I went to games with dad, celebrating and singing in my front room. Now this team is coming of age

HARRY WINKS is already having a remarkable season for club and country. But one memory from the past burns brightly and remains an inspiration for Tottenham’s future.

Winks, 22, grew up as a Spurs fan, is “living the dream” but also cherishes a day out at Wembley 10 years ago.

That was in 2008 when Spurs won the League Cup and Winks was sitting up in the Gods but it was a day he will never forget and is a reminder why he is so desperate to win silverware this season.

They talk about the glory of playing for Tottenham, the style, but the club is also very well placed in the Premier League title race, they are in the last 16 of the Champions League and reached the League Cup semi-finals this week.

Winks said: “When we won the League Cup it was great, I was there at Wembley with my dad, we were in the top tier and were celebrating like mad when that went in. It was incredible.

“Just going to games from a young age with my dad, watching Tottenham as often as I could, celebrating in my front room, singing and enjoying it, so many fond memories from when I was a kid.

“The team is coming of age. There’s a lot of talk about us needing to win a trophy. But our main priority is to just try and improve every season, which we are doing, and hopefully a trophy will come at the end of that as a reward for all the hard work.”

Winks grew up through the Spurs ranks. But he also remembers dreaming of playing for England and that ambition has been fulfilled – one of this season’s highlights for him was England’s memorable Nations League win over Spain, along with Tottenham drawing in Barcelona to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

Winks, of course, might have been at the World Cup last technique and when I look at players like Xavi and Iniesta they were always players I modelled myself on. “We’ve always had a philosophy at Spurs to play out from the back, play with style. That’s the way I’ve always been brought up and to come into the first team is no different. “The manager always expects us to play out or at least try.

“We never compromise our principles, even Barcelona away it was a difficult test because they are known for their possession. “When you have players who are familiar with it then there’s no better way. I’m just a Tottenham fan living the dream. It was always an absolute dream to have all the kits. Like the kids here today, they dream of playing for Spurs and I’m exactly the same. “Now to be playing in the first team feels that bit more special because the club is close to my heart and they are the team I’ve been watching since I was a little boy.”