Shirts, Shorts and Spurs

Book excerpt: This insightful and often hilarious romp charts the dramatic ups and downs of Tottenham Hotspur, as seen through the eyes of one of its most unlikely heroes: Roy Reyland, the local kit man who served the club for almost 30 years. From inside the dressing room and on the bench, Roy has witnessed the agony and the ecstasy of three decades of seasons at Tottenham Hotspur. He looked after Spurs' famous lilywhite shirts for an incredible 1,397 matches, home and away, including 12 dramatic cup finals. Working under 17 managers--from Keith Burkinshaw to Martin Jol--he visited Wembley more times than many of the brightest stars of the Premiership. And, of course, he worked closely with some of White Hart Lane's greatest ever players--from Ardiles and Gazza to Klinsmann and Ginola. As the club's unofficial agony aunt, Roy has seen the tears and the triumphs, the dressing-room pranks, and has a unique insight into the inner workings of the legendary Premiership side. He has seen it all, and his story is one of total devotion to the club.