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A supporter in a plain white shirt, seen from behind, waits at the closed gates of a stadium at dusk.
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Supporter Who Read Three Dutch Ratings Has Cancelled Holiday To Wait Outside Stadium For Defender

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The ground is closed on non-match days, a fact a steward has now put to him on two separate occasions.

A Tottenham man has taken up a position outside the stadium to await the arrival of Jan Paul van Hecke, whom he believes to be imminent, on the strength of three Dutch match ratings and a paragraph about a quiff.

The Netherlands were beaten 3-2 on penalties by Morocco in the World Cup Round of 32, following a stoppage-time equaliser from Issa Diop. The Herald understands the man has taken this as confirmation that something is now due.

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They said eight out of ten. You don't wait around after eight out of ten. You go and stand there.

He arrived at 7:15am on a day with no fixture, carrying a folding chair, a flask and a printout of the AD rating, which he has annotated in two colours. Neither colour, he says, is for the stitches.

Dutch reports that the defender finished the match with a cut to the head have been read by the man as a medical bulletin. He has since asked a passing delivery driver whether the club keeps a doctor on site. The driver did not know.

Van Hecke is understood to be resting for a few weeks before reporting to Hotspur Way, which is not the stadium and is some distance from it. A steward has pointed this out. The man thanked the steward and stayed where he was.

He has also reminded passers-by that the fee was £52 million, a figure he now describes as modest, having described it in the spring as a scandal. He has written the number nine on the back of his hand, for the duels, in case anyone asks.

At time of going to press he had moved the chair into the shade.

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