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Cliff Jackson – Crystal Palace Gladiator

John J O’Connor

Saturday, March 15th, 2008

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 At history lessons we’d be taught
of the Viking’s and the Saxon
and when teacher mentioned Romans
we’d all shout out Cliff Jackson.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 “Who the hell’s Cliff Jackson?”
would yell the non pleased educator,
and we’d gleefully tell the story
of the Palace gladiator.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Born in Swindon in the time of war,
we signed him from Argyll
and on the Palace faithful’s faces
he soon put on a smile.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 Each time Cliff scored a goal
whether by head or either boot
he’d go up to the Palace fans
and give his straight arm up salute.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 And bold Bert Head saw something else
in Cliff’s Jackson’s huge potential
and he moved him inside from the wing
where he was much more influential.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 It was usually Marky Lazurus
who played the role of waiter
as he’d serve up chances on the plate
for our Roman gladiator.

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 When we won promotion in 69
each player played their parts
and Cliff finished up with fourteen goals
to top the scoring charts.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 As the players stood in the Old Stand
throwing the fans their shirts and socks,
Cliff Jackson raised his arm aloft,
in the plush directors box.

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 He played a year in the First
where he proved his pedigree
but when the legs slowed down a little bit,
he signed up for Torquay.

10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 So who the hell was Spartacus
and Russell Crowe the impersonator
Cliff Jackson at the Palace
was the only gladiator.

11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 Modern players like to show,
their taut abs when they score
do silly little somersaults
and slide along the floor.

12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 You’ve got Trevez with his dummy
you had Gazza with the flute
but none were as good as Jackson
with his straight arm up salute.

13 Leave a comment on verse 13 0 Now Cliff’s not doing too well health-wise
and we wish him all the best
and we look forward to seeing him back at Palace
as Simon’s Jordan’s guest.

14 Leave a comment on verse 14 0 And when he stands out on the Selhurst pitch
and raises that arm up to the crowd,
they’ll hear the roar at Millwall,
the noise will be that loud..

© John J O\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’Connor NYC March 15 2008

Notes

Cliff Jackson played for Palace from 66 to 70 and was a big favourite with the fans. He’s had a number of strokes recently and is having an operation on his heart. All Palace fans wish him well and can’t wait until he walks onto the pitch to salute them .

 

Editor Note: RIP Cliff Jackson (3 Sept 1941-24 May 2018) has sadly passed away .Football Poets send all their thoughts and condolences to his wife Sheila and family.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/cliff-jackson-crystal-palace-gladiator/