Grounds to

SOME PEOPLE were on the pitch and, as far as the old White Hart Lane was concerned, it was all over.

Yesterday was a finale, though, not a final. For all the jubilation among the flag-waving fans as they spilled over onto the hallowed turf on the last blast of the referee’s whistle, nobody had actually won anything, the normal justification for a pitch invasion.

The reason the excitement can be justified, however, is that in head coach Mauricio Pochettino Tottenham know they have a leader who recognises that. More importantly, he wants to put it right – and his board hope to back him.

For all the sentiment washing around N17 yesterday, chairman Daniel Levy had decreed it all must end at 8am today. At that time the builders formally take over the keys to the ground. Ending the 118-year history of the old White Hart Lane is merely the starting block from which he plans to build a new and even better future for the club.

Unbelievably, a rainbow spread across the sky just as the ceremony came to an end but there was no need to look skywards for omens – they were all there on the pitch.

Showing the nerve to complete the story of this famous ground by completing Spurs’ seasonlong unbeaten home league record is sign enough that when the football kicks off again in 2018, just 100 metres from where the current centre spot sits, the REPORTS quite a party. The noisiest opening five minutes of a game here all season was followed by Spurs scoring the opening goal. Ben Davies swung in a cross and Victor Wanyama leapt powerfully to head Tottenham on their way.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho had again rung the changes and after Chelsea’s win at West Brom on Friday this was only ever going to be a battle to secure second place.

But Tottenham set about their task determined to champion their potential, even if they were no longer potential champions.

Son Heung-Min could have doubled the lead within 20 minutes but hit his shot at too comfortable a height for the inspired David De Gea not to save it. Moments later, Harry Kane arrived at the near post to head Christian Eriksen’s cross on to the bar and, shortly after that, a deflected effort from Eriksen himself also hit the woodwork after De Gea’s intervention – and only Eric you look at our points tally compared to last season. We’re disappointed losing out on the title but we are growing.”

Spurs legends were paraded at a closing ceremony after the game. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino said: “It was a very emotional game and ceremony. I am a very lucky guy to share the history of such a club in that