We truly have! And that’s not the only thing that’s back – Sam is too, fortunately. We had an absolute blast talking about the greatest team the world has ever seen, and about how it relates to the Rings of Power. (though mostly about the team)

Warning: if you’re not a Tottenham fan, what lies ahead might be… Just be warned.

Apologies for my sad attempt at an Australian accent.

Special thanks to my two wonderful brothers for appearing in this episode! (The other one’s called Zack)

Another apology for the fact that Zack was making curry and you can hear pots clanking in the background sometimes.

Here’s some more about Tottenham and the Rings of Power: https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2024/october/spurs-stories-charlie-vickers-sauron-and-spurs/

And here’s all the rest of the Withywaffle: https://emmaandtolkien.com/withywaffle/

Transcript: (Made entirely manually, so I hope you appreciate it!! Though now that I come to think of it, who even reads transcripts?)

(nice music)

Emma: Hello, flibberty jibberty (??) Withywaffle fans – and football fans, I hope – and welcome back to the Withywaffle! Today is a special day, because it’s not just me talking to myself sadly! I’m Emma…

Sam: And I’m Sam…

Emma: And this…

Both: Is the Withywaffle!

Sam: Or should we say the Spurs waffle!

Emma: The Spurs waffle!

Both: COME ON YOU SPURS!!!!!

Emma: As you probably already know, yesterday (at least yesterday at time of recording) was a very, very special day for Tottenham Hotspur. (maybe that should be Hotspurs?)

Sam: And for the fans of Tottenham Hotspur.

Emma: Definitely. Tottenham Hotspur is the club we support around here, and if you don’t, get out!

Sam: Honestly, you’re a disgrace. (sorry!!)

Emma: We’re not trying to be rude!

Sam: Yeah, no offense. I’m sure there’s people with differing opinions, and that’s okay!

Emma: Yeah!

Sam: We all make mistakes…

Emma: I hope it won’t disrupt our fellowship…

Sam: But that’s not the point. The point is that Tottenham are – for a bit – the champions of Europe, or some of the champions of Europe… (chuckles)

Emma: They have a trophy for the first time in what, like seventeen years!

Both: (singing slowly and softly)

We’ve got our Tottenham back
We’ve got our Tottenham back
We’ve got our Tottenham back
We’ve got our Tottenham back

Emma: Let’s do that, with more energy, okay?

Both: (singing more energetically)

We’ve got our Tottenham back
We’ve got our Tottenham back
We’ve got our Tottenham back
We’ve got our Tottenham back

Emma: Okay, now let’s actually talk about Tottenham Hotspur and what on earth they have to do with the Rings of Power.

Sam: And honestly just the amazing shift they put in to get that 15 kilogram trophy.

Emma: Oh, yes. Amazing amazing. Incredible.

Sam: Unreal. Epic.

Emma: In fact, completely absolutely phenomenal.

Sam: Mmm, just phantasmagorical.

Emma: Yeah, so what does the Rings of Power have to do with Tottenham?

Sam: That’s just what I was wondering.

Emma: Nothing really; I just needed to make an episode about Tottenham, because they deserve it, don’t they, BUT, there IS a connection. Charlie Vickers, who plays Sauron in the Lord of the Rings, the Rings of Power, is a Tottenham fan.

Sam: Wooo!

Emma: Like, a really big Tottenham fan. Let me quote this quote by him. It says – it’s about what inspires him – he says:

“I seek inspiration outside of work, from life, really, (starts obnoxious attempt at Australian accent) and the things that get me exited. I’m into sport, well, obsessed with football. I’m a Spurs fan, have been all my life.“

So, you see, things like Tottenham Hotspur inspire Charlie Vickers. Without inspiration, he would not be the actor he is, and if it wasn’t for the actor he is, the Rings of Power would definitely not be the same. You remember his incredible performance!

Sam: Oh yeah, it was honestly a great performance, similar to the performance Tottenham put in at Bilbao – amazing stadium. The atmosphere was incredible!

Emma: Yes, absolutely. But my point is: YOU OWE the goodness of the Rings of Power to Tottenham Hotspur.

Sam: Yeah, yeah.

Emma: In some small way.

Sam: Very small way.

Emma: Yes, but anyways, let’s talk about Tottenham now. That’s what we’re here for.

Sam: So, who’s your favourite Tottenham player?

Emma: Well, one of them’s definitely Micky Van de Ven. We saw yesterday that he deserves it.

