Spurs stories | Maeve Florsheim
Lucky Iris

"I don’t remember my first shirt, but I do remember the first shirt I bought with my own money. I had just got a job as a lifeguard and saved some money, so at the start of the 2016/17 season I travelled to the old White Hart Lane stadium and bought myself the new season’s shirt in the shop just opposite the grounds.

"I practically ran through the gates to go and put it on. I remember the pride I felt walking out into the grounds, in my brand new shirt, supporting my team. Tottenham. I belonged there. That’s the feeling football can give you.

"But my love for the beautiful game really grew with the development of that Pochettino team. They played with so much heart that it was hard to watch them play and not get behind them. Mousa Dembélé quickly became my new favourite player. The way the ball would stick to his feet, I still haven’t seen anything like it; and his team-mates are all on the record saying the same thing."

"Mousa played his last game for the club in November, 2018, but it was shortly after that time, in May, 2019, when my favourite Spurs memory to date took place. To the surprise of absolutely nobody, that memory is of the Ajax vs Tottenham Champions League game. Do you blame me? It was just so special seeing that team, with that list of injuries and issues, play like that. I actually saw Lucas Moura’s first goal away at Rochdale the year prior. I’d travelled with Jasper (the other half of the band) to the away end to watch us draw 2-2… even with the unexpected draw and imminent replay, we chatted all the way home about our exciting new player. Fast-forward to half-time on that Wednesday night, and I turned to the group and confidently said, 'don’t worry, Lucas Moura is going to score a hat-trick'.

"If you rolled your eyes reading that, I think that’s the standard reaction to this story. Firstly, because if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you 10 times (it is one of my proudest moments!) and secondly, you likely don’t believe me. But ask Jasper, he was there! Honestly though, when we scored, the entire room jumped up so quickly, tables were falling over, pints were flung, my phone went flying, my dad was calling me, my friend was crying and I was screaming.

"I can see every scene of that game still now, but that is in part because one of my pre-show rituals when I’m feeling nervous is to sit down and watch the 9 minute and 33 seconds extended highlights of that night. Because if that team of players can do it, then I can do whatever I’m about to do. And, hey, it may sound cringey, but as a Tottenham fan you take the wins… and that night still gives me chills."