TRAVELPACK
Saturday 24th October 2009
Tottenham Hotspur vs Stoke City
Barclays Premier League
White Hart Lane
Kick Off 3.00pm

STADIUMINFO

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
White Hart Lane
Tottenham
N17 0AP

By Club Historian Phil Lawton

Tomorrow's trip to White Hart Lane will be only the second visit to this stadium since 1984, and although the score line went against us in January this year, we did see the first goal scored for us by James Beattie.

The area around White Hart Lane is difficult to get away from after a game due to the traffic congestion, so last season I parked just north of the North Circular road and walked the mile or so towards White Hart Lane.

During my journey on foot I had chance to recollect on our previous meetings with Tottenham. One such occasion saw us paired with them in the FA cup in January 1976. We were drawn away to Tottenham and we were favourites to go through. I remember a superb powerful strike from John Mahoney putting us 1-0 up and we looked comfortable, but the hosts managed to get a draw with a header from John Duncan in the second half. In those days the draw for the next round took place straight after the game and we knew that if we won the replay we would be at home to Manchester City in the fourth round. We were happy with the replay, but it was then that the history of Stoke City was to take a dramatic turn.

The replay had to be postponed when the game had to be called off. On the morning of the match a small section of The Butler Street Stand roof collapsed and we had to wait until 4th round day to play our third round replay when Geoff Salmons scored a late goal to give us a 2-1 win.

The roof collapse caused us all sorts of problems though and we had to play one home League fixture against Middlesbrough at Vale Park, and by the time we got to play Tottenham in the replay at The Victoria Ground the whole roof of The Butler Street stand had been removed.

If you are visiting White Hart Lane on Saturday then take a look the Police Control box. It is below the roof of the stand and has to be one of the most unusual constructions at a Football Ground in England. The box is suspended from the roof and looks more like a UFO than anything else.T here are also two large scoreboards at either end of the stadium, and the ground has now been completely renevated since our cup game in 1976.

As I left the stadium last season, I noticed as I began my walk back to the car, that I was moving quicker than all the traffic, so at least I had one good result on the day. This time though the walk back could be so much more enjoyable.We have only lost once on the road this season and with the superb travelling support the club enjoys, we could make this day special.

YOURROUTE

From the Britannia Stadium take the M6 Southbound. Merge onto the M1 Junction 1 at the end of the M6.

At Junction 6a, exit the M1 onto the M25, towards M11/M20/Dartford

At Junction 25 of the m25, take the A10 exit to Enfield/Hatfield/London (N &C)

At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto the A10 heading to London. Continue to follow the A10, going straight on at one roundabout.

Turn left at the next set of traffic lights into White Hart Lane and over a mini roundabout into Creighton Road. Merge back onto White Hart Lane and then turn right at the end of the road onto High Road (A1010). The stadium is then on your left.

Please beware, however, of the London Borough of Haringey's matchday parking regulations where penalties will be issued if you park in around streets nearby the stadium.

TOTALDISTANCE

160 miles (from the Britannia Stadium) - 2 hours 51 minutes

TRAINJOURNEY

Take a train to London Euston from Stoke-on-Trent station. From there, take the Victoria Line underground to Seven Sisters and then another on to White Hart Lane station. The stadium is around five minutes walk from here.

LOCALRADIO

BBC Radio London 94.9 FM - Pre / Post match coverage as well as full match commentary