S3E11 | Sportswashing & Spurs: What Would You Tolerate?

Billie joins us representing Change For Tottenham, discussing a fan-led movement to revive the home atmosphere at Spurs. Working alongside Return of the Shelf and THFCFlags, supporters are pushing for a unified singing section, better engagement from the club, and a stadium experience that reflects the passion of Tottenham Hotspur fans. From European away days with flags travelling alongside the team, to the legacy of the 1882 movement and grassroots mobilisation, we explore why the atmosphere has dipped, how ticket prices affect younger fans, and the massive opportunity presented by the Chelsea match. This is a movement built on unity, noise, and supporters taking the lead to restore Tottenham’s identity at home. Come on you Spurs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on The Lab feed I’m sharing something a little different. Iain from the excellent Poddingham Podspur invited me on to talk about how The Fighting Cock began, why I started The Lab, and what drives me to keep making Spurs content. I wasn’t planning to release this here since it was recorded for someone else’s show and it can feel a bit self-indulgent to talk about myself. But listening back, I think dedicated Fighting Cock and Lab listeners might enjoy the behind-the-scenes chat. Hopefully it offers some insight and a few laughs. And go check out Poddingham Podspur too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Spurs presenter Ben Haines joins The Lab to talk about the Europa League win in Bilbao, how the “Winners” documentary came together, and what changed inside the club under Vinai Venkatesham and Thomas Frank. We get into Ange’s standards, Thomas Frank’s culture work, analysts clipping live during matches, and why increased access has lifted trust among supporters. Ben also shares the story behind Sonny’s emotional farewell interview and what it takes to ask bold questions when you only have ten minutes with a player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re joined on The Lab by Anatole Pang to break down Tottenham’s rapid front-office rebuild. We unpack the Lewis family’s stance on takeover bids, why we believe Spurs have created twin “sporting director” roles for Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange, how Vinai Venkatesham is centralising power as CEO, and what all this means for transfers, wages, set pieces, and Tottenham’s long-term football identity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re joined by author Gareth Dace to dive into Tottenham Hotspur’s most formative decade. From Keith Burkinshaw’s progressive blueprint and the revolutionary arrivals of Ardiles and Villa, to Archibald and Crooks igniting White Hart Lane, the sale of Chris Waddle to Marseille, Clive Allen’s 49-goal season, and that deafening 1984 UEFA Cup shootout, this is Spurs in the 80s in full color. We get into Irving Scholar’s vision, the PLC era, Hummel, the Shelf stand rebuild, hooliganism, and the Alan Sugar vs Terry Venables fallout. Gareth’s new book Hotshot Tottenham: Spurs in the 80s – Hoddle, Hummel and Hazards charts the glory and the chaos. He’s also launched a nostalgia pod, Is Gascoigne Gonna Have a Crack?, with Darren Anderton as the first guest. If you love Tottenham history, this one’s catnip. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're joined by football finance expert Ben White to unpack Tottenham’s £100 million capital injection from the Lewis family. We explain why it is being done as a share issue rather than a loan, how amortisation and PSR shape what Spurs can actually spend, the Macquarie cash-advance story, and why Chelsea’s model is risky. We also talk timing, ownership intent, January vs summer windows, and what success looks like over the next three to five years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re joined by The Athletic’s Dan Kilpatrick for a wide-ranging chat on Ange Postecoglou’s spell and the hangover at Forest, Thomas Frank’s pragmatic start, Xavi Simons’ early impact, Richarlison vs Tell, and what ENIC’s next move could look like. We also get into the US ownership question, Premier League voting blocs, and how the club’s summer hinted at a shift in ambition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello and welcome back to The Lab. Today we’re talking about something that’s uncomfortable but important: the ethics of who owns our football clubs. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Firehawk – and yes, ENIC/Tavistock. What do reputable human‑rights organisations actually say? What can PSR stop – and what can’t it? And what does any of this mean for Spurs? I’m joined by Jake Wieczorek, who works in human‑rights and democracy assessment. No lectures – just information, context and a conversation. Read Jake's article here: https://thefightingcock.co.uk/2025/09/success-at-all-costs-a-deep-dive-into-the-ethical-records-of-spurs-current-and-prospective-owners/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thomas Frank’s adaptability, Xavi Simons’ star power, and Spurs’ new set piece edge. In this episode of The Lab, we're joined by journalist and creator Adam Clery from The Adam Clery Football Channel to dig into what Tottenham’s summer really changed. We break down why Simons is a “nightmare” and a genuine floor raiser, how Frank’s flexible approach contrasts with Postecoglou’s, and why Spurs’ set piece surge is more Brentford blueprint than copycat. Adam explains why Mohamed Kudus feels like the signing big clubs should have made, and we stress test the optimism by asking what happens if Romero or Van de Ven get injured. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A deep dive into Tottenham Hotspur as a modern business. Private equity professional and lifelong Spurs fan Anatole Pang joins to unpack what a £4–5bn football company should look like, why Tottenham still feels under-structured, the role a true Director of Football should play, how Paratici and Lange fit, what the Gibb River review signals, and how valuation and cash flow actually work in football. We also touch on whether the club is really “for sale,” how owners think about operational reform, and why governance and delegation matter as much as transfer spend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices