Tottenham's rapid culture change under manager Robert Vilahamn

Just six years ago Tottenham were playing their home games at Cheshunt FC.

Their transformation from a grassroots club to a full-time professional outfit took time.

What has been rapid, however, is the rate at which Robert Vilahamn has taken them from relegation candidates to FA Cup finalists.

Vilahamn was appointed in the summer after Tottenham finished in ninth place. His task was to implement a clear style of play, with the hope that results would follow.

‘I knew that if I came with a good energy and a good mindset about this, it’s gonna fit them and they’re gonna like it and then of course it’s connected to the club’s identity,’ Vilahamn says.

Vilhamn has not only altered Tottenham’s style of play, he’s also shifted the culture.

‘We have changed how early they come in the morning, how hard we’re going to train.

‘Pre-activation, how much we do in the gym, how we have the GPS, basically we have gone into details in all areas.

‘It’s a lot of stuff that we have done and we have a good result already now. But I think in the long run, hopefully we are one of the best run clubs in the world and then perhaps we can actually beat the other teams because we’re doing better stuff than them.’

The idea of Spurs being the best run club in the world is a far cry from the days when Ashleigh Neville first joined.

‘When I first started at Spurs, I was working as a PE teacher in a primary school in Birmingham Monday to Friday and travelling in the evening three days a week to train, then obviously travelling to games,’ Neville tells Mail Sport.

‘It’s been an incredible journey and one that I wouldn’t change.’

Tottenham have never reached an FA Cup final previously and Vilahamn recognises what delivering a first trophy for the women’s team would mean for the club as a whole.

‘I was googling the history of the men’s team and when were they in the final, how many times have they won… then you realise it was quite a long time ago they were there.

‘When you see the photos it’s funny the dresses they had and the old shirts they had! But the main thing is that’s what you’re being remembered for, if you can win these titles, and those are the heroes for Tottenham still. These players can be the first heroes for the women’s team that bring the first title and I think that’s cool.’

Spurs face Manchester United, who were defeated in last year’s final by Chelsea, at Wembley on Sunday. While winning would be a historic achievement, Vilahamn believes reaching the final in itself can be a springboard for future success.

‘We perhaps shouldn’t be in the final this year but we are in the final and we can win the title. I think we can use this to go out there and enjoy it, but we need to go out to try and win it because it’s a massive thing you can do.

‘That’s the main thing we can try to do and if we fail, hopefully we are starting to grow for next year and be able to compete in the league and in the FA Cup. It doesn’t end if we don’t win. It’s a new year next year. But it’s not so often you come to a final so it’s mainly to make sure we try to go for it.’