Exclusive: The Spurs wonderkid who blazed a trail for Troy Parrott and may help his future

When Terry Dixon stepped through the doors at Hotspur Way last week he realised that plenty had changed at the football club he loves.

The £30m state-of-the-art training complex in Enfield is a world away from the old Spurs Lodge in Chigwell Dixon knew so well.

Not everything at Tottenham Hotspur changes though.

That's because when it comes to Troy Parrott, Spurs' young Irish sensation, it's clear that sometimes life repeats itself. Only Dixon will be hoping that the teenager's tale comes with a happier ending than his did.

During his visit to the club last week, Dixon was asked if he would be willing to come back at some point to talk to Parrott about his own experiences as Tottenham and Ireland's golden child just over a decade ago.

Spurs are carefully looking after Parrott just as they did for Dixon back then.

Parrott, who turned 18 on Tuesday and signed a bumper new contract on Friday with Tottenham, is the name on Spurs fans' lips right now.

Gifted with an abundance of natural talent, the teen made his Premier League debut this season and earned his first cap for the Republic of Ireland all while he was just 17, and he has got the Tottenham supporters whipped up into a frenzy.

Yet before Parrott came Terry Dixon.

A once in a generation talent, Dixon's name was spoken about in the corridors of Spurs as the one, a homegrown superstar in the making.

Tottenham's academy was a certain Harry Kane, but it was the flame-haired Dixon, labelled as 'the Irish Wayne Rooney', that everyone was talking about.

This is the story of a teenager who had the world at his feet but had it snatched away by the cruelest of misfortune.

Islington-born Dixon has football in his genes. His father Darren had trials at both Tottenham and Arsenal but in his son's words "he was a bit silly when he was young, he didn't have any guidance whereas I had him keeping an eye on me".

It was a former Tottenham star who spotted Dixon's potential at just eight-years-old.

Ex-Spurs midfielder Garry Brooke oversaw Friday night coaching sessions at St Ignatius College in Enfield and quickly realised something special had fallen into his lap in one of the young pupils in front of him.

He took him to his Saturday team Alexandra Palace and within a fortnight had set up the youngster with a trial at Tottenham.

Spurs' academy coaches wasted no time in bringing Dixon into the club and for a young supporter it was a dream come true.

Now 30, it's clear in Dixon's voice as he talks football.london through his story that he remembers his time at the club with real fondness despite everything that would come down the line.

"I'm a proper Spurs fan, through and through. You can't beat the feeling of being able to play for that club," he said.

"Words can't describe it. Playing for Tottenham was my passion. I used to love just going to the training ground and training. Everything about the place I loved and still do now."