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Opening ceremony performer impressed by new Tottenham Hotspur stadium

Opening ceremony performer impressed by new Spurs stadium
© Reuters
Wynne Evans, who was a professional opera singer for 20 years, has supported Tottenham since he was a child.

You may know him as the GoCompare guy, but Wynne Evans will also go down in history as the man that book-ended the beginning and end of two eras for Tottenham Hotspur.

Evans, 47, has been a Spurs fan since he was a child. As well as the television adverts he also presents a daily show on BBC Radio Wales, and was a professional opera singer for 20 years.

That operatic experience came in handy when Tottenham called on him to sing at the White Hart Lane farewell ceremony, a gig which led to his appearance at Spurs' first game in their new stadium.

Singing Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur before the historic fixture against Crystal Palace, Evans, from Carmarthen in Wales, was clearly impressed by one part of the new ground in particular.

"I've sung in some major sporting venues," he told the Press Association. "When I turned to the Park Lane end, I popped my in-ear monitor out because I really wanted to hear it.

"Oh my god, even with the roof closed at the Principality Stadium (home of the Wales national rugby union team) it was easily as loud – a proper atmosphere in there.

"It's something I will never forget as long as I live. I'm so lucky to have been a part of it."

Evans auditioned for GoCompare in 2009 and has appeared regularly in commercials for the comparison website since then.

And while his heroes growing up were Ossie Ardiles, Glenn Hoddle and Ricky Villa, the current squad still sets the pulse racing.

"I was standing in the tunnel waiting to go on, and of course the team came past," he said.

"I'm like a kid, I still get excited when I see Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Ben Davies. It was cool."

After the fireworks and the theatrics, Tottenham christened their new ground with a 2-0 win – but how does the new home compare to the old one?

"It's just a different ball game," said Evans. "It's got to be one of the greatest stadiums in the world now, I think.

"White Hart Lane had nostalgia but it lacked in facilities. I think even away fans will come to the new stadium and love being there.

"On the first night (at the new stadium) there was a real mojo about the place. It was noisy, people were singing, and people have taken to it."

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