Football Poets

Could Have Beens + News+ KIO Workshops

Hi all -Mid August 2005

1 COULD HAVE BEENS & NEWS..
2 BLACK HISTORY MONTH & KICK IT OUT WORKSHOPS

NEWS
hi again from the over-stretched, under-funded , voluntary mad and oft -abused and ridiculed but un-deterred editorial staff, such as it is! We sometimes need to remind you,.we do this purely for fun .It was started for a laugh, after a poetry gig in a cafe in Stroud to provide a platform and voice for fans in verse and beyond. A place to wax lyrical on what we love and loathe in the game, without getting offensive or overtly political, sectarian, racist or abusive. We’ve struggled through somehow. It’s your site remember, so please keep it clean. Think of it as a last remaining environmental bastion of football to respect and enjoy – while airing your thoughts in a diverse and readable way .

Submitting New Poems….
Please don’t submit messages in the submit poems section. .If it continues we might be forced to close the site down, as we had to do with the guest book. Please contact us with any queries or requests by e-mails. Thank you.! Just e-mail us it’s easy and doesn’t clog up the site which then has to be constantly de-fragmented…Despite our limitations…the site has grown (though barely changed technologically!) out of all proportion. It needs to expand and adapt of course.Our goal and remit remains though to simply encourage and inspire writing, performing and reading through football..Of some 6750+ poems , there are another 4500+ unacceptable ones (often messages) that we have had to unfortunately delete . Some 11000 football poem/entries per se .. from all over the planet in five years !

We probably are the largest football poetry web-site in the world. We reguarly close our eyes to some of the abuse we have received of late towards poets or for our not being up to speed with the site etc; Until we either get some funding or can afford to get them done . I”m sorry but this is it. . Instead for now, let’s move forward together in the spirit of football….One day , but don’t get excited, we might even get the long-awaited book out!. We hope the silent and invisible minority who continue to hound us, will contribute in a creative way and be over-whelmed and inspred by the new poetry writers out there, both young and old who will visit us over the next months.. Have a great season whoever you support…but do go on supporting the site too..in a positive way .We know what we want to do…come with us. Take care out there and keep writing – Crispin.

a couple of poems here.. on things some of us could have been.. and things some become….and for rich substitutes everywhere currently warming benches..

I COULD HAVE BEEN

I could have been a keeper
protecting all I own
in every team I’ve always been
the one who stood alone
the needle in a haystack
with trusty hand and fist
I moved the goalposts to become
an acupuncturist

I could have been the linchpin
the prince of common sense
as steadfast as a rock in storms
for any world defence
but now I tend to flowerbeds
and fight off each attack
from slugs and snails a gardener now
I’m never going back

I could have been a winger
creating goals with style
I’d leave defenders stranded
and make supporters smile
from decorating games with flair
I roller as I roam
and now I rush with paint and brush
around your room and home

I could have been a striker
the predatory one
deliv’ring goals as if on cue
until each game was won
I’m still ahead of all the rest
I’m up from break of day
I’m still the cream of any team
a milkman I will stay

I could have been a manager
the one to rule and reign
a lion-taming mountaineer
but maybe then again
I’d rather be a humble fan
connected loyal and true
for bosses come and strikers go
but fans stay through and through

@Crispin Thomas 05..probably inspired by Nick Drake..
.Moral? Great players and managers come and go.but no-one stays loyal or faithful as true fans….it’s a life and death thing
—————————————————————————–

I PITY THE RICH SUBSTITUTE

I pity the rich substitute
the bench their season’s home
they remonstrate but relegate
their painful thoughts alone

the bank may smile and stay content
their partners understand
such fleeting talent sidelined
this flame all left un-fanned
how do they fight frustration
these Owens Coles and all
to train all week but come the day
they rarely touch the ball
that moment when the boss gets up
the clock on seventy
the warming up so oft in vain
that stressful choice of three

Diegó Forlan got it right
a star again in Spain
Scott Parker was a fan all year
through sun and wind and rain
and what will they look back upon
the day their legs grow weak
no countless caps or trophies
the future’s rich but bleak
what memories to savour
upon this ship of fools
the prime of life in shackles
in growing squads and pools

I pity the rich substitute
in pocket for a while
you rub your eyes it’s over
your youth your skill your style

