A People's History of Tottenham Hotspur is the story of how fans helped create the identity of a world-famous club and tells a story from a perspective rarely acknowledged. Drawing on social history, contemporary press reports and first-hand interviews with the fans themselves, authors Martin Cloake and Alan Fisher trace the club's development from being the team of the suburbs and the rising south, through the glory years and the arrival of mass, popular culture, and into the modern era of the game.

It is not a tale of trophies won and lost, of players bought and sold. Instead, it is the story of how one of the game's oldest and most famous teams was formed and established by its fans and how its identity was created by them. It evaluates how the fans' relationship with the club has evolved, as the game has changed: from those bygone days, when a club was at the heart of a local community, to the modern era, where the world's leading football clubs have to compete as multinational 'brands', appealing to fans on a global scale, stretching much further and wider than the north London footprint than the club's founders would have ever imagined.

Both authors are well known to many Spurs fans. Both are long-established season ticket holders. Martin Cloake has written or collaborated in several books, including the award-winning “61:The Spurs Double”, and the Tottenham Hotspur Opus. Martin is also a board member of the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust, a body which is recognised and respected by the club, and which actively represents and advances the views of Spurs fans around the globe.

Alan Fisher writes the well-respected blog "Tottenham On My Mind", and has written for When Saturday Comes, The Guardian and The Thin White Line. Alan has been a member of Spurs Odyssey and after our 2008 Carling Cup Final presented a great compilation of memories of fans about their experiences of not just the game, but the day. (Memories of the 2008 Carling Cup Final)

This leads nicely into A People’s History. Note that the book is not called The People’s History, because the authors recognise that the history of this club is not just about the game of football. It is about Tottenham; about the unique name "Hotspur"; that small band of local lads who gathered under a lamp-post on Tottenham High Road, and so many people and events which followed. The book does not claim to be a complete history. Because it is our history, and as much about us as it is about the club we all love.

The book is enhanced and embellished with the experiences of real fans who lived the experiences of the second half of our 134-year history so far. Surely all the names you would expect to see are here. Perhaps you feature in the book, if not by name then definitely by association or your presence and involvement in the Glory of THFC.

Our history of Tottenham Hotspur is, after all, still being written. Already this season we have twice broken not only our club record for a home game (played at Wembley), but the club record for a home attendance in England. There is a new stadium being built, and in Tottenham, not away from our heritage. Who knows what is to come, but we are all so proud of our past, and this is a worthy addition to any library.

A People’s History of Tottenham Hotspur (published by Pitch Publishing Ltd – ISBN-10: 1785311883 ISBN :13:978-1785311888) is available to purchase from Amazon and of course other outlets.

The competition to win a copy of this excellent book closed on Friday 18th November, 2016, and a winner is being notified.

Good luck!

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