Spurs welcome rivals West Ham for the first Premier League match after the international break and an unprecedented plan is in place.
As far as Premier League rivalries go there aren’t too many fiercer than the one West Ham and Tottenham share.
Both the Hammers and Spurs have bigger rivals in the shape of Millwall and Arsenal of course.
But make no mistake West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur is right up there.
There have been dodgy Lasagnes, unofficial transfer embargoes, former players biting current ones and battles over a stadium.
It’s not just on the terraces West Ham and Tottenham don’t see eye-to-eye either.
Relations are extremely frosty between the two boardrooms – particularly regarding Karren Brady, David Sullivan and Daniel Levy.
Especially after the clubs went through the courts over an alleged spying scandal where West Ham vice-chair Brady was the target.
The rivalry resumes for another season on Saturday.
TNT Sports has been doing its best to stoke the fire.
The broadcaster appeared to try and belittle West Ham in the build up.
Their controversial social media promo backfired on Tottenham.
Bragging rights are always on the line in this fixture.
There is added spice this weekend in that the losing manager will come under serious pressure.
West Ham can go above Spurs with a win.
The Hammers will – as they do at every away ground – turn out in force at Tottenham.
Usually this fixture gives the Met Police plenty to think about.
Something highly unusual is happening this time, though.
Winter says unprecedented plan in place for Spurs vs West Ham
Henry Winter says an unprecedented plan is in place when Spurs face West Ham in the Premier League.
Ordinarily a sizeable police presence is needed at these games to ensure fans of West Ham and Tottenham are kept separated.
But journalist Winter has revealed West Ham and Spurs supporters are coming together before the big game.
Both sets of fans are unhappy with their owners over ticket pricing and strategy.
Now they are joining forces to send a powerful message to Levy, Sullivan, Brady and co.
“Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham fans are meeting up before Saturday’s game to stage a joint protest against their clubs’ changes to concessionary prices,” Winter said alongside images of both clubs’ protest banners.
Hammers News can confirm rivalries are indeed being put to one side ahead of the game.
West Ham fan group Hammers United and Tottenham supporter group Save Our Seniors are coming together for the greater good.
“At this weekend’s London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United, fans of both clubs will put aside local rivalries by coming together to protest at the removal and reduction of concessionary tickets at both clubs,” Hammers United said.
“The erosion of concessions is an unnecessary attack on some of their most loyal and vulnerable supporters by two of the Premier League’s wealthiest institutions.”
‘Stinking decision if West Ham and Spurs are working together’
Meanwhile Spurs group Save Our Seniors state the ticket strategy of both clubs must be bad to get West Ham and Tottenham fans working together.
“It has to be a stinking decision to get West Ham and Spurs fans working together,” Save Our Seniors said.
“Removing Senior Concessions is just that. Enough is Enough. Make a stand with Save Our Seniors this Saturday.”
Why are Tottenham fans protesting?
Spurs take in close to £6m at every home game – or £114m across a Premier League season at home.
Yet their “attack on concessions” will reportedly save then just £3m a year.
That equates to just three per cent of the money Tottenham received in broadcast income in 2022/23. It’s also 100% of the bonus Chairman Daniel Levy paid himself in the same year.
In trying to justify the decision, Spurs said the increase in the number of senior concessions was “clearly not sustainable” – which means it is concerned loyal fans are not dying off quickly enough to enable it to make even more money.
Tottenham are the eighth richest club in world football, according to Deloitte.
Why are West Ham fans protesting?
At West Ham, fans were outraged when the club withdrew concessions for new season ticket holders in all but a small number of seats right at the back of the stadium – in Bands 5 and 6.
Without concessions, new Under-18 season ticket holders were hit with four, five and almost six-fold price increases in Bands 1-4, most of the stadium, with the same prices doubling for pensioners.
The club offered no concessions at all in one-off sales for opening games against Aston Villa and Manchester City, with children being charged up to £95 for ordinary seats.
Liverpool University football finance expert Kieran Maguire estimated that season ticket concession withdrawal at West Ham would raise just £600,000 per year – 0.25 per cent of turnover.
“They are telling pensioners and kids ‘you’re not welcome’ at West Ham,” said Paul Colborne, who chairs Hammers United, one of the fan groups involved in the protest.
“That’s not the West Ham Way. It makes a mockery of the club’s commitment to ‘affordable family football.’ It will rip the heart and soul out of the club.”
What is planned for the joint West Ham and Spurs protest?
West Ham’s ‘Save Our Concessions’ and Tottenham Hotspur’s ‘Save Our Seniors’ have been staging visual protests at games in defence of concessionary ticketing for several months.
On Saturday they plan to stand together “against the greed and contempt shown by our clubs”.
As well as meeting outside the ground with banners, the protest will continue inside Tottenham’s stadium.
When the teams emerge from the tunnel ahead of kick-off, there will be a release of black balloons by both home and away fans.
Before kick-off, there will be a photoshoot with fans of both clubs displaying banners. A video interview and package will also be available the day after the game for media outlets.
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