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Eyes down

One of my hacks was at last week鈥檚 tour of Tottenham Hotspur鈥檚 new ground in north London. It was mainly arranged to show off the sort of hospitality punters can expect once the new ground is completed next year 鈥� of which more in a bit. But he decided to play a bit of buzzword bingo while the various dignitaries made their presentations: amazing, showcase, vision, aspiration, experiences and destination were all mentioned. He considered it a full house.

Batting for the other team

Tottenham鈥檚 director of hospitality Andy O鈥橲ullivan gave an impressive speech about the sort of corporate entertaining fans can expect at the new ground. One is something called the Tunnel Club where fans fork out 拢19,000 a year to see the players coming and going to the changing rooms through one-way glass 鈥� which seems a bit voyeuristic to me. It did come as a surprise, though, to discover that O鈥橲ullivan is not a fan of Spurs. His allegiances lie a few miles further east 鈥� at fierce rivals West Ham. Before Spurs fans suspect a fifth columnist, he pointed out that his wife is a fan of the Lilywhites and so helps keep him on the straight and narrow.

Taking sides

Another one with divided loyalties is Populous鈥� Chris Lee 鈥� the architect in charge of the whole thing. He also worked on Arsenal鈥檚 Emirates stadium (capacity: 60,000) and says he is down at the Spurs ground (capacity: 61,000) two or three times a week. Which one is his favourite, then? 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 ask me that 鈥� that鈥檚 like asking me to choose between my kids.鈥� A diplomatic answer though, given he was ordered by his son to get Spurs鈥� keeper Hugo Lloris 鈥� who was on hand to talk about the new ground 鈥� to sign a goalkeeping glove; perhaps we have an inkling of his answer.

Beware the drips

There were some sombre statistics trotted out at the event about the percentage of households in the area where Tottenham鈥檚 ground sits 鈥� Northumberland Park 鈥� claiming some form of benefit. It was 76%. The club鈥檚 new ground will undoubtedly help regenerate the area but I did chuckle when I heard the explanation why Spurs had planted magnolia trees at its Enfield training ground a few years back 鈥� they don鈥檛 release sap so the players can train in peace knowing that the pesky sticky stuff isn鈥檛 going to damage their top-of-the-range motors. It did get me thinking: surely these guys and their wages can afford a 拢4 hand car wash? Whoever said footballers were pampered 鈥�

No to extra time

I hear that the office of Tottenham鈥檚 finance director Matthew Collecott overlooks the work being carried out at the new ground. I would normally have added that Collecott controls the purse strings and I鈥檓 sure he does 鈥� but the man who really has hold of those finances is chairman Daniel Levy. His office doesn鈥檛 overlook the site where 800 workers are beavering away but I hear he sometimes worries that not enough people are on site and has wondered aloud whether the club could go for 24-hour working. But I鈥檓 told the job is bang on schedule so the club can stop fretting. As an omen, the heritage clock in the foyer of Spurs鈥� Lilywhite House headquarters is 10 minutes fast. 鈥淎head of schedule,鈥� as one wag observed.