New Tottenham stadium: White Hart Lane’s golden cockerel was damaged by Paul Gascoigne with an air rifle

New Tottenham stadium: White Hart Lane’s golden cockerel was damaged by Paul Gascoigne with an air rifle
It took a while, but Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium is finally ready for business.Before it can host it’s first Premier League game – against Crystal Palace on 3 April – two test events are scheduled to take place. First up on 24 March is the U18 game between Spurs and Southampton. Then it’s a legend’s game where the great and the good of Inter will be in London on 30 March.2

Workmen repair the original statue in 1934

And when supporters return home, a familiar sight will greet them in the form of the iconic golden cockerel that stood above the old White Hart Lane.It first appeared in front of fans in 1909 and now sits in thelobby of the the club’s Lilywhite House offices in Tottenham. Spurs have commissioned a scaled up replica to be made and this new version stands at roughly 4.5m tall nearly double the height of the original and will sit above the redeveloped ground’s South Stand. And when the club say it is a replica they mean it has all the bumps and scratches from the original, which club legend Paul Gascoignehas a lot to answer for.Recalling the time the cockerel was removed from the old East Stand for maintenance in 1988, Tottenham historian, John Fennelly, told the club’s official website:The Cockerel was falling apart. It was dented and in pretty poor condition.2

Gascoigne is a Spurs legend, having played for the club between 1988 and 1992 and winning the FA Cup in 1991

The story was the dents had been caused in the Blitz. But the truth was the damage was done by Gazza with an air rifle!He tried to deny it but hed been spotted.Gascoigne joined Tottenham from Newcastle in 1988 and cemented his place as one of the game’s finest midfielders, winning the FA Cup in 1991 and helping England reach the World Cup semi-final a year earlier.

LIVE on talkSPORT

There are seven live commentaries across the talkSPORT network this week. Find out what they are and where to hear them, below...

• Kazakhstan vs Scotland (Thursday)  talkSPORT 2
• England vs Czech Republic (Friday)  talkSPORT
• Walsall vs Barnsley (Saturday)  talkSPORT 2
• Shrewsbury vs Portsmouth (Saturday)  talkSPORT 2
• Gibraltar vs Republic of Ireland (Saturday)  talkSPORT 2
• San Marino vs Scotland (Sunday)  talkSPORT 2
• Netherlands vs Germany (Sunday)  talkSPORT 2

In joining Spurs he also made an enemy of Sir Alex Ferguson, having told the former United manager he would sign for them before changing his mind and moving to London.A scan through the list of legends set to feature for Tottenham against Inter, throws up Robbie Keane’s name, as well as Darren Anderton and Rafael van der Vaart, but ‘Gazza’ is surprisingly absent. He wants to play, though, and tweeted to say he ‘is up for it.’The 51-year-old actually missed Tottenhams farewell to the old White Hart Lane two years ago, as he was focusing on staying well, rather than travelling to north London for the revelry.

---

David de Gea has made three errors leading to goals in his last four games in all competitions for Manchester United, as many as in his previous 123 matches for the club As Manchester United lined
Man Utd news: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gives David De Gea and

---

Worried Manchester United fans? How long every Premier League

---

Since Bournemouth burst onto the Premier League scene four seasons ago, Spurs have had an impressive record against the south coast club, winning six of the seven games they have played in that time. And while Kane may have hit a hat-trick in their first encounter, he's only contributed four other goals out of a possible 19 the Lilywhites
Tottenham Hotspur: Why Spurs' record against Bournemouth

---

A video showing Chelsea fans in Prague singing a racist chant directed towards Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been condemned by anti-racism campaigners Kick It Out. The group of men, who were in the Czech Republic for their side's Europa League clash against Slavia Prague, were filmed singing 'Salah is a bomber'.
Liverpool news : Chelsea fans filmed singing vile Mohamed

---

Conor McGregor has paid a moving tribute to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after his incredible impact at Manchester United.. UFC star McGregor has praised the Norwegian coach for his transformation at United and in particular his immense passion for the club.
Conor McGregor hails Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Man Utd impact and

---

Transfers from abroad were able to be made official when the FIFA Transfer Matching System (TMS) opened at midnight on June 9. Trading can now carry on until the deadline but English teams will
Transfer news live: Real Madrid £200m - football.london

---

In particular, the inclusion of Willian and Marcos Alonso seriously annoyed plenty of Blues fans on Twitter. England international Ruben Loftus-Cheek failed to make the squad entirely, while wonderkid Callum Hudson-Odoi was left on the bench. Check out the reactions from these incensed Chelsea fans!
'Sarri's a stubborn fool' - Some Chelsea fans fume as Hudson

---

Mick McCarthy has been appointed Republic of Ireland manager until the end of Euro 2020, the Football Association of Ireland have confirmed. McCarthy takes charge on a two-year deal with Stephen
Mick McCarthy will make way as Republic of Ireland manager in

---

Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool boss believes he will be 'judged by God' and not by the trophies he wins Klopp has yet to win any silverware in the three-and-a-half seasons he has been at the Anfield club
Liverpool boss Klopp: I will only be judged by God, not trophies

---

Tottenham vs Liverpool: Graeme Souness says 'lucky' Spurs

---

Premier League: The best promoted teams ever, including

---