Sam: Oh yeah. Yesterday, the quality on him – that goal line clearance was just incredible.

Emma: He said afterwards “the back pain is worth it!”

Sam: Oh yeah.

Emma: You know what I say? AMEN!

Sam: Yeah, yeah. I mean… yeah.

(both laugh)

Sam: And, I mean, to see the players this close is, I mean, I’m in heaven right now.

Emma: Sam’s just reading from my screen [on which] I’ve got an article called (horrible Australian mockery returns) Sauron and Spurs, which is on the Tottenham website. I’ll put a link to it in the transcript, (here’s the link again if you missed it earlier: https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2024/october/spurs-stories-charlie-vickers-sauron-and-spurs/) and you can read it if you want; if you care about the Rings of Power and Tottenham.

Sam: And if you want to see Charlie Vickers on a bad hair day.

Emma: Yes. (giggles)

Sam: So just maybe you might want to do that.

Emma: And we actually have another very momentary guest.

Zack: Come on you Spurs! I mean, what a performance. I think they really played as a team, and the win was definitely well-deserved; to get their first trophy in seventeen years. I think credit especially to the Tottenham defense; the way they defended with conviction and committed to those tackles; cleared the ball from their own half, and they dealt with everything United could throw at them. And, of course, Van de Ven with that incredible goal-line clearance, Vicario with those saves… Amazing game for the Spurs!

Emma: Amen, brother! Thanks for the homily! I mean monologue, whatever. Anyways.

Sam: Yeaaaaah.

Emma: So, what’s your favourite Tottenham player?

Sam: Oooooh. I quite like to think that one of the players who’s almost, you could say, relatable, because he’s one of the player’s who’s closer to my level, is Betancur. He’s really someone who’s worked on his game, and he’s almost as good as I am. I’m going to be honest; he’s not quite there, but he showed some moments where he played of a level that almost matched the levels of Mr. Tekkers himself – I mean myself.

Emma: (whispering) Sam’s actually very bad at soccer. (sorry, Sam!) Don’t let him hear me – don’t tell him I said that! (regular volume) Anyways! Nice!

Sam: Yeah, yeah yeah yeah. So, it’s just a moment that I think’s appropriate, for us to celebrate this enormous European trophy after all these years, and if you support a team that maybe hasn’t won a trophy in a really long time then…

Emma: You will understand.

Sam: Firstly, you will understand, and secondly, let this be encouragement and motivation that if you just stick it out, then one day your team are just going to put in an amazing shift, and you’re going to be like us; on the Withywaffle, celebrating.

Emma: Yes.

Sam: Come on now, come on now.

Emma: Yeah, yesterday we had to celebrate very, very quietly because our whole family was asleep.

Sam: Yeah, but honestly, to dare is to do, and Tottenham did just that.

Emma: TO DARE IS TO DO! It was such a wonderful experience; drinking milkshakes, eating cookies, watching Tottenham.

Sam: I mean, yeah, what more is there?

Emma: To life… There’s a lot more!

Sam: The Christian faith, and everything else, and being good students, but it is a big part of life, and it’s good to recognize that. (Disclaimer: we were joking)

Emma: Yeah, absolutely. So, what was your favourite moment last night?

Sam: Well, it would be very easy to say the goal – the goal was an amazing goal – but I think just defensively…

Emma: You’re talking about the clearance

Sam: Yeah. I mean, hey, I just can’t get enough of it.

Emma: Poor Vicario, though. Imagine making a mistake like that! I bet he was just like [ominous scream]. Sound effects. But yeah, it’s been great.

Sam: It’s been amazing just catching up with you guys, and I’m sure there’s more episodes to come of the new show Withybites. And, obviously, the Withywaffle itself will maybe get a little Q&A.

Emma: One day.

Sam: No spoilers, but maybe we’ll get some guests on one day.

Emma: Oh yes.

Sam: So there’s amazing stuff to come, and yeah, it’s been…

Emma: Amazing amazing.

Sam: We’ve been us, Tottenham have been amazing, and you guys…

Emma: Have been supporting Tottenham.

Sam: Yeah, and having a lovely day as you always do. Thank you very much, and have a nice day. Go read Emma’s blog. Goodbye.

Emma: And that’ll do it for this lesson.

(Even nicer music, which was also made by me for your information. At least, I composed it – I don’t play the violin 🙂 )