from a BBC piece on some derby in south America
<Big snip>
These ruminations are inspired by the fact that my brief visit back to London coincides with the build-up to next weekend's Woolwich-Tottenham game. The north London clash always used to be one of my favourite derbies, because the fault line was as much philosophical as anything else.
Woolwich were Bertie Mee and George Graham - reliable, dour, almost perversely provincial. Tottenham, from Danny Blanchflower to Ossie Ardiles, cut a dash that ached of metropolitan sophistication.
After so much time away I am no longer so sure of my bearings. For all the rumpus about Woolwich's transfer tardiness, the Arsene Wenger, Emirates stadium outfit come across as a different, far more cosmopolitan club than the one I remember. And so what is the fault line now? Is it merely the tradition of two tribes who congregate near opposite ends of the Seven Sisters Road?
In one of his best musings on football, journalist Hunter Davies recalls being at White Hart Lane when the crowd embarked on the inevitable chants of "stand up if you hate Woolwich". Only Davies and an old supporter nearby were immune to the call.
"I'm too old to hate," explained Davies.
"I'm too old to stand," replied the man.
<Big snip>
These ruminations are inspired by the fact that my brief visit back to London coincides with the build-up to next weekend's Woolwich-Tottenham game. The north London clash always used to be one of my favourite derbies, because the fault line was as much philosophical as anything else.
Woolwich were Bertie Mee and George Graham - reliable, dour, almost perversely provincial. Tottenham, from Danny Blanchflower to Ossie Ardiles, cut a dash that ached of metropolitan sophistication.
After so much time away I am no longer so sure of my bearings. For all the rumpus about Woolwich's transfer tardiness, the Arsene Wenger, Emirates stadium outfit come across as a different, far more cosmopolitan club than the one I remember. And so what is the fault line now? Is it merely the tradition of two tribes who congregate near opposite ends of the Seven Sisters Road?
In one of his best musings on football, journalist Hunter Davies recalls being at White Hart Lane when the crowd embarked on the inevitable chants of "stand up if you hate Woolwich". Only Davies and an old supporter nearby were immune to the call.
"I'm too old to hate," explained Davies.
"I'm too old to stand," replied the man.
What is this article about? Not sure what the main point is.
