NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 471
Submitted by Norman Giller

Walking on air after yesterday's thumping win at Villa Park. I feel like we collected an Oscar. But I am worried about coming down to earth with a bump, unless we can collectively get Daniel Levy to make an about-turn on the thorny ticket price issue.

Let me straight away own up to a major weakness when it comes to my talking about admission money for Tottenham matches (and this will give ammunition to those people I confront online because of the way they continually smash the club and individual players with their savage sniping).

Here it comes: I have never paid to watch Spurs play in my life.

When I first started to watch them in the historic 1950-51 Push and Run season an uncle used to fork out the ninepence it cost for my entrance to the terraces.

As it increased to two bob (10p), my Godfather - an Edmonton-based Spurs fanatic - financed my viewing of the mighty Spurs.

Since the late 1950s I have had a privileged seat in the press box, so never having to put my hand in my pocket to watch the best football show in town (and not bad in the country, either).

I have assuaged my conscience in recent years by sharing profits from my Tottenham-themed books with the Tottenham Tribute Trust (www.justgiving/thettt), who quietly help our old heroes with their medical bills as they reach the winter of their discontent. The physical pain - and in many cases, dementia - they suffer is the price they pay for all that entertainment they gave us in the summertime of their lives.

The Tottenham Tribute Trust must not be mixed up with the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust, which is leading the campaign against the parent club's contentious decision to raise season ticket prices by six per cent from next season.

The THST quite rightly express total opposition to the plan to scrap senior concession season tickets for the over-65s. The novice economist within me can just about understand the reasons for the price hike, but that kicking out of the 'old git' concessions is, as the Trust claims, totally unacceptable. They do not deserve this crippling blow to the wallet after years of loyalty to the Lilywhite cause.

I am in a minority that thinks Daniel Levy is a fair-minded man, and I plead with him to change his decision on the concessions. When he thinks things through he usually comes up with the right solution and on this issue he must concede he has got it wrong.

Let's hope Daniel is using an old negotiating trick and just dropping in that cutting of concessions so that he has something to offer the THST when they come knocking down his door in organised protests.

None of this is the fault of manager Ange Postecoglou, who is giving us a stunning season of great entertainment. The 4-0 thumping of Villa is as good as it gets, as our Spurs Odyssey guru Paul H. Smith - a leading critic of the price rise - reports HERE.

A special word of praise for Pape Matar Sarr's performance. The highlight was the delicious cross for the 'Darting' James Maddison's vital opening goal. Pape is an interesting character who studies computer science. Perhaps he can come up with an AI plan to help end Tottenham's trophy drought!

Spurs must keep their foot on the accelerator, and three points at Fulham on Saturday is as important as the victory at Villa Park yesterday. Chairman Daniel Levy would concede that will be just the ticket.

COYS!

Week 28 of season nine of the Spurs Odyssey Quiz League challenge, and the question is:

Who has won two international caps for his country, was previously on Manchester City's books and which number shirt does he wear with Spurs?

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 28. Deadline: midnight this Friday. I will do my best to respond to all who take part.

The rules are the same as in the previous eight seasons. I ask a two-pronged question with three points at stake - two for identifying the player and one for the supplementary question. In the closing weeks of the competition I break the logjam of all-knowing Spurs-history experts with a tie-breaking poser that is based on opinion rather than fact. That's when I become as popular as Sol Campbell in an Arsenal shirt.

This year's main prize will be a framed certificate announcing the winner as SOQL champion 2024, plus three signed books to be revealed at a later date. We have retired the omniscient David Guthrie after his three victories.

Last week's question:

Which Yorkshireman won 21 England caps, started his career with his hometown Leeds United team and to which club did Tottenham sell him in 2015?

Answer: Aaron Lennon/Everton

See you back here ... on Monday. COYS!

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