Charlie Hurley shone bright during a time when football meant more than it does now

Charlie Hurley, the greatest player Sunderland ever had, died last Monday. He was tough, powerful and composed, captain of Alan Brown’s promotion side of 1963-64, which may have been the best of all post-war Sunderland teams.

Certainly, it was the side my dad talked about the most. Far more than the FA Cup-winning team of nine years later. Montgomery, Irwin, Ashurst, Harvey, Hurley, McNab, Usher, Herd, Sharkey, Crossan, Mulhall: names that flitted through my childhood as legends of a greater age. Imagine if Brian Clough hadn’t done his knee.

George Mulhall, the outside-left, was his favourite, but only because there was no point celebrating Hurley; everybody did that. Decades later, fans still sung Hurley’s name and bought No 5 shirts with his name on the back.

His popularity at this remove is hard to explain. Other than promotion, Hurley won nothing. He wasn’t even local. Born in Cork, he moved to Millwall at an early age and spoke with a pronounced London accent.

But something about him, that blend of strength, resilience and elegance, unflappable under pressure, chimed with the region. A fanbase rooted in the shipyards and the pits saw in him the best of themselves.

The football gods seemed to acknowledge his significance, granting him a walk-on part in the 1973 Cup win as he brought his Reading side to Roker Park in the fourth round. Sometimes there is a bond between club and player or manager that goes beyond material success.

Which brings us to Ange Postecoglou. You can sift through Tottenham’s results this season and draw almost whatever conclusion you like. On the one hand, fifth in the table, even if it does not bring a Champions League place, is a significant improvement on last season and beyond expectations after the sale of Harry Kane.

On the other, the season falls into two distinct parts: 2.6 points per game for the first 10 matches, 1.55 since.

It was never reasonable to expect that start to be maintained, but equally, even taking injuries into account, it’s fair to ask just why Tottenham at times look so open.

An ideological commitment to attacking football is all very well, a refreshing contrast to the stodge of José Mourinho, Nuno Espírito Santo and Antonio Conte, but it can’t become a universal excuse: that’s just how we play, mate.

That openness, though, chimes with Tottenham fans: their self-image is of quixotic dash. Never mind the lack of a league title since 1961, just smell the glory. In that sense, Postecoglou is the perfect fit, which is what made his defence of “plastic” fans last month so striking as he insisted clubs should look to accommodate fans from all over the world.

What, after all, is the point of the close-season tours (Spurs will play Newcastle in Melbourne three days after their final league game of the season) to every corner of the globe if it is not to grow the brand? Which is all very well, unless you happen to be a season-ticket holder of 40 years standing from Green Lanes who regards Spurs as an integral part of your identity and looks at the latest price rises and restriction of concessions with horror.

This is not just an issue for Tottenham. There are widespread protests about soaring ticket costs, with a growing recognition that the Premier League’s global popularity is driving an inflationary spike and a sense that modern club owners are less interested in the fans who turn up for every game than those for whom it is a rare treat, who are prepared to pay higher prices and are more likely to buy souvenirs in the club shop.

The Premier League is a global league. Most of the players are foreign, most of the managers are foreign and most of the owners are foreign. Is it really so surprising if many of the fans are foreign as well? Perhaps that’s even a necessary cost of the Premier League’s financial dominance and its capacity to buy the best from anywhere.

But that’s not much consolation to the fan whose family have been going to Spurs regularly for 100 years who finds himself priced out by tourists who picked Tottenham on a whim a couple of years ago. What are they supposed to do? Shrug their shoulders, take down the Bill Nicholson portrait and toddle off to Haringey Borough instead?

There’s an irony there that part of the appeal of the Premier League is the way clubs represent their communities, the sense of them as organic entities that have value and meaning beyond the hollow shell of a franchise.

Tourist fans, purely by their existence, erode that. Last October, I spoke to an IFK Norrköping supporter who dreamed of visiting Anfield. When he finally went, though, he found himself surrounded by 200 other Scandinavians. “I realised,” he said, “that I was part of the problem.”

But what’s the solution? Cap the number of tickets available to addresses outside N17? Give fans an entrance exam to make sure they’re fully up to speed with Peter McWilliam, Dave Mackay and Chas & Dave? Stop pursuing a model that demands constant growth?

There has always been a tension between the idea of football as some idealised symbol of place and the commercial reality, but it has never felt more acute than it does now.

Which is not to say that Postecoglou shouldn’t have a view. And he’s not wrong. It’s just that two things can be both true — that football clubs should be welcoming to all, particularly those to whom they market themselves, and that they have an almost sacred position as community assets — and almost incompatible. Postecoglou, as an outsider who seems an oddly perfect fit for a club, is the perfect example of that.

Would a global fanbase grasp the significance of Hurley? Would they understand why he was so revered, why his death has prompted such sadness? Perhaps it doesn’t matter. But there is an odd sense that the more popular football becomes, the less it means.

Get ahead of the day with the morning headlines at 7.30am and Fionnán Sheahan’s exclusive take on the day’s news every afternoon, with our free daily newsletter.

