Our Man in Milan - Spurs fan and CNJ journalist Dan Carrier on Tottenham's latest Champions League adventure

Published: 17 February 2011
by DAN CARRIER

THEY had gone with trepidation, with the talk on the flights from Stansted and Luton airports of damage limitation against seven-times European Champions AC Milan. 

But Spurs fans from across Camden who had made the trip to northern Italy for the last-16 first-leg tie on Tuesday night came home with giant – if exhausted – smiles on their faces after witnessing their team pull off one of the greatest European victories in the club’s history in a 1-0 win.

Father and son fans Peter and Nick Hillel had flown out with friends on Tuesday. They had told themselves they were there for the experience, no matter what the result. 

But with Spurs grabbing an 80th-minute winner through striker Peter Crouch, the Hillels, who live in Dartmouth Park, enjoyed a trip they will remember for ever.

Nick, a film-maker currently working on a project chronicling the history of Hampstead Heath, said: “The moment the ball nestled in the nape of the goal, we launched into the wildest goal celebration I have ever seen.” Dad Peter added: “The pride and joy we all felt at coming here and winning is hard to describe.”

Yet the pair nearly missed out on the fan frenzy that greeted the goal. Despite being season ticket holders, they could only get tickets for the home seats, before snapping up a couple among their fellow Spurs fans in the streets around the ground before the match.

Camden Town-based music business executive Karen Emanuel had chosen to fly out the day before on the same plane as the players and club staff in a match package organised by Tottenham. It meant she had the chance to hob-nob with former Spurs heroes Pat Jennings and Ossie Ardiles, who had gone along for the ride. She said one of the many highlights was hearing Ardiles give fans a rendition of the Chas and Dave 1981 hit Spurs Are On Their Way to Wembley in a hotel foyer. 

Karen said: “I have been away with the club many times but this is one of the best. The way we played was astonishing. We had a weakened team but you would not have known it.” Camden Crawl music festival founder Lisa Paulon was also among the ecstatic Spurs fans celebrating. A season ticket holder, she travelled with friends who sit together in the West Stand at White Hart Lane. Lisa said: “I wouldn’t have missed this trip for the world.”

Lucy O’Rourke, from Kentish Town, had promised her eight-year-old son George a programme as she left her three children at home with her husband Peter to follow the team. But the official programmes sold out quickly as Spurs fans bought extra copies for friends back home who couldn’t make it.

She said: “I had told my son I’d get him one but all the vendors had sold out double quick: but the result means he’ll be happy anyway.”

Student Max Collins-Wolff said: “As well as watching a great game of football, I’ve not stopped smiling at the first-class banter.” 

While Milanese football fans have long had an unsavoury reputation, during the day when noisy Tottenham supporters gathered in the city’s picturesque cathedral square a few stops along on the Metro from the San Siro, there was no trouble at all and some good natured ribbing as pints were raised and songs sung.