Since living with the Leaf I’ve seen a side of him that I never thought possible.
For those of you who do not have the pleasure of knowing him, the Leaf is a happy-go-lucky kind of chap, who will only express anger in two situations.
Firstly, when he is driving (be warned: do not cut him up!) And, secondly, when he’s pissed off at a football game.
Thankfully, the two only happen now and then, and never at the same time (I dread to think what would happen if they did!)
When a big game is on, the Leaf will cancel almost anything for it. Last week he even turned down watching the Spurs v Man City game at the pub with his friend because he “wouldn’t be able to concentrate”, preferring to watch it at home on his own.
I try not to laugh but living with such a fan can be quite amusing at times – as well as scary: when Defoe scored in the 60th minute, he grabbed me and gave me the fiercest hug I’ve ever experienced; my back hasn’t felt quite right since.
Your football team losing a game is never a nice feeling, especially when – like Spurs – there seems to be so many missed chances and unfair disadvantages (like should Balotelli have even been on the pitch to take that penalty?) and I too get caught up in moment and frustrated at what often seems to be bad luck.
But unlike the Leaf, I can let it go and a few moments later will be happily watching an episode of Friends, while he mopes around the flat for the rest of the afternoon.
Tonight he’s gone to White Hart Lane to watch Spurs v. Wigan, a game that – as he puts it – should be an easy three points for Tottenham.
But, while I am quietly confident that his beloved team will do well, I can’t ignore the fact that Spurs are a bit like Jekyll and Hyde. You just don’t know what you’re going to get with them – and, unfortunately that means you just don’t know what you’re going to get with the Leaf.
Take, for example, mine and the Leaf’s first trip to White Hart Lane together. One of my conditions for going was, “I want us to win.” Ok, maybe this was unfair of me; you can’t predict what’s going to happen after all – but at the same time, who wants to go and watch a football match on a freezing winter night, only to come away feeling disappointed? Yes, exactly.
The Leaf casually replied “Oh, we will” as he selected a Tuesday night game against Sunderland. I trusted his judgement and went along to the game, confident – and a little bit smug – that this was going to be a walk in the park (and that I’d get to see Gareth Bale in real life!)
An hour and a half later we battled our way out of the grounds and faced a treacherous walk back to the tube station. We hadn’t lost – but at the time we hadn’t won. Yes, a draw. Against Sunderland.
The Leaf was in a miserable mood and so was I. It was cold, I was hungry, and we still had a hour-long journey home. We bickered, I snapped, and we’ve never been to a game together since.
But while I forgot all about it by the next morning, the Leaf hadn’t. For him, Tottenham’s match with Sunderland wasn’t just a game – it was a commitment. A life choice.
Come rain or shine, Spurs is the team he’ll support and whose games he’ll watch, whether or not they frustrate him, because – like all football fans – he hopes that one day they’ll do him proud.
As pathetic as the Leaf’s devotion to Spurs may or may not sound, I actually think feeling so passionate about something is quite admirable. Ah, bless him.
Let's Talk About... 
Leave a comment