It was five years ago to the day that Dele Alli first walked through our doors at Hotspur Way but few could have predicted quite how his Spurs career would take off.
He signed for us as an 18-year-old; young but experienced and with talent aplenty – a description that remains just as apt today as it did then.
Joining from hometown club MK Dons, he had made almost a century of appearances for the League One side, who he initially rejoined on loan before making his Spurs debut in August 2015.
Yet, despite his tender age and having never played a Premier League game he quickly got his feet under the table following his arrival in N17. Fast forward five years and the attack-minded midfielder’s growth has almost seemed relentless and yet, at just 23-years-old, he still remains one of England’s brightest young talents.
However, having made his professional debut almost eight years ago, his youthful age is something that he almost needs to remind people about on a more than regular basis, but that shows how far he has come in just a matter of years. The rate at which he established himself at the height of the world’s game in such a short space of time speaks volumes of the quality he holds and what high expectations are held of him.
The highs kept coming through his early years as a Spur, but Dele admits it’s not as easy as you​ would think to look back over what has been a whirlwind five years.
“It is difficult to think back over previous moments sometimes because you always have that next game or that next challenge. It never stops – certainly not at the moment anyway,” he explained.
“I think you are always looking forward and trying not to focus on what has happened in the past, whether it be positive or not, you are always looking for that next challenge and how to accomplish that next goal.
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OBITUARY – JOHNNIE HILLS
We were saddened to hear of the passing of John ‘Johnnie’ Hills, a defender who spent 11 years at the Club as an amateur and professional between 1950-61. He passed away at home in Brussels, Belgium, on Friday, 26 November, aged 87.
PAPER CHASE
Club historian John Fennelly looks back at what supporters were reading on their way, at half-time and heading home afterwards when NORWICH CITY visited in March 1938.
RIDE FOR UGO
Laurence Gant, Head of Academy Sports Medicine and Science, is set to take part in a five-day charity cycle in memory of his friend, and our former Under-23s coach Ugo Ehiogu.
DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
BIG WIN OVER EVERTON
SPURS WOMEN
INTERNATIONAL ROUND
GAME ZERO ACHIEVES NET ZERO CARBON STATUS
Sky this week published a case study revealing that Game Zero, our Premier League match against Chelsea here in September, achieved net zero carbon emissions.
LIVING IN THE MOMENT
Exclusive interview with our young midfielder OLIVER SKIPP, now an established member of our first team and also a familiar face to today’s opponents, who is enjoying every moment in the Premier League spotlight.
MEET OUR FIRST-YEAR UNDER-18S PLAYERS
TOUGH DAY AGAINST COTTAGERS
TREBLE TOP
Looking back at Spurs hat-tricks scored against tonight’s opposition.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
A creative midfielder who was full of heart and desire, LEWIS HOLTBY made his Spurs debut against this afternoon’s opposition back in January 2013 and went on to make 42 appearances in our colours, scoring three goals. We caught up with the Germany international to discuss his time at the Club and find out what he is up to now…
