EXCLUSIVE TREVOR TANNER INTERVIEW
Sunday, 12 October 08, 03:49 PM · Comments (178)
He's a man with what can only be described as a formidable reputation. The last fifteen years have seen him stabbed, left with broken bones, bitten by Police dogs, deported, subject to numerous banning orders and jailed.
What Trevor Tanner has achieved without dispute is taking his firm to the top. The Yid Army, Tottenham Massive or the Spurs Firm, call them what you will, are acknowledged as one of the most ruthless, organised and successful football hooligan outfits there are.
There will be some reading this who will object to what they see as the glamourising of a thug and the encouragement of antisocial behavour. What we're actually doing here is talking about Tottenham with a fan who shares the same occasional highs and current lows as the rest of us.
Trevor's book Tottenham Massive is a fascinating read for us civilians. I have it alongside books by such authors as Dave Courtney OBE, Joey Pyle, Freddie Foreman, Bruce Reynolds and Frankie Frasier. As with those writers Trevor provides me with an insight into a Twilight World. A dangerous world but one with codes of conduct and honour. A world incidentally where regular Joes like you and me don't feature on their radar.
HH: Let's get this one out of the way. What's your response to those who would want to paint you as some thug who might as well just wander into a Sainsbury's and randomly thump people?
TT: I'm more of a Waitrose man, Harry. (laughs) Look there's a world of difference between us and the scumbags that you have wandering around in hoodies. Those little rats out there are kicking little old ladies up in the air for small change. You read the likes of Dave Courtney and Freddie Foreman you understand that. People are naughty don't get me wrong - but like you say - you don't want civilians involved. Dave's a personal friend of mine... 'Hello Dave' by the way... and by and large people love reading these sort of books. And if footballers can earn, then why shouldn't we?
HH: And these books are always about 1000 times more interesting than books by footballers. Speaking of which. Football. You and me are of a similar vintage. What was a memorable early game?
TT: One that definately got me hooked was that UEFA Cup Final. I remember Roberts scoring. I just remember the atmosphere, looking up at the floodlights. It was something else.
HH: That was some night, alright. An incredible game. So who's your all time fave Spurs player, then?
TT: Paul Gascoigne. I think for a little while there, he was the best player in the world, you know. It's sad what's happened to the fella now. He's lost the plot and it looks like he's just going one way. Amazing player and a sorry stuation now. Terrible the way he's gone.
HH: What's life like as Spurs fan right now?
TT: (Sighs) Humiliating. I turned down a ticket for Portsmouth the other week. I couldn't face it and ended watching the game in a pub down there. I saw most of it through my fingers with my hands over my face. I can't believe the the shit we're playing. You know, it's like you can always rely on Tottenham to let you down.
HH: What's your take on the current mess, then?
TT: There's something severly wrong at this club from the top down. We sign world class players and when they come here they don't fulfill their potential. It doesn't add up. We need to sort it out.
HH: Who's to blame?
TT: Levy has got Little Man Syndrome. You see that in the way he trades for players. He drags out every deal to the last penny to make it look like he's a top negotiator. What it actually looks like is we're always after something on the cheap. I don't think he does us any favors in that way. He needs to understand something. There are a lot of supporters who follow Tottenham home away and abroad and it costs a fortune. And I'll tell you maybe some of might not be able to really afford it. Maybe they're having to cut corners at home or whatever. What I'm saying is their showing a level of commitment and they deserve more. They're not getting what they deserve as fans.
HH: We had a such a good preseason...
TT: Biggest mistake we made mate was beating Roma like that. Everybody took it we were going to finish top four after that. They didn't see that game for what it was and the result didn't stand up. Italian football ain't what it was. That was a shopping trip for the wives. I wouldn't be suprised if most of then were on the wine the night before. The other games didn't mean anything either.
HH: The transfer window then and the departure of Berbatov and Keane...
TT: That Berbatov's a f***ing dog who shafted us. We took him from nowhere and set him up and he repaid us by being a selfish c***. Keane I'll tell you about. I demand loyalty. From family, from friends. What he did I took personally.
HH: How did you feel about Jol going and all that business?
