The Life of a KiwiSpurs Fan in New Zealand: A Rollercoaster of Sleep, Loyalty, and Fragmented Screens

Guest Blogger - Hamish Girvan - December 2024

Being a Tottenham Hotspur fan in New Zealand is not just a hobby; it’s a lifestyle shaped by the challenges of time zones, fragmented broadcasting rights, and the unrelenting emotional toll of supporting a team famous for its highs and lows. From bleary-eyed 4a.m. kickoffs on a Monday morning to juggling streaming platforms, following Spurs from the other side of the world demands a level of commitment that feels, at times, as dramatic as the club itself.

The English Premier League (EPL) schedule is unforgiving for us Spurs fans in New Zealand. With games typically kicking off in the early hours of the morning—ranging from 12:30 a.m on a Sunday or Monday morning as late as 6.30a.m — and watching Tottenham play is a test of endurance. A Saturday UK lunchtime kick-off offers a small reprieve for fans willing to stay up late, but a 3pm UK time kick-off or the dreaded Monday morning fixture means setting alarms for ungodly hours (The joys of being in the Europa League mean this is more common right now in regards to Monday morning matches) 

The experience of waking up—or staying awake—for a Spurs game is almost a ritual. You’ll stumble into the kitchen at 3a.m., boil the kettle for a cup of tea or coffee, settle into the couch wrapped in a blanket, hoping the family or flatmates don’t wake up from the sounds of your cheers (or groans). The pre-match build up, often minimal due to the lack of decent coverage, gets replaced by scrolling through social media or catching the tail-end of another game. By kickoff, it’s just you, the screen, a few WhatsApp messages with other KiwiSpurs fans also up, and the quiet buzz of early morning anticipation.

For the diehard fan, these sleep-deprived nights are worn as a badge of honour. There’s a perverse pride in turning up at work after just three hours of sleep, still buzzing—or sulking—about the game. (Especially in an office environment where pesky Gooner fans can lurk). Yet, the fatigue builds, some fans inevitably face the ultimate dilemma: do I sacrifice my sleep for Spurs, settle for catching the highlights, or watch later on demand in the morning?

The EPL’s global popularity has spawned a complex, fragmented web of broadcasting rights. In New Zealand, the Premier League is typically streamed through Sky Sports, though these rights often shift between providers every few years. This inconsistency forces fans to navigate a maze of subscriptions just to catch their team in action.

Complicating matters further, Tottenham’s participation in multiple competitions—like the FA Cup, League Cup, and European tournaments—means juggling even more services. Europa League fixtures are on an online platform called DAZN and the Carabao Cup is on another streaming platform, beIN. Cost for all three (FA Cup Games are on Sky) is upwards of $70 a month.

For fans, this means paying for multiple streaming services or scouring the internet for legal (or not-so-legal) streams.The effort it takes to assemble Tottenham’s season into a cohesive narrative is almost as challenging as the team’s ongoing quest for silverware.

For many KiwiSpurs fans, the emotional stakes feel amplified by the effort required to watch games live. It’s one thing to experience the heartbreak of a last-minute equalizer during a casual afternoon in London, but to endure it at 4:45 a.m knowing you sacrificed sleep for this? That’s a different level of pain.

Yet, the shared agony and ecstasy create a unique bond among Spurs supporters worldwide. Social media becomes a lifeline for fans in New Zealand, allowing them to connect with others who understand what it’s like to yell at a screen in the dead of night, halfway across the globe

Ultimately, being a Tottenham Hotspur fan in New Zealand is a labor of love. It’s waking up in the middle of the night to watch Pedro Porro score a screamer or Son Heung-min dazzle defenders with his pace and precision. It’s the thrill of a late comeback, the despair of a missed penalty, and the endless speculation about whether this year will finally bring a cup!

For all its challenges, though, supporting Spurs from the other side of the world is a source of immense pride and joy. After all, if you can endure 3 a.m. kickoffs and the heartbreaks of a trophy drought, you can handle just about anything.

As the saying goes: “It’s the hope that kills you"  But for KiwiSpurs fans in New Zealand, it’s also the hope that keeps you going, match after match, season after season.

Hamish