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The Ghost of White Hart Lane

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(Here's one I put in the oven before.  It'll have to put me on until I fabricate something new.) 

 

His spirit walks the terraces on Saturdays at three;

He's in the breezes blowing and the dust-whirls that you see;

That tingling of your hairline's when he touches you and me;

He's here, son; he's here at White Hart Lane.

 

Today you'd say he played midfield – in those days, inside right;

He gets his name from finding space when the marking's tight

The bloodline of the game was coursed through Blanchflower to John White

The essence of the script at White Hart Lane.

 

Danny said there's more to this than playing just to win;

There's glory and there's style and the passion from within;

So when you start to follow Spurs the place we all begin's

In the presence of the Ghost of White Hart Lane.

 

He's in the cheek of Jimmy Greaves and Klinsman's artistry;

He's in the perfect pass of Hoddle played exquisitely;

He's in the cockerel on the flag which shows THFC;

He laughs and weeps with us here at the Lane.

 

He's in the skills of Ossie – the crafty Argentine;

He's Ricky Villa's mazy goal, the greatest Wembley's seen;

He's when Perryman lifts the Cup he's taken off the Queen

Like an urn that holds the Ghost of White Hart Lane.

 

He's Lineker and Ginola and Nicholson and Pleat;

He's Gazza's goal at Wembley handing Arsenal defeat;

And in that photo when Mackay lifts Bremner off his feet;

It belongs to we who pilgrim to the Lane.

 

But now we court Olympic dreams if once the contract's signed

Abandoning the templed turf to tear the ties that bind;

But it isn't Tottenham Hotspur to leave John White behind

And lose the soul and Ghost of White Hart Lane.

Ghosts

◄ Boots

The Fairies in the Backs ►

Comments

<Deleted User> (9554)

Wed 7th Sep 2011 20:08

Well I did your "Ghost of White Hart lane." John
and it went down well. It was something they never expected from me. Some Liverpool supporter at the back called out("You cannot be serious)well I was on this occasion; and it was received with a nice gentle clap; except for that bastard at the back whose megaphoned-Broderick Crawford-voice just mocked me with: "10 - 4."

<Deleted User> (9554)

Thu 18th Aug 2011 22:08

Hi John, like Dave Bradley I too am an Evertonian.
Spurs broke my heart One Saturday afternoon in the sixties.
I was doing maintenance In an empty factory on an industrial estate devoid of human contact and without a radio to tell me what was happening to my beloved Everton. On the empty bus home the bus-driver answered my anxious query by saying that he heard someone say that Everton scored 4 that's all he knew. my joy only lasted until I entered my local and one of the miserable faces told me we got beat 10-4. I've been haunted ever since. Loved your poem though.

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John Coopey

Fri 22nd Jul 2011 09:56

Jeff/Dave
Fraternal greetings and deep respect from a fellow sufferer.

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Dave Bradley

Thu 21st Jul 2011 23:37

Enjoyed this John. I still remember the sense of shock at John White's death - he was a great player in a great team. I saw Spurs beat Sheffield Wednesday 4-0 7th April 1962 and wish I could remember more about the day - I think he was playing but Google won't confirm.

Dave (Evertonian)

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Jeff Dawson

Thu 21st Jul 2011 22:32

Hi John, I had tears in my eyes the last night at Burnden Park, in those immortal words Kenneth Wolstenholme, life long Bolton fan said 'They think its all over, it is now' Theres a sadness that wipes out an old football stadium things can never be the same.

I didnt know Spurs had a ghost in John White, bit before my time - I thought Martin Peters was the ghost! Anyway really enjoyed this, nice memories of great times and players, know you like my poem about Nat, all the best Jeff

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John Coopey

Thu 21st Jul 2011 21:53

John White - struck by lightning in 1964.

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