The Day That Football Died

Crispin Thomas

Saturday, April 11th, 2009

¶ 1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 we watched it all upon that day
we watched it here again today
the eyes still burn in that same way
we choke and cry inside

¶ 2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 and for the souls and families
still trapped in time and memories
the time the game slumped to it’s knees
the day that football died

¶ 3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 the never fading loss and doubt
the relatives who live without
the changes that it brought about
can never quite replace

¶ 4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 the lives we lost that awful day
the scenes upon the field of play
from which we cannot turn away
the tears on every face

¶ 5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 the justice never ever claimed
the way that time has changed the game
will never ever feel the same
no matter what they say

¶ 6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 no talk of safer grounds for fans
no end to old decaying stands
no millionaires exciting plans
will e’re erase the day

¶ 7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 no poems here from pen or heart
on football’s wondrous brand new start
can never take us far apart
nor can we run and hide

¶ 8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 mistakes that never will be named
there’s nothing we can do to change
the 96 we lost that game
the day that football died.

Notes

Saturday . Sun shining, as then upon that fateful F.A.Cup Semi-Final Hillsborough day of April 15th 3.06pm 1989. Some readers here were not even born then . For others it is just like yesterday. And here we are just torn apart again, as then.. 20 years ago. It all comes flooding back. Watching today the harrowing scenes, emotive comments and live shots from Anfield in the TV tribute this lunchtime. What can we say or do? Our hearts continue to go out to those relatives and those whose lives were lost that day. Yes lessons were learned, but too late sadly. Plastic seats scannot replace people’s lives. loves and memories. Twenty years on . Still no police apology, still cover-ups and still no acknowledegment. Justice for the 96.We remember you. R.I.P:
John Alfred Anderson (62)
Thomas Howard (39)
Colin Mark Ashcroft (19)
Thomas Anthony Howard (14)
James Gary Aspinall (18)
Eric George Hughes (42)
Kester Roger Marcus Ball (16)
Alan Johnston (29)
Gerard Bernard Patrick Baron (67)
Christine Anne Jones (27)
Simon Bell (17)
Gary Philip Jones (18)
Barry Sidney Bennett (26)
Richard Jones (25)
David John Benson (22)
Nicholas Peter Joynes (27)
David William Birtle (22)
Anthony Peter Kelly (29)
Tony Bland (22)
Michael David Kelly (38)
Paul David Brady (21)
Carl David Lewis (18)
Andrew Mark Brookes (26)
David William Mather (19)
Carl Brown (18)
Brian Christopher Mathews (38)
David Steven Brown (25)
Francis Joseph McAllister (27)
Henry Thomas Burke (47)
John McBrien (18)
Peter Andrew Burkett (24)
Marion Hazel McCabe (21)
Paul William Carlile (19)
Joseph Daniel McCarthy (21)
Raymond Thomas Chapman (50)
Peter McDonnell (21)
Gary Christopher Church (19)
Alan McGlone (28)
Joseph Clark (29)
Keith McGrath (17)
Paul Clark (18)
Paul Brian Murray (14)
Gary Collins (22)
Lee Nicol (14)
Stephen Paul Copoc (20)
Stephen Francis O’Neill (17)
Tracey Elizabeth Cox (23)
Jonathon Owens (18)
James Philip Delaney (19)
William Roy Pemberton (23)
Christopher Barry Devonside (18)
Carl William Rimmer (21)
Christopher Edwards (29)
David George Rimmer (38)
Vincent Michael Fitzsimmons (34)
Graham John Roberts (24)
Thomas Steven Fox (21)
Steven Joseph Robinson (17)
Jon-Paul Gilhooley (10)
Henry Charles Rogers (17)
Barry Glover (27)
Colin Andrew Hugh William Sefton (23)
Ian Thomas Glover (20)
Inger Shah (38)
Derrick George Godwin (24)
Paula Ann Smith (26)
Roy Harry Hamilton (34)
Adam Edward Spearritt (14)
Philip Hammond (14)
Philip John Steele (15)
Eric Hankin (33)
David Leonard Thomas (23)
Gary Harrison (27)
Patrik John Thompson (35)
Stephen Francis Harrison (31)
Peter Reuben Thompson (30)
Peter Andrew Harrison (15)
Stuart Paul William Thompson (17)
David Hawley (39)
Peter Francis Tootle (21)
James Robert Hennessy (29)
Christopher James Traynor (26)
Paul Anthony Hewitson (26)
Martin Kevin Traynor (16)
Carl Darren Hewitt (17)
Kevin Tyrrell (15)
Nicholas Michael Hewitt (16)
Colin Wafer (19)
Sarah Louise Hicks (19)
Ian David Whelan (19)
Victoria Jane Hicks (15)
Martin Kenneth Wild (29)
Gordon Rodney Horn (20)
Kevin Daniel Williams (15)
Arthur Horrocks (41)
Graham John Wright (17)

