Gwen’s special day

Gary Mabbutt paid a surprise visit to Gwen Bates, lifelong Spurs fan and former employee of the Club, to wish her a happy 87th birthday and present her with a bouquet of flowers.

Gwen, who worked in our laundry department during the 1990s, often used to invite the players, including Gary, to join her for a cup of tea. Along with her close friend Sylvie, who spent 28 years at the Club, they ran a tight ship in the laundry room and were affectionately known by the players as the ‘Golden Girls’.

Unfortunately, Gwen’s health deteriorated when she suffered a heart attack in March last year and a difficult 2016 was compounded by the loss of her husband in August.

However, Gwen has bravely batted on and is now back at her home of the past 40 years in Middleham Road – just a stone’s throw from the Lane. She was over the moon to see Gary and reminisce about the good old days.