and the corporates will never understand.

COYS let's win the league for Arthur!
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Great write up and very accurate account.
 
Just a thought... anyone know exactly how old he was? As it would be more than appropriate for a minute's applause / "one of our own" song on the XXth minute...
(and I assume he was younger than 90, so it should work during the game!)
 
I was speaking last night to a friend of my wife's, who works in a homeless hostel in Hackney. She said that Tottenham Arthur is alive, and has moved out of the hostel into his own private accommodation. I don't know about the state of his health. I haven't seen him at any Spurs game for about two years, since this thread. I would say he hasn't been at any away games as I would have seen him, and probably not any home games, because even though the crowd at Wembley has been massive, you'd think someone would have seen him. Which begs the question of why he has stopped coming, I wonder if it is his health perhaps combined with his financial situation; for example, I remember him walking to London games, maybe this isn't possible anymore and neither are coach journeys to away games. It seems very unlikely that he would choose to stop watching the club after all these years, which is why so many of us thought he had died.

I'm very glad that he is still alive and wish him all the best. It is a shame for him that he doesn't seem to be able to watch us play anymore. Just thought I would share this news.
 
palmers_green_yid said:
I was speaking last night to a friend of my wife's, who works in a homeless hostel in Hackney. She said that Tottenham Arthur is alive, and has moved out of the hostel into his own private accommodation. I don't know about the state of his health. I haven't seen him at any Spurs game for about two years, since this thread. I would say he hasn't been at any away games as I would have seen him, and probably not any home games, because even though the crowd at Wembley has been massive, you'd think someone would have seen him. Which begs the question of why he has stopped coming, I wonder if it is his health perhaps combined with his financial situation; for example, I remember him walking to London games, maybe this isn't possible anymore and neither are coach journeys to away games. It seems very unlikely that he would choose to stop watching the club after all these years, which is why so many of us thought he had died.

I'm very glad that he is still alive and wish him all the best. It is a shame for him that he doesn't seem to be able to watch us play anymore. Just thought I would share this news.
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If anybody had a way to get in touch with him and it is down to money rather than health I'm sure people would crowdfund so he can go again. He needs to be at the new ground, proper legend.
 
94Spurs94 said:
If anybody had a way to get in touch with him and it is down to money rather than health I'm sure people would crowdfund so he can go again. He needs to be at the new ground, proper legend.
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This would be a BRILLIANT cause for the money being raised by the pod's new betting sponsor. Thelonious Thelonious ? Tagged because he seems to be one of the more active members on here.
 
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