Taunting Arsenal fans, a party atmosphere, chanting for Gareth Bale – Tottenham supporters loved it as 2,000 returned for the north London derby

I woke up today a very happy man.

For the first time since March, I got to see my team play in the flesh again in the greatest stadium in the world. The cherry on top? It happened to be a win in the north London derby to send us top of the Premier League. Not bad.

Tottenham players applaud the fans in the stands after the final whistleAFP and licensors

I’ve had mates ask me since, did it feel different? Was it weird? The answer: not in the slightest. It felt like sliding on an old pair of slippers.

The 2000 fans present made it feel like a full stadium. If you’ve ever had the chance to be at an away game, it was that sort of atmosphere bottled up and brought back to N17.

Lucky to be there doesn’t quite cut it.

In a time where only a select few can be present, being one of 40,000 season ticket holders to return felt a privilege to say the least.

The return

The entry to the stadium was seamless.

A quick temperature check and we were ready to go. For those well-versed in the busy ‘goal-line bar’ in the South Stand at the new stadium, you’ve never seen it quieter.

It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been away, I still never remember to let my Bovril cool down before taking a sip.

The food

I’ve never been one to eat before a 4.30pm Sunday kick off, but the smell of the pies inside the ground was too tempting to resist.

Every bite, every sip felt momentous. I was back in my favourite place in the world and not even the slightly burnt pies could spoil it.

In my seat

The players coming out to warm up was a really special moment.

After seven years, cries of “Bale!” from the fans meant as much to us now as it did back then. And credit to them, you could see on the faces of the players they were just as delighted to see us.

The pies at Spurs are truly fantasticGetty Images - Getty

The performance

Gritty as it was, it made the day all the more sweet that it was Arsenal.

It was an interesting dynamic not having away fans inside the ground. It felt like we could dictate the narrative, there was no one to counter what we said. “Your support is f*cking s*it,” a common chant, much to the amusement of the home supporters.

The party atmosphere never let up. The sound you heard on the TV didn’t do it justice. It was no coincidence that they sat us in the 17,000-seater stand, an acoustics dream.

Did it give the players an edge? No doubt.

Spurs never looked like losing after Son gave them the leadAFPSpurs supporters got to celebrate two goals in a huge win over ArsenalGetty Images - Getty

The important stuff

I can’t talk about yesterday and not discuss the elephant in the room – COVID-19.

I’ll be honest, the stewards weren’t quite as rigorous as you’d hope. Staggered seating wasn’t necessarily adhered to, nor was celebrating in your bubble for goals. That being said, maintaining that fans wore masks was something they committed to.

In their defence, it’s their first stab at it. They’ll get better and the training will improve. This is all new to us and them. After all, have you ever tried to herd drunk football fans? I don’t envy them.

Health and safety was the prerogative but improvements can still be madeGetty Images - GettyTottenham fans were loving life back in N17Getty Images - Getty

Summary

As Sundays go, that’s up there. The only sad part? I won’t get to do it again until full capacity returns.

However, for the other 38,000 season ticket holders that missed out, just you wait. I hope it’s everything for you as it was for me.

Up the Spurs.