Latest Comments

Crispin Thomas
13th September 2024 at 6:14 pm

Welcome to Football Poets Beth

Great evocative poem Beth….

More please !

Haiku always welcome.

Hope we (FGR) get to play you again soon

Best

Crispin

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John J O’Connor
26th July 2024 at 6:25 pm

Great poem Mike Bartram. Eddie was a legend, affectionately known in Liverpool as, “the first hooligan.” Even the hoolies were well dressed in those days. The amazing thing was he was only 26 when that picture was taken. He’d played for Everton youth team and was well known to the players. He never got arrested. They threw him out and he climbed back in, just in time for Derek Temples winner.

I used the picture of him being tackled to the ground on the front cover of my book, “Once Upon a rhyme in Football.” It’s worth looking on youtube and finding the re-enactment of the Wembley scene. Frank Skinner and Baddiel went around to Eddies home in the 1990’s and acted it out on the green outside. It’s hilarious, especially all the effort they put in to get Eddie sober enough to shoot the scene.

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Clik The Mouse
10th July 2024 at 6:07 pm

Hi Crispin,

I don’t know if you’ve see the picture in social media today…

a picture of a teenage Lionel Messi cradling a baby in Africa as part of a photoshoot…. the family had won a lottery to have their baby pictured with him….

the photographer has just revealed that the baby is actually in fact Lamine Yamal!!!!

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Crispin Thomas
26th May 2024 at 2:30 pm

Hi Denys…

Re Man City:

OK it was 20 years ago but Criag Wilson did write this and a few others on them back in 04/05.

Manchester City

BTW I’m more Forest Green Rover since 2014 (and Chelsea) these days . I drum and am a standing season ticket holder .

Best

Crispin

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joe morris
29th April 2024 at 2:47 pm

Hi Denys,

Yes Richard Williams you’re a brilliant wordsmith, my friend. When I first saw your football poetry I thought it was the superb Guardian sports and music writer. I once had the honour of sitting next to Richard Williams while at the Independent on the sports desk. He writes about music and sport with immense knowledge and authority. I’ve read a couple of Richard’s books recently. Great writer rather like you Richard Williams the Pompey fan. Congratulations on promotion.

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joe morris
28th April 2024 at 5:59 pm

Thanks Denys. Yes your replay poem was superb.

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Denys E. W. Jones
26th April 2024 at 4:46 pm

Nice work, Joe. You were quick off the mark with that! Good one from Richard Williams too I see.

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joe morris
25th April 2024 at 7:33 pm

Hi Denys,

Thanks mate. I’ll do it now.

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Denys E. W. Jones
25th April 2024 at 1:56 pm

Thanks Joe,
you might like to write a poem yourself on the same subject…

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joe morris
23rd April 2024 at 4:03 pm

Hi Denys

With you all the way on the abolition of FA Cup replays. What are they doing to the game?

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