Mark Gower says he will never forgive Sol Campbell for leaving Spurs for Arsenal

Campbell is seen in the white part of North London as public enemy number 1 for abandoning Spurs for Arsenal on a free transfer shortly after Gower himself left Spurs.

The two former team-mates will come face to face next weekend when the Swans take on holders Portsmouth at Fratton Park in the FA Cup and Gower is happy enough to shake the defender's hand but cannot forgive him for what Spurs fans see as the ultimate act of betrayal.

Speaking to Wales on Sunday, the Swans winger said “Sol was a couple of years older than me, but we knew each other.

“And he was just immense in my time at Tottenham. It doesn’t happen enough at Spurs for my liking when a young kid from the area comes through the ranks and establishes himself. There has been a tendency to go out and buy players rather than giving homegrown lads a chance, but Sol did well and within 12-18 months of stepping up he was a pivotal figure in the side.

“We looked up to him for that and he was a great role model for the younger lads who were inspired by the fact he had gone on to be such an important part of the club.

“But then he did what he did and that was unforgivable. He probably had his reasons, but I’ll never understand them. It’s something I could never do with Spurs being so close to my heart.

“Perhaps it should be a case of full credit to him for being so brave and making his decision in the face of all the stick he got at the time and still gets to this day.

“He’ll never be forgiven, but I’m sure he’ll polish his Premier League winner’s medal at his home and not worry about it too much.

“And if you ask him he’ll probably say that’s what we went there for – though I can’t bring myself to say that it was justified.

“Of course I’ll shake his hand – at the end of the day I was his friend when we were at Spurs and that won’t change for what he did.

“And he was a guy who in his prime was unstoppable and a world-class defender.

“But saying that, if I can stop him adding another medal to the pile he’s got since leaving Spurs then it’ll be a nice little bit of revenge!

“I actually saw him not long after he left Spurs and I had gone to Barnet. We played Arsenal in pre-season and I went up to him and said, ‘What have you done?’

“But he said, ‘I’m just playing football.’ And that was that.

“And it was at a time when my dream had been taken away from me a little bit. When you’re a fan like I was and stood on the terraces and sung all the songs, to then actually go ahead and play for Spurs was a dream.

“But I didn’t play for them as many as times as I would like. Then for Sol to do that is something I could never forget, nor will a lot of Tottenham fans. And it’s strange because I’m a Spurs fan, but I’m also a friend – I guess I just won’t mention it when I see him this time!

“We’ve had so many cup games where it’s been about banana skins that this game will probably suit us.

“They like to play the game in the right way, it’s a Premier ground and a Premier stage but importantly it’s a chance for us where we have nothing to lose.

“There’s not been many games when we haven’t dominated things so they’re going to be optimistic of getting a decent result.

“But we as players are too. Our confidence levels are up, there’s a good spirit in the camp, we’re playing well and if we can perform like we know we can, why not?

“I’ve been lucky enough to go back to Tottenham with Southend in both cups before,” he said. “But it would still be the game I’ll be dreaming of if we can both get through.”

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