Football rivalries often bounce between funny and toxic and for striker Connor Deadman, it was very much the latter when it came to Arsenal and Tottenham.
The striker, who currently plays for Dutch third division side Saturday third division Schoonhoven, has revealed how he used to wind up Tottenham by constantly wearing an Arsenal shit.
Deadman has been playing for Schoonhoven since the summer, joining them from Kings Sports FC, who play in the lower leagues of English football.
Playing in the lower leagues of the Netherlands is presumably not what the striker had anticipated when he pursued football as a youngster, particularly after he was part of the set up at Tottenham as a youngster.
He was a youth player at the club up until he was 13 years old, when the Premier League side had to make a decision who would be handed professional contracts.
Deadman was not one of those who made the cut and instead found his way in football elsewhere, eventually ending up in the Netherlands, where he is very much enjoying life after his summer move.
He’s now looking back at the path he’s taken so far, and admits to one funny anecdote, winding up Tottenham by always wearing an Arsenal shirt for training.
“There’s actually nothing I miss about England,” he said.
“Yes, my family of course, but nothing besides that. Where I lived in England (on the northern city limits of London) it is all very busy. You didn’t really have any peace and quiet and here in the town of Schoonhoven, I do.
“I have always played football in England, except for the last three years. I played in the youth team at Tottenham Hotspur until I was thirteen.
“We played there with about sixty to eighty players. At the time, it was decided at the age of 14 whether you could continue or not, the club then had to offer you a professional contract.
“That wasn’t an option for me, it was also quite heavy, and my parents brought me up and down every time. I am a fan of Arsenal and often wore their shirt to training.”
