James

Dear Tottenham Hotspur (FAO: Production and Marketing team), Happy New Year to you all! We hope this message finds you well as we enter a new year, one that we all hope will finally bring silverware to N17. With that in mind, next week, we have the biggest game that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has seen in years. We know that the second leg at Anfield will undoubtedly be played in a hostile atmosphere. Therefore, we have to capitalise on the home advantage in the first leg and seize our chance to drive the team forward. This is a massive opportunity, and with the right preparation and support, we can create an unforgettable night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. If we had it our way, you'd be proactively working with us to move as many season ticket holders to the South Stand as possible, grouping vocal fans together, but sadly, as you are reluctant to step up when the moment came, we will have to find other ways to bring fans together. Before the Manchester United game, we publicly asked for you to cancel the light show, so thanks for doing so! We were surprised to hear from our source on the evening of the match that it had been called off and that the directive was to follow our suggestions. Although we deeply appreciate the change, we feel the lack of an announcement meant fans were unprepared to fill the void. Had this been communicated, fans would have known to step up. That said, we understand that building a strong, organic atmosphere takes time. Fans are creatures of habit, and after a season or more of loud music and a nightclub-like pre-match focus, many have grown accustomed to passive silence before kick-off. However, if a fan-led atmosphere became the norm, something we champion, especially for big games, the supporters would absolutely rise to the occasion. A great example of this is the trumpet, which has now become a regular fixture, helping fans rally to cheer the team on. (Side note, does he really need to wear a "Spurs Trumpeter 1" replica shirt, club shop hat and coat, with GoPro strapped to his trumpet...? Less is more! Anyway, that's another battle). Looking ahead to the Liverpool semi-final, we have what is arguably the biggest game for the club in many years. It’s a massive occasion, and we’re confident it can be a truly special event with a few adjustments, here's a few suggestions; Pre-Match Atmosphere Communication: Please follow the same directive as the Manchester United game (See below tweet) but please communicate the plan clearly to all fans. Let fans know what to expect in advance. We would suggest going one step further: have Ange pen a personal email to be sent to every fan with a ticket on the morning of the match. This email could emphasise the importance of the fans role and how much the team needs the fans to drive them forward. THS has been dead of late, Ange asking for us to be the 12th man could really change that. Please also encourage fans to get to their seats at least 20 minutes before kick-off to sing and help build the atmosphere. Give fans a clear rallying cry to ensure we’re all united in support well before the first whistle because we know that's exactly what we will experience at Anfield. We trust that as the festive season has just passed, the team at the club has enjoyed a well-earned break—albeit a short one—in this busy period. Wishing you all, and your families, a Happy New Year, together we are stronger, Up the Spurs! Yours sincerely, Return of the Shelf

Dear Tottenham Hotspur (FAO: Production and Marketing team), We hope this message finds you well and that everyone at the club is as excited as we are for Thursday night’s game. We know you’ll be reading this tweet, so please take the following into consideration. Thursday night marks one of the biggest games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since March 2023. For the fans, this season is all about silverware, and the importance of this match cannot be overstated. The team needs our support, and we need to turn the stadium into a cauldron of noise and passion. One of the most memorable pre-match atmospheres was before the Ajax Champions League semi-final. The fans were given the space to create something extraordinary, and the results were electric. See the video below. This is how an atmosphere grows organically—fans are given a platform, and they rise to the occasion. We understand that you’re planning a light show on Thursday, as you did before the Chelsea game. While we appreciate the effort to enhance the spectacle, we have concerns. During the Chelsea game, fans were already building an atmosphere when the light show began, followed by loud music and a DJ. The music drowned out the fans, and some even received sound warnings on their smartwatches. This approach disrupted the natural build-up and flattened the atmosphere right before kick-off. We’re asking the club to trust the fans and give us the platform to do what we do best. If there’s a light show, let it complement—not compete with—the fans’ energy. Let the songs and chants fill the void. Atmosphere is a science; it builds gradually. Trying to control it up until kick-off risks leaving the stadium flat once the game begins. Thursday night can be special. Believe us, we are ready. The fans are ready. Let us drive the team forward and create the kind of atmosphere that inspires greatness. We hope you are keeping well and we appreciate your understanding. Yours sincerely, Return of the Shelf