Football Poets

A weekend like so many
We plan them all life long
We sit or stand as football fans
In silence or in song
And something seems to join us
Our work is left behind
A few hours at the football
With winning on our mind
This custom brings us closer
With fans we only see
Whenever we are playing …
Our football family

He lived out in the South East
A good trek from the West
But like so many ..you and I
He always did his best
And few of us here knew him
Nor did we know his name
This long-time Rovers football fan
Who set off for the game
But like the unknown solider
The same as you and me
He was a part of this strange crew
The football family

But there alone in Cambridge
While others made their way
He fell before the turnstiles
Upon that Saturday
They tried so hard to save him
With expert help at hand
They fought so hard to keep him here
Our fellow football fan

The sad news we all dreaded
Days later it came through
And put into perspective
So much of what we do
Our hopes our gripes our banter
Our gloating and our moans
Our worries and excitement
Before we leave our homes
But like the unknown solider
Who journeyed off to war
This football fan set off that day
Like many times before

I never even knew him
But still my heart is sore
It hurts to think of him that day
His life is his no more
So think then as you make you way
However you may strive
Whoever you may follow
How precious is this life
We come together at our games
Like some community
We’re all a part of this strange crew
Our football family