As a football-mad teenager in the mid-1980s, I always thought there were a few golden rules.

First, that referees were biased in favour of the big teams. And, second, that any player who wore Puma King boots was the dog’s wotsits.

While those two remain true, I was to discover that the third pillar of truth turned out to be nothing of the sort.

Namely that Spurs were the biggest club in London.

From afar, I could see that they enjoyed massive ­support, great history, and fans who demanded a certain style of football – i.e, the game played with a swagger.

I laboured under this ­misapprehension for quite a few years until a colleague (a West Ham supporter) told me in no uncertain terms that I had got it wrong.

Turns out that Arsenal are bigger (of course, Chelsea are now galloping up on the rails).

Well, look at the above criteria and judge for yourselves if the Gunners deserve the title.

Tottenham v Arsenal
Keep on coming: Despite little success, Spurs fans continue to show up at White Hart Lane

Huge support, wonderful history and tradition, fans who (now) demand a certain style of football – the game played with a swagger. 60,000-plus at every game.

Ever since Arsene Wenger arrived, Spurs have been cast in his shadow.

Any thoughts of white-and-navy-blue dominance have also been knocked by Jose Mourinho’s presence on the King’s Road.

So, news this week that the final ­obstacle to the redevelopment of White Hart Lane has been removed should lift everyone down Bill Nicholson Way.

A few weeks ago, I reported that West Ham had never been in a better position to take advantage of the ­opportunities afforded by their move to the Olympic Stadium.

That remains the case.

But Spurs have it within them to eclipse anything any other club in the capital can produce. Not only that, they can fix those in the north west in their sights as well.

How many season-ticket-holders are on the waiting list? 20,000, is it? And the last time they won a major trophy was... what, the UEFA Cup in 1984? Sorry, the FA Cup in, er, 1991.

Hardly the glory they sing about. Yet still they turn up.

And, despite a flawed foreign policy, the signs are good. The legacy from Gareth Bale’s sale may not have been spent with anything like the care it might have been. But it turns out that the answer lay at home anyway.

Gareth Bale of Tottenham in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurs at Anfield
Spend spend spend: But a lot of the Gareth Bale replacements have failed to shine

Well, as far as the players go.

It was refreshing for this hack to see a host of English players – Ryan Mason, Danny Rose, Kyle Walker, Eric Dier and Harry Kane perform so strongly against Arsenal recently.

It is also refreshing that Mauricio Pochettino is prepared to give them a proper chance, although a nod has to be made in the direction of Tim Sherwood who really gave a few of these kids their head (a fact Mr Sherwood himself seems particularly keen to acknowledge).

And the head coach did take his time to give Kane a clear run in the first team, too...

Reaching the Capital One Cup final will give the club’s Argentinian boss the chance to breathe a little easier.

Regardless of the result next week against Chelsea, Pochettino can point to the trip to Wembley and a crack at the top four and say it was a reasonable return.

Will he get the chance to see Spurs into their new home?

Well, given the length of time that most managers remain in situ in the Premier League – a shelf-life of three seasons for most mere mortals – it’s debatable.

But then in 12 months’ time we will discover whether Pochettino deserves to.

Be fair, he has happened across a 30-goal-a-season striker in Kane.

Managers are defined by their ­forwards. And to have picked up one who has contributed so massively has distorted Spurs’ season for the good.

When the former Argentinian ­international penned his plans for the new campaign, he wouldn’t have thought: ‘I’ll be all right for goals, we’ve got Harry.’

Tottenham v Arsenal
Belief: Pochettino can give Spurs fans belief for the future

But there is no reason to think with this fresh young blood that Spurs ­cannot sustain their current upwards movement.

However, the question remains: Is ­Pochettino the real deal?

He has got everything going for him. There is a feelgood factor surrounding the club, a cup final is on the horizon with a collection of young, home-grown players – and he has the chance to wheel and deal this summer to bring in a few of his own.

Can we see a day when Spurs, in their brand-spanking new home, are the new top dogs in the capital?

A lot of that depends on just how good a certain Mauricio Pochettino really is.