Ledley ‘an inspiration’ - Ryan

Ryan Mason was at Wembley when we won the League Cup against Chelsea in 2008. It’s fair to say it left a lasting impression.

At the time, Ryan was 16, a full-time Academy scholar having joined the Club aged eight, and just nine months from his first team debut at 17 in November, 2008.

Dimitar Berbatov and Jonathan Woodgate turned that final around for us, but it was fellow Academy Ledley King lifting the trophy that left an indelible mark on Ryan.

Thirteen years later, Ryan will lead the team out in the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley in his role as Interim Head Coach, with First Team Assistant Ledley by his side on the bench.

Speaking on Friday, Ryan recalled that famous day. “I remember the Club sorted out tickets, every player got a couple of tickets each. I remember how it went, going behind, and the manner the group won the game.

“The biggest thing for me was seeing Ledley lift the cup, with Keano. That was incredible. He’s an Academy guy, he came through the system and for us as Academy players to be able to see that was such an inspirational moment for everyone at the Club. It was magic, and seeing that was ‘wow’, something for us all to aspire to. It was something that inspired a lot of kids involved with the football club at the time.”

Asked what it would mean to lift the trophy this time around, Ryan added: “It would mean a lot. It would mean a lot for the players as well. They’ve had to deal with some difficult moments.

“I think most importantly the feeling the fans would get and what that would do for the football club as a whole. These are the games Tottenham want to be involved in. Thankfully we are and hopefully we can go there and get a positive result.”