Spurs played their final home game at White Hart Lane on Sunday, after 118 years at the ground. It was an emotional occasion with a ‘farewell’ event after the game.
The Lane is synonymous with passion and atmosphere. The pitch lies within touching distance of the fans who fill the stadium with ceremonial songs and chants.
The Lilywhites, it seems, are guaranteed a twelfth man advantage each time they step onto home turf. Home form has been the bedrock of Spurs’ most successful Premier League campaign ever.
They boast an undefeated home record in the league this season which has seen the team reach its highest points tally in Premier League history.
Progress and ambition
But progress is essential for a club that wishes to establish themselves as regular title-contenders.
The ambition is obvious with the building of a brand new stadium set to be completed in August 2018.
It is the culmination of years of planning that will see a ground seating 61,000 people- almost twice the capacity of the old White Hart Lane and larger than the Emirates- built next door to the old stadium.
Spurs have launched a slick new website to accompany the build, showing off the project with an interactive tour and regular updates on the construction.
Wembley woes
Tottenham will play their home games next season at Wembley stadium, a prospect that has many Spurs fans nervous.
There may have been a worrying foreshadow for Tottenham supporters during the disappointing Champions League and Europa League campaigns earlier in the season.
Spurs crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage phase, managing to win only one of three home fixtures against a poor CSKA Moscow side who finished bottom of the group.
Spurs then exited the Europa League on aggregate after a 2-2 draw against the Belgian side Gent at Wembley Stadium.
Attendances of well over 80,000 couldn’t inspire Spurs to success in Europe. There seemed to be a worrying disconnect between the players and fans; who failed to feed off each other’s energy, an almost guaranteed process at White Hart Lane.
New stadium still necessary for the club’s future
The instability of changing home stadia for different competitions this season could have crippled Tottenham’s progress in Europe. Or the pressure of big European nights might have affected what still is a very young team.
But it is clear that the new stadium is a necessary step in the progress of the football club.
Tottenham’s Wembley woes may continue for another season, though the future remains bright for Spurs.
Written by Calum Adair
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