Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterAfter spending 12 years at Wimbledon during the Crazy Gang era, Neil Sullivan had experienced plenty during his career when he made the move to Tottenham in 2000.However, nothing was able to prepare him for just how different the two London clubs were when he travelled north of the River Thames.At Wimbledon, Sullivan had trained on Wimbledon Common and enjoyed the clubs uniquely down-to-earth culture, poles apart from the relative luxury he would find at Spurs.Sullivan on swapping Wimbledon for TottenhamMy contract was up in Wimbledon and my agent got me a move to Spurs through his connections, Sullivan tells FourFourTwo as he reflects on the move.It was just a different world. I was used to training on Wimbledon Common, clearing up all the dog s**t before we could start. Suddenly, Im walking into Spurs Lodge, which was completely different. You may like Youd get in your car to leave and someone's nicked your keys Neil Sullivan on breaking through at Wimbledon during the clubs infamous Crazy gang era How FourFourTwo magazine helped Neil Sullivan earn a Scotland call-up in the 1990s What happened at Spurs this year can never, ever happen again they need people who can handle the pressure and really want to stay. A spine like Arsenal's, who will deliver every week Former Champions League finalist tells FFT how the club can rebuild I remember my first home game. I arrived at White Hart Lane and someone stopped me in my car, opened my door and offered to park my car. I thought it was a wind up. It would have been at Wimbledon!Towards the end of Sullivans time at Wimbledon, the club began the talks that would lead to their relocation to Milton Keynes, which caused huge amounts of fan unrest.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Initially, we were going to Dublin, Sullivan recalls. We had new owners and Wimbledon weren't a massive club, and didn't have a lot of money. The Premier League was changing, so things had to change and modernise.But to move out of Wimbledon just didn't seem right. It just didn't seem right to take Wimbledon away from Wimbledon. People behind the scenes ultimately thought the MK Dons move would be more productive, earn more money.After that was decided, we got relegated, so they didn't get Premier League football in Milton Keynes and I think that was a big pull for doing it. The whole thing was just shocking.At Spurs, Sullivan was part of the side that reached the 2002 League Cup Final, only to suffer a shock defeat to Blackburn Rovers, a game which still rankles with the former Scotland stopper.Yeah, it was disappointing, he says. Don't forget, we just had a new manager come in. George Graham had got us to the final but then Glenn Hoddle took over. Daniel Levy had just taken over the club, so there were a lot of changes going on at the time.Wed go on to finish in the bottom half of the table so, while we had a talented side, it wasnt a strong period. We were favourites for that game but, remember, Blackburn had won the Premier League within the last decade. They had a very good side.TOPICSTottenham HotspurPremier LeagueJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromEd McCambridgeStaff Writer
