A faceless fan in a white shirt carries an oversized gift box towards a stadium entrance past a steward and a metal barrier.

Match ReportThe High Road Herald

Spurs Get Two Days Before Arsenal Derby, So Supporter Outside Stadium Donates One Spare Day

Desmond Parry · Chief Football Correspondent19 October · Reading time: one pint

Spurs Web reports the Premier League has moved the North London derby to Sunday 6 December, two days after Fulham on Thursday, while Arsenal get three; the stadium was closed at the time of the donation.

A Tottenham man arrived at the stadium forecourt shortly after nine on Tuesday morning to hand over one day, which he believes the club will need more than he does.

The gesture follows a report by Spurs Web that the Premier League has completed its broadcast selections for December. Spurs host Fulham on Thursday 3 December at 8pm, then face Arsenal in the North London derby on Sunday 6 December at 4.30pm. The report describes the gap as two days.

The same report notes that Arsenal, by contrast, will enjoy three days between their preceding fixture and the derby. The man has read this paragraph, in his own words, several times.

They've got three and we've got two. Somebody has to make it up. I've got Wednesday doing nothing.

He confirmed the day was Wednesday 2 December, which he described as "a quiet one", and which he intends to surrender in full. It had been folded into a tea towel and set on the third step of the gate, beside a flask and a camp bed.

The Herald understands the man has also taken note of the rest of the month. Hull City away moves from Saturday 12 December to Monday 14 December, and Liverpool away stays on Saturday 19 December but now kicks off at 5.30pm. He says he is monitoring both, and has offered to hold the extra two hours at Anfield in reserve.

At 11.40am a member of stadium staff walked past, said good morning, and went inside. The man took this as acceptance.

The tea towel was still on the step at last check.

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A small figure with a magnifying glass guards a huge padlocked stadium gate while three shadowy scouts lurk behind lampposts.

TransfersThe High Road Herald

Ebnoutalib Link Has Tottenham Man Watching Stadium Gates For Newcastle, Brighton And Everton Scouts

Barry Napier · Transfer Correspondent18 October · Reading time: one pint

TEAMtalk reports that Spurs sent scouts to watch Eintracht Frankfurt's Younes Ebnoutalib score the only goal against Cologne, with Brighton, Everton and Newcastle also said to be monitoring the 23-year-old, who is tied to Frankfurt until 2031.

A Tottenham man has spent Monday morning on a camping stool outside the stadium, observing the main gate for the arrival of rival recruitment staff, on the strength of a transfer story.

The Herald understands he read the TEAMtalk exclusive, which reports that Spurs scouts attended Eintracht Frankfurt's Bundesliga match against Cologne, where Younes Ebnoutalib scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 win, his fifth in the league this season.

The same report states that Brighton and Everton have also been monitoring the striker, and that Newcastle United have reportedly joined them. The man took this as a list of names to be watched for, and prepared a notebook with three columns, one per club.

If they're all monitoring him, somebody has to monitor them. I'm not saying it's us. I'm saying I'm here.

He has been in position since half past nine, with a flask, a pen on a string and a sandwich wrapped in the second column. By twenty to twelve he had logged two men in hi-vis, a pigeon and a postman, marked "Newcastle, probable".

The report notes that Frankfurt signed the player in January and tied him to a contract until 2031. The man has recorded this on the back page and described it as "a detail", before returning to the gate.

TEAMtalk adds that Spurs are expected to keep assessing the player's progress before deciding whether to make a formal approach. The man is doing the same with the gate.

The gate remains under assessment.

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