‘I went from Glasgow to Wembley to Leeds - and made my gig by 10 minutes!’

Heard the one about the Spurs fan and drummer in a punk band who was in Glasgow on the morning of our League Cup Final triumph against Chelsea in 2008 and not only had to get to Wembley, but had to be back on stage in Leeds by 9pm? Spurs fan Lee Barratt completed the 600-mile round trip down and back up the UK by the skin of his teeth - and how it was worth it!

Lee Barratt waved his bandmates goodbye and set off on a journey he’ll never forget on Sunday, February 24, 2008.

He was in Glasgow at the time, a mere 410 miles from Wembley Stadium, with the League Cup Final against Chelsea kicking-off at 3pm.

But it wasn’t the first part of the journey concerning him.

Below: Lee in action with Gallows

More to the point, Lee had to be back in Leeds by 9pm for a gig with his band Gallows!

He takes up the story…

“We were on tour and actually played in Glasgow the night before the League Cup Final. I had to get down from Glasgow, so I got a flight in the morning and left the rest of the band on the bus travelling to Leeds. I told them ‘I’m not missing this for anything!’ I got to Luton Airport, went home to Watford and got to Wembley in plenty of time.

“The question was how I was going to get back to Leeds. I had to get up there quickly after the game finished and we were even looking at hiring a helicopter! We settled on a limousine but, of course, the game then went to extra time!

“When Jonathan Woodgate knocked in the header we all went crazy but I had to leave there and then. If I left it any later I would have missed the gig. I even missed us picking up the trophy! I was gutted about that but at the same time, I was thrilled that I’d watched Spurs win a final at Wembley.

“I rushed out of Wembley, found the limousine driver and told him ‘we need to get to Leeds in about two-and-a-half hours!’ The limo was stacked with champagne - that would have been a bit miserable if we’d lost!

“I honestly didn’t think we’d make it but we had a great run and reached the venue with about 10 minutes to spare. I turned up with a champagne bottle in hand and all the guys couldn’t believe I’d made it! It was a brilliant day!”

Below: Lee proudly wears his Spurs shirt in Las Vegas

As we celebrated a trophy, Gallows were also flying. Named ‘best newcomer’ at the prestigious Kerrang! Awards in 2007, the band were between their first two albums at the time - ‘Orchestra of Wolves’ (2006) and ‘Grey Britain’ (2009) albums that reached 57 and 20 respectively in the UK charts.

Lee explained: “We started off like any other band, started small, played a few local shows and then got picked up by Warner Brothers, obviously a major label for a little punk band like us.

“We had a good few years of playing some really big shows with all the big bands and at the moment we’re on an extended break after years of touring. In fact, I’m in a new band called Funeral Shakes, we’ve been together for a year-and-a-half and we’ve an album that should be out soon.”

A Spurs fan all his life, Lee followed the family route to the Lane. His father Paul is also a lifelong fan and they attend matches with his mum Julie and uncle Dave.

A Season Ticket Holder on The Shelf, Lee’s professional and personal lives couldn’t be more contrasting - by day a mortgage broker, by night a drummer in a punk band. “It’s not quite as glam, but everyone has to pay the bills!” he laughed.