If a planning proposal is granted, the famous White Hart Lane gates will be restored to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium complex.
Last year, football.london revealed that at their supporters’ advisory board meetings, the team was scheduled to talk about ideas for a Bill Nicholson statue and the possible use of the famous White Hart Lane gates. An update on the gates has now been included in the minutes of the board’s most recent meeting, held at Hotspur Way this month, with Spurs executives.
The minutes show that the “club updated that it is currently progressing an interim solution for the Bill Nicholson Gates to be installed in the area between the back of Percy House and the Ticket Office – this will now be progressed through planning with Haringey Council.”
Although most Tottenham Hotspur Stadium attendees will find the new gate to be a little out of the way, it is only intended to serve as a temporary position until a permanent one that features a statue of the team’s twice-winning manager can be found.
Prior to the construction of the new stadium, Spurs declared in 2010 that “at our planned new stadium, the famous Bill Nicholson Gates will provide a fitting home for a statue of the club’s greatest-ever manager.” The Grade II listed Warmington House, the Dispensary, and the former White Hart pub will all soon be renovated and reopened as bars and coffee shops. The gates will stay in their current location between these two listed structures that have historical ties to the club. Additionally, the club is able to disclose that the statue will be placed in the middle of the gates, recreating the famous picture of Bill at the gates and commanding prominence on the southwest approach to the stadium.”
“This seemed an ideal way to make Bill a part of the fabric of the new stadium, continuing the memories of how much of a role he played at the current stadium and in the heritage of our club,” stated club chairman Daniel Levy at the time. I believe it will be a highly cherished aspect of the new designs, and fans will adore strolling by Bill and perhaps pausing for a few pictures.”
Even when the stadium opened in 2019, the gates were stored, and until recently, the monument was never discussed again. This was at meetings of the fans’ advisory board. The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust delegate Rachel Martin brought up the statue, according to the meeting minutes from December.
“Rachel Martin brought out the significance of including a statue in the design. The gates will be temporarily installed without a statue while the surrounding area is redeveloped. A mural will be painted alongside the gates for photo ops to the north of the stadium (near the ticket office), according to Donna Maria Cullen’s explanation in the minutes. “It is proposed that a statue will be introduced when the gates have a permanent location, if the preference is for them to be non-functioning gates.”
After being stored for many years, the renowned ancient gates finally seem to be making a comeback, and Spurs supporters will be hoping that a statue of their great former boss will follow shortly.
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