Watched by millions of our fans on club channels and on the big screens at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at our first home games against Charlton and Newcastle, the film turns the traditional new-season narrative on its head. Rather than centring on players or match highlights, ‘Tottenham ’Til I Die’ puts lifelong supporters and local community figures at the heart of the story.
The film is narrated by Spurs fan and The Odyssey star Himesh Patel and directed and photographed by Tottenham-born goalkeeper turned Cannes award-winning director Alfie Whiteman.
After 15 years at the Club, Alfie stepped away from professional football to build a career as one of the most exciting emerging names in photography and film, bringing that same eye to a story rooted in the community that shaped him. The photos on these pages are Alfie’s own work and were used within the film.
To ground the film even further in community, the film is scored by Alfie’s own father Les and features Spurs fans, actress Taylor Russell, musician Dev Hynes aka Blood Orange, Grammy-award winning composer Daniel Blumberg and a childhood shot of Alfie himself as the opener.
'Tottenham ’Til I Die' is built around the stewards, the walking football groups and the three-generation families who’ve stayed loyal throughout. At the centre of the film are also the everyday people who make Spurs what it is. The film features Tottenham Hotsteppers, a walking football group based at Tottenham Community Centre; Alan Baldwin, our oldest season ticket holder at 93; and Jaden Liang, a matchday steward born and raised in Tottenham.
The story also stretches beyond north London, with scenes filmed in New York and Tokyo, reflecting the global community that carries its connection to Spurs across generations and continents.
'Tottenham ’Til I Die' focusses on fans and places the people and spirit of Tottenham firmly at its heart.
For Alfie, born and bred in Tottenham and someone who came through our Academy to play for the first team, the project was very much close to his heart. We caught up with our former goalkeeper to find out more about his involvement in it and what 'Tottenham ’Til I Die' means to him…
Alfie, how did your involvement in the 'Tottenham ’Til I Die' project come about?
Alfie: "The agency Blind Faith had a meeting with the club about ideas for a season opener, they pitched me in for this particular project, which was to document Spurs fans and try to capture the sense of club and community. We had a meeting, sat down and I said I’ve always wanted to try to highlight the people of the community and the club that don’t really get seen. I was really keen to get involved and try to use it as an opportunity to collaborate with the incredibly talented creatives at Blind Faith and make something special."
How enjoyable was it to be out there among the fans, taking their photos, hearing their stories? Did it make you appreciate the passion of football fans even more?
Alfie: "It was really enjoyable. We had a tight turnaround so it was a challenge to fully capture the fans and community in the time we had. I think we managed to capture the right emotions, it was just a very small sliver of the subject matter. I put a call out on my Instagram and essentially cast it that way. Our wonderful casting director Najia Saad, put the replies in a spreadsheet with names and addresses and from that, we mapped out a schedule for a week of shooting. My producer Milo and I then drove around to different houses and places and we spent time with each person, documenting them, taking photos, getting to know them and a sense of who they are and then it was on to the next one! I was shooting around 2,500 pictures a day more or less. In total, we took around 14,000 pics in a short space of time, about 60 people in that week. Obviously I already knew how passionate fans are, but this was great and it really made me appreciate it even more, to discover just how much the club and the area means to them."
From a former player’s perspective, how important is the connection between a club and its fans?
Alfie: "As an ex-player, the connection between the club and its supporters is really important. The whole reason the game can exist as it does is only because of how devoted the fans are and what they give to a club."
As a fully-fledged Tottenham lad, how important is the club within the Tottenham area?
Alfie: "I grew up in Tottenham, went to school here and still live here now, so I know how important it is. I feel the club really does need to focus on the community. Spurs are a global club but at the same time, nothing is more important than those right on the doorstep. The local businesses outside the stadium on the High Road that help provide for the fans, the local people who help when there are matches and events on…it’s incredibly important that the club and the area have that synergy."
Have you always had an interest in photography?
Alfie: "I’ve been into it since I was about 17. When I was a scholar, football is such a bubble and your career in the game is short too, so I started working on these outside passions and interests from a young age. I pretty much educated myself in readiness for the day when football came to an end for me."
What are your aspirations in film/photography?
Alfie: "At the moment, I’m doing a lot of directing as well as photography, working on scripts and different sorts of jobs in that sense. My aspirations are to get into long-form narrative works and continuing to do long-form photo series. I really like documentary photography and it’s kind of linked to my job in moving image and film as well."
Again, as someone Tottenham born and bred, how proud are you to have played for the club and to now be a part of such an important project after your playing career?
Alfie: "I was really keen to make the project happen and make sure that we highlighted the people in the community. That’s why I was going up and down the High Road – my High Road – visiting all these important places like Star Restaurant, Collins Carpets, Spurs Local, the Community Centre – all of these pillars of the community. I feel really proud that we were able to get these people in the film and shine a light on them."
Finally, how special was it to work on a project alongside the likes of Himesh Patel and, of course, your dad?
Alfie: "With Himesh, I texted him and asked if he wanted to be in it and do the voice-over and he was really honoured to be asked. When I was taking his photos and then going through it all with him, it was a really special moment. He’s such a talented, incredible person with a great story, a great guy. As for my dad, I worked with him before, he has scored a few things of mine, but he came in pretty late to the project and did an incredible job. We managed to pull it all together, it’s something we’re all really proud of and I’m so grateful for the opportunity from the club and the guys at Blind Faith."