Andros Townsend has hit back at a football fan on Twitter after being slammed for his lack of goal celebration against Tottenham on Sunday.
The former Spurs winger condemned the club where he started his career to their second knockout competition in four days with a well-taken penalty in Crystal Palace’s 2-0 fourth-round FA Cup win at Selhurst Park.
A supporter questioned Townsend for refusing to celebrate and said he should have a “word with yourself” after being a bit-part player at White Hart Lane, from where he was loaned out 9 times before being sold aged 24.
The England international replied that “it’s called a bit of respect to the club that made me” after he spent 16 years at Spurs.
Try 93 games and being there for 16 years from the age of 8 till 24…. it’s called a bit of respect to the club that made me mate ? https://t.co/JkVQsPv93m
— Andros Townsend (@andros_townsend) January 27, 2019
OPINION
Well done to Townsend for using social media to give his version of events, and explain why he refrained from celebrating what turned out to be the winning goal in the landmark cup win for his side. However, the fan criticising him actually makes a good point. This modern trend for not celebrating against former clubs is cringey and baffling. Scoring a goal is a joyous moment, one that deserves an outpouring of emotion. Indeed, scoring against a former club who rarely played you before selling you merits even more of a celebration, as it shows them what they are missing. Non-celebrations are just pointless PR exercises. Townsend may well “respect” Spurs for bringing him through the ranks and making him the player he is today, but celebrating his goal against them wouldn’t change that. It’s a natural, human reaction. Footballers failing to show how they really feel out on the pitch doesn’t do anyone any favours.