What it means to be a Tottenham Hotspur Fan

Guest Blogger - Ben Raven - August 2025

What it means to be a Tottenham Hotspur Fan

I come from a Spurs family. My whole family is from Tottenham, and although I grew up mostly in Sydney, Spurs has always been in my blood. Football loyalties are inherited, after all. I remember being seven or eight, standing on the terraces at White Hart Lane, soaking in the atmosphere, completely blown away and then, addicted.

I also remember away days at QPR, Charlton and Norwich – those early experiences cemented something deep inside me. My first shirt was the centenary home kit, and I wore it until it practically fell apart.

Life then took me far and wide. I went back to the UK for my OE in my early twenties, returned properly in my late twenties, met my wife in London, and eventually moved to New Zealand after a stint in Singapore. But no matter where I’ve lived, Tottenham has been a constant – late night game watching and forum perusing – praying for that next big name to pull on the lilywhite shirt.

What It Means to Be a Spurs Supporter

Supporting Spurs was never a choice – it’s been bestowed on me and I will be forever grateful for that. More importantly, I have had the chance to pass it down to my kids.

Supporting Spurs is like riding a roller coaster – one that jerks violently between joy and despair. The cup winning highs, tempered by the frustrations of a club hierarchy without the ambition or will to take us to the next level. Those moments drive us mad. But for some reason, we keep going when all sanity would make us walk away.

What makes it brilliant is that when we’re at our best, we’ve always played the game in the right way. Better to win 4-3 than grind out a joyless 1-0. Tottenham has always been about entertainment, risk, attacking football, flair, and heart-in-mouth moments. Just listen to Bill Nick (or Trigger!).

I’ll never forget the privilege of watching Bale fly down the wing, Dembele take on entire midfields, Modric’s class, Van der Vaart’s quality and passion, Berbatov’s touch, or Jermain Defoe slotting five past Wigan that wonderful afternoon on the Shelf. Those moments are why we endure.

Family and the Future

These days, the greatest joy I get from being a Spurs fan is watching games with my dad and my son. Sometimes my brothers and nephews join too. It’s three generations cheering, shouting, groaning, and hoping together. That’s what football is about.

The next step is a pilgrimage to the new stadium. My kids are desperate to go, and I know that walking up to the ground with them will be one of the happiest days of my life. If my dad can come too, it will be perfect – full circle, three generations back at Spurs.

Right now, there’s some cautious optimism. Thomas Frank has started brilliantly – providing structure and organisation to the attacking flair brought by Ange. It’s early days, but you can sense the connection between this new, organised and dynamic Tottenham (without Kane or Son), led by Christian Romero, and the supporters already growing. What we really need is for Levy and the Lewis family to step aside and let someone with true ambition take us forward. Until then, we will continue to win the occasional trophy, while trying to qualify for Europe.

Through It All

Being a Spurs supporter means pain, laughter, rage, and joy – in always variable quantities. It’s irrational and bloody exhausting, but it’s part of who I am – and I love it! No matter where life has taken me Tottenham has been there.

I wouldn’t give it up for the world. Spurs is family, Spurs is tradition, Spurs is wonder and rolled into one. And I’ll pass it down, the same way it was passed to me.

Come On You Spurs. Tottenham Till I Die.

Ben Raven