In the 1990s, following Spurs from overseas meant creativity, patience and a lot of luck. In this episode, Gareth speaks to two long‑standing supporters whose experiences reveal just how different football fandom looked before the digital age.
Steff moved from London to the United States in 1986 and found himself in a footballing desert. No live matches, no radio, no newspapers covering English football — just the occasional cup final on satellite TV and the hope that an Irish pub might be showing something. His stories include missing most of the Gascoigne era, hunting down broadcasts across California, and receiving a VHS tape of the 1991 FA Cup semi‑final from his mum, watched for the first time on a tour bus with Napalm Death..and of course savouring live THAT goal at Leicester in 1997!
Kjetil’s experience in Norway was almost the opposite. English football had been broadcast live since the 1970s, and Spurs were one of the most‑shown teams. Erik Thorstvedt became a national hero, supporters’ clubs flourished, and fans built their own magazines and communities. Yet travelling to London still came with risk — postponed matches, ticket hunts, and the sheer scale of navigating a foreign city in the pre‑internet era.
This episode is a celebration of dedication, nostalgia and the global reach of Spurs long before the world became connected.
Gareth’s books Is Gascoigne Gonna Have a Crack? and Hot Shot Tottenham are available here:
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