TT: Not that upset. Two fifth place finishes fair enough. But I didn't think he was pulling up any great trees there. Look, nobody could have foreseen his success at Hamburg but the German league is totally different game to the Premiership. I think that there was a lot of personal stuff betweeen Jol and Levy, you know? Like it was over a bird or over a motor. There was more too it than just the football. Some people are painting him better than he was because of the state we're in now, you know? But that Ramos has got to turn things round and no excuses. £100,000 a week he's on and he's turning out s***. And people are asking if he speaks English. £100,000 a week he should be out there with the best language people and taking the press conferences and all that.
HH: Couldn't agree more. There's no reason why Gus should be doing the press. What about Hughton?
TT: He was a good as a player, you know what I mean? But you got to ask questions when he's been alongside all those men who got the tin tack and he kept himself in there all that time. No great shakes just seen as a safe pair of hands. He kept his head down and basically has been very lucky with the ride he's had.
HH: I can't see anybody for 1000 miles to shall we say 'succeed' Ramos. I think there's a good reason why any of these managers that are free at the minute are free. They're on the dole. You know what I mean?
TT: Yeah. Well I'll tell you a name, that Joe Kinnear.
HH: Eh?
TT: He's a Spurs old boy and some people make light of him but they forget the job he did at Wimbledon and the job he did there with the s*** he had. He had his work cut out there. He's a man who can the best out of players.
HH: Like Rednapp in the respect he can 'talk' to footballers?
TT: Yeah, but not a c*** like Rednapp who's just there for the money and himself. I think Kinnear's been overlooked to be honest. Well see, won't we.
HH: Okay. Best stadium for atmosphere?
TT: That's a tricky one. Depends what the game is. 18,0000 in at Cardiff and it can be rocking on a Tuesday night. Anfield can be special when it gets going. A European game at The Lane when we really need to win is hard to beat.
HH: Who get's your goat out of the TV pundits?
TT: That little c*** off Soccer AM. What's his name? That little rag with the highlights?
HH: I can't remember his name either. Chelsea isn't he. All Prada and a non stop smile.
TT: Ha ha I can't f**ing stand him anyway.
HH: Tim Lovejoy.
TT: That's him he's s***. Got to be others too (laughing) Can't just give it all to him. Andy Townsend. All that ITV lot. Townsend, McCoist and Robbie Savage. Don't rate any of them. Anyone off ITV, then.
HH: Tottenham Massive got good reviews and I know loads of peolpe who enjoyed it. So when are we getting some more then?
TT: The deal is done and I'm writing now. It'll be out before the World Cup.
HH: Listen, that was great. Maybe you can drop in again along the season and let us know what you think?
TT: My pleasure.
Like this blog? Help spread the word: 
put 'im to work shadow boxing with scud, the only one that don't need 'im is O'Hara.
That includes a session waxing on and off with Levy and bare knuckles with comoli.
I reckon Redknapp would make a really good Spurs manaager
this neanderthal discredits your site.
poor judgment harry.
The only thing that discredits anyone are people like lokomotive telling us what we should and shouldn't be reading. Do one. 
My question didn't make the cut - gutted Hazza, absolutely gutted! and i thought we were (cyber) mates.... 
I see 2 of the combatants from the battle of Parsons green have been jailed recently. 2 out of 75 is probably not the strike rate of convictions that the police are after.
178 Comments · Add yours
I read that book on hloiday a month or two back and was a good read. I didn't realise we had all that going on to be honest. The comment about levy and the little man thing is spot on. People get angry about Commoli but it has always been Levy holding the purse strings. Thats why we didn't get Arshavin.
i reckon i need to have me a read of this fella book. ive never got involved in football violence but it is a subject that has always grabbed my attention. my dad took a pasting in the luton v millwall riot back in the 80's. its something i will never forget.
also, the uefa cup final in 84 is my first memory. i was 10 and when super graham roberts skipped thru and bagged that goal i cried tears of joy. the tears were in full effect when tony parks saved the pens as well. and i will never forget the crowd singing danny thomas's name after he missed his penalty. that shows what a great bunch of supporters we are.
and on a seperate note, this article mentions Dave Courtney. go and buy his book titled 'stop the ride i wanna get off'. its brilliant. i wont ruin it for those who have not read it but the british olympic yacht story is one that still makes me chuckle now.
good article, COYS