OTHER NEWS

8 hrs ago

Video: Melania Trump's brutal eight-word response to Donald's speech revealed

8 hrs ago

The one money rule almost all millennials share that Gen Z finds 'bizarre' and a 'waste of time': 'Most relatable thing I've seen'

8 hrs ago

Trump trial is ‘children bickering’ | What Stormy Daniel’s testimony has told us

8 hrs ago

Happy Valley and Top Boy celebrate major wins at Bafta TV awards

8 hrs ago

Issue confusing Aussies ahead of budget

8 hrs ago

City and Rockets tighten grip on Top 8 spots

8 hrs ago

Tempers Rise After Ryan Blaney DNF's at NASCAR Darlington Race, Blames William Byron

8 hrs ago

'BJP's Plan Failed': Kejriwal Blazing Attack On Centre At Delhi MLAs Meeting

8 hrs ago

Vladimir Putin reappoints defence minister to Russia's Security Council in reshuffle

8 hrs ago

Stock market given a shot in the arm as Raspberry Pi and Shein accelerate listing plans

8 hrs ago

The 45 Cheapest, Coolest Backyard Upgrades That'll Impress The Hell Out Of People

8 hrs ago

Congress Has A History of Discriminating On Basis Of State, Language, Religion: Piyush Goyal To CNN-News18

8 hrs ago

Rory McIlroy rallies to win record fourth Wells Fargo Championship title

8 hrs ago

Why brutal snub highlights Swans' flag chances

8 hrs ago

Ncube honoured at the Woman of stature awards

8 hrs ago

Afternoon and midweek are common times to be scammed, survey finds

8 hrs ago

Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag slams 'pathetic' question after Arsenal loss

8 hrs ago

Roger Corman, Hollywood’s king of B-movies, dies at 98

8 hrs ago

4 dead, more than 50 suspected drug overdoses in Austin 'outbreak': Officials

8 hrs ago

Video: The one money rule almost all millennials share that Gen Z finds 'bizarre' and a 'waste of time': 'Most relatable thing I've seen'

8 hrs ago

Taylor Swift sparkles in a sequinned red cape and fishnet tights as she takes to the stage for a fourth night in Paris on her iconic Eras Tour

8 hrs ago

Rory McIlroy issues perfect response to PGA Tour rejection with back-to-back victory at Wells Fargo

8 hrs ago

How Airlines Are Using AI to Make Flying Easier

8 hrs ago

Ahead of next major, it's two of world's best in Rory and Xander dueling at Quail Hollow

8 hrs ago

Bill Maher: I speak for the 'vast middle' and 'normies' tired of tribal politics

8 hrs ago

Putin sacks Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu

8 hrs ago

'We feared for our lives': Fingal councillor Tania Doyle attacked while putting up posters

8 hrs ago

Abbott-fuelled Surrey win as Bancroft hits county ton

8 hrs ago

Bafta TV awards 2024: Happy Valley celebrates major wins

8 hrs ago

Julio Rodriguez finally gets to celebrate 1st home run of the season at home for Mariners

8 hrs ago

Gareth Southgate only thinking about England amid Manchester United links

8 hrs ago

3 in 4 Americans feel that mental health takes a back seat to physical health

8 hrs ago

Commercial jet maker Airbus is staying humble even as Boeing flounders. There's a reason for that

8 hrs ago

Roxy Jacenko reveals her very slender figure as she steps out for Mothers Day lunch - after revealing she's dropped to 49kg and has been 'fainting' over house promotion

8 hrs ago

Bruce Springsteen pays touching tribute to Shane MacGowan as he opens Irish gig with 'stunning' cover

8 hrs ago

PM to set out 'bold ideas' in 'major' speech

8 hrs ago

Thousands flee Kharkiv area amid Russia's renewed ground offensive in Ukraine

8 hrs ago

As the cost of living continues to rise, should public transport be free in Australia?

8 hrs ago

Ben Stiller Signs With WME

8 hrs ago

2024 Myrtle Beach Classic prize money payouts for each PGA Tour player

8 hrs ago

More than 90 Aussies thrilled to be home after several days of being stranded in Vanuatu

9 hrs ago

9 hrs ago

Report: Cavaliers, 76ers, Hawks, Magic Are Potential Trade Suitors For Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram

9 hrs ago

The government is asking motoring enthusiasts for help shaping future classic car policy and future-proofing the industry

9 hrs ago

Tottenham transfers: Major Richarlison suitor emerges as Postecoglou eyes massive striker upgrade

9 hrs ago

A mother of two disappeared with her boyfriend 40 years ago. Finally, there are answers

9 hrs ago

Forbes faces being 'marginalised' in Cabinet of Sturgeon loyalists

9 hrs ago

BAFTA Television Awards viewers claim Happy Valley was 'ROBBED' of Best Drama win after Top Boy claimed prize and slam Lorraine Kelly's special honour during 'awkward' ceremony: 'Incandescent with rage here!'

