Of course relegation will not be unprecedented however, in a sport outlined by The Premier League Years that claims soccer started in 1992, solely these with recollections stretching again to Spurs’ final relegation in 1977 have any inkling of what is perhaps coming.
They additionally flirted with the drop within the Nineties, however the distinction at present is that Tottenham is a world monetary powerhouse, so the stakes are immeasurably greater. The supporters’ strained relationship with a membership they really feel more and more disconnected from solely makes the emotional toll worse.
‘We are a big joke club’
“I don’t like people feeling sorry for me,” says Matt Bush. “I’d almost rather people abuse us. It’s this new kind of pity for us that I absolutely hate.
“An Arsenal-supporting colleague saw me come into the office and he just looked down. I said, “Come on, just give it to me” and he stated: ‘I’m sorry however I can’t do it to you.’ And that’s worse. We are an enormous joke membership. There’s no satisfaction in it anymore.”
For these younger sufficient to be going through this with out battle scars, the potential for relegation is as a lot a shock as it’s traumatic.
“I had a positive relationship with Spurs,” says scholar Jake Gee. “But now I can see how I’ve actually fallen into the pattern of disappointment.
“I’ve found that part of being a Spurs fan is having to defend yourself as soon as you say you support Spurs. It took me a while to comprehend what was going on because I would always say: ‘I’m a Tottenham fan.’ And everyone’s reaction would be: ‘Of course you are – you’re such a Tottenham fan.’ And now I’m getting to grips with that.”
Arsenal title, Spurs relegation: the ‘ultimate nightmare’
It’s even harder for the previous palms, having been conditioned to anticipate the worst however by no means actually believing it will occur. Spurs followers are like Charlie Brown operating as much as kick the ball, pondering that this time it will likely be completely different and Lucy received’t pull it away on the final minute and go away them sprawled on the ground.
But the triumph of hope over expectation is a luxurious they will not afford. The ache of potential relegation in the identical season Arsenal win the title might be an excessive amount of for a lot of.
“Supporting Spurs builds up a certain type of mentality,” says Dean Wallman. “You assume issues can go unsuitable at any second. You don’t really feel safe being 3-0 up in harm time. If you rating a aim early within the recreation, you suppose: ‘It’s too early.’ It’s that psychology that the membership has and supporting the membership has given it to me through the years. I’m a third-generation supporter, so in some methods I’m glad I haven’t handed it on to my kids.