9 hrs ago

Diddy and his family present a united front on Mother's Day weekend with group dinner at Miami restaurant Mr. Chow amid sex trafficking investigation

9 hrs ago

Morgans names the best small cap ASX shares to buy in May

9 hrs ago

Russia’s Putin Replaces Defense Minister in Security Shake-Up

9 hrs ago

Fat Friends writer left a treasure trove of TV scripts when she died

9 hrs ago

‘Fashionable’ Guinness no longer just for ‘blokes my age’, says Wetherspoon boss

9 hrs ago

Idaho emergency room doctor dies from avalanche on ski trip

9 hrs ago

Top Boy and Happy Valley among big BAFTA TV winners - as The Crown misses out

9 hrs ago

Depleted SANDF troops in northern Mozambique battle Islamic State insurgents in Macomia

9 hrs ago

Business has saved the ANC’s bacon on load shedding. Perhaps a cheer is in order?

9 hrs ago

Kelly Rowland insisted on watching friend give birth in hospital: 'I was probably doing the most'

9 hrs ago

Halle Bailey celebrates first Mother's Day after welcoming son Halo: 'Greatest love I've ever known'

9 hrs ago

Rory McIlroy once had an aura of destruction like Tiger Woods. Now, a decade after his last major, what does he need to do to win a fifth? Writes RIATH AL-SAMARRAI

9 hrs ago

Arrest made after man found dead in Kildare

9 hrs ago

Joe Lycett explains reason behind unusual royal-themed Bafta outfit

9 hrs ago

Load shedding remains suspended for week

9 hrs ago

Erin McNaught is pregnant! Model announces she is expecting her first baby with her new boyfriend Stace Cadet after split from ex-husband Example

9 hrs ago

Video: Antiques Roadshow guest is stunned by HUGE valuation for medieval keys - after starting his vast collection with just one

9 hrs ago

Shock as cops dismiss major theory on why Westfield Bondi attacker Joel Cauchi stabbed to death five women and a security guard

9 hrs ago

Melania Trump's brutal eight-word response to Donald's speech revealed at raucous Wildwood rally

9 hrs ago

EasyJet summer holiday travel chaos looms as pilots reject pay rise and threaten to strike

9 hrs ago

Professional Faqs: What Foods Or Snacks Are Best For Increasing Breast Milk Supply?

9 hrs ago

Miami needs bigger DRS to make racing more exciting, says Stella

9 hrs ago

AI boss puts top City penthouse on sale for £10 million

9 hrs ago

Vladimir Putin, Liz Truss and NHS waiting times all feature in Bafta gags

9 hrs ago

Juice star Mawaan Rizwan thanks therapist as he wins BAFTA for Best Male Performance in a Comedy

9 hrs ago

Lakers' LeBron James has strong praise for Sixers All-Star Tyrese Maxey

9 hrs ago

New Orleans Saints sign important security blanket to help Derek Carr significantly

9 hrs ago

Social media users are collectively blocking celebrities and influencers who have been silent on Gaza

9 hrs ago

‘The Idea of You' Author Robinne Lee on Anne Hathaway's ‘Rocky' Moment and How She Aims to Inspire Black Women Authors

9 hrs ago

‘Live the final day’: Mikel Arteta dreams of title after win at United sets up climax

9 hrs ago

US is ‘helping Israel target Hamas leaders’ in hopes of limiting invasion of Rafah

9 hrs ago

Late Queen's 'favourite grandson' Peter Phillips 'dating an NHS nurse'

9 hrs ago

Key events of Vladimir Putin's 24 years in power in Russia

9 hrs ago

Boardwalk Empire star Steve Buscemi is punched in the face in a random attack in NYC

9 hrs ago

Alex Matthews’s ominous warning after Gloucester-Hartpury’s 14th straight win

9 hrs ago

Warragamba Dam spokesperson notes spill to likely reach ’30 to 40 gigalitres a day’

9 hrs ago

Paul George explains what's wrong with the Clippers

9 hrs ago

Jane Seymour is booked and busy defying ageism in Hollywood at 73

9 hrs ago

Everything We Know So Far About Reba's New Sitcom, 'Happy's Place'

9 hrs ago

Senator’s stark social media swipe

9 hrs ago

Blach's solid outing, Tovar's homer lift Rockies past Rangers to complete series sweep

9 hrs ago

British Museum could repatriate more contested artefacts from around the world following the return of treasures to Ghana

9 hrs ago

Faithful descend on Portugal's Fatima to pray for peace as wars rage

9 hrs ago

Sunak to warn UK faces ‘dangerous five years’ due to war and rising immigration

9 hrs ago

Rory McIlroy serves up his Sunday best for a runaway win at Quail Hollow

9 hrs ago

Gen Z doesn't really mind AI influencers, according to new study

9 hrs ago

This Austrian Town Known for Its Hiking and Skiing Is Making Waves in the Art Scene

9 hrs ago

Here's how to hedge against stagflation risk, according to Barclays

9 hrs ago

'Crazy!' Eagles' Britain Covey Fights Perceptions and Competition

9 hrs ago

'Necessary to Alert India About Congress Mindset': Piyush Goyal on BJP's Development vs Hindu-Muslim Agenda

9 hrs ago

Rishi Sunak warns UK is entering a dangerous era in desperate pre-election pitch to voters

9 hrs ago

Bar fight escalates to deadly shooting in Fort Worth, suspect still at large