@ Crispin Thomas August 2005

——————————————————————————–

2 BLACK HISTORY MONTH POETRY WORKSHOPS OCT 2005

” today we will find out how everyone is different

red black or blue

yet everyone is the same

don’t be a fool

can’t you see

all of us hate Racism

don’t give in ”

By Khwezi Newanyana and Anne Murphy – St Hughs’,Liverpool

BLACK HISTORY MONTH & ‘KICK IT OUT’
Education Through Football Poetry Workshops
with Crispin Thomas+Albert Nyathi & Imbongi (Zimbabwe)***

OCTOBER 2005
THU 8 MORPERTH School
SAT 15 PADDINGTON Library 10.30-1pm *** Chelsea FC E.T.F
WED 19 FULHAM FC Study Centre
THU 20 WEST HAM Learning Zone
FRI 21 WEST HAM Learning Zone
SAT 22 BARON’S COURT Library*** Chelsea FC E.T.F
DATE TBC NORTHAMPTON TOWN Cobblers Study Centre
DATE TBC BROCKWORTH School .Glos

To find out more about Workshops please contact Crispin Thomas:
crispin@ctmuk.freeserve.co.uk or editors@footbalLpoets.org
or by phone on 01453 757376

With Black History Month fast approaching….time to reflect and think upon the thoughts that children put on paper when tackling racism through poetry in our workshops.This October I will be working with West Ham and Chelsea (at the WHU Study Cente and in libraries) plus Northampton Town TBC (home of Walter Tull the first professional black outfield player – *allegedly!) . Also at a school in Morperth , Northumberland. When we are in libraries the public often wander in bemused …so do drop by if you’re around.!.

Paddington is a great case in mind. For the Chelea workshops I will be working alongside the wonderful Albert Nyathi, the premier dub-performance poet of Zimbabwe, who has appeared before Nelson Mandela. He is touring here with his stunning Hi Life band IMBONGI (means “praise poets”).They played to a great crowd at the National Theatre in London the other night.The band are also gonna show up in full tribal dress and stuff ! It would be great also to run another Kick It Out competition on the site..we’ll see..so many
things… maybe ..stay tuned C.

***For more info on IMBONGI & ALBERT NYATHI + dates go to
www.ctmuk.com/imbongi

SOME MORE POIGNANT KIDS POEMS FROM THE WORKSHOPS
AT LIVERPOOL(at Everton Study Centre!) January 05…

SHOWING RACISM THE RED CARD IN POETRY…..
.
POEMS from St HUGH’S CATHOLIC Primary School, Liverpool.

MY WORLD IS DIFFERENT

My world is different yes it’s true

You are a colour and I’m one too

Why do people shout and fight?

Only because it’s not right

Racism must be stopped

If its not we’ll all be lost

Don’t be mean or act all hard

Because we’re trying to show racism the red card.

Aaliyah McGuinness – St Hughs’

——————————————

RACISM IS NOT SO COOL

Racism is so not cool

At the ground or at your school

Colour doesn’t mean a thing

If you’re poor or covered in bling

Stop racism today –

Make it happen today.

#Aimen Maksoud and Jamie McLoughlin – St Hughs’,Liverpool

——————————————————-

WE’RE ALL THE SAME

My world is like a football game,

You may be different but we’re all the same,

Why do people die and cry?

Over colour tell me why?

Racism is quite sad,

I feel that it is really bad

Don’t call people black or white.

Amina Abdullah – St Hughs’,Liverpool

—————————————————————-

FOOTBALL IS A GAME

Football is a game we play

Scoring goals everyday

Some people say things that are bad

It makes me really sad

On the pitch they kick and run

When most of us want to have fun.

Jessica Kunz – St Hughs’,Liverpool

——————————————————————

RACISM’S NOT WELCOME HERE – Acrostic

Racism’s not welcome here

At your school or anywhere

Cause we are so very cool

In this place in Liverpool

Some people come from different lands

Make this WHOLE WORLD understand!

Linda Kunz & Julie Kavanagh – St Hughs’,Liverpool

——————————————————-

RACISM IS NOT THE SOLUTION

scared and frightened

How would you feel if other people bullied you

whether you are black or white

Racism is not the solution

as you see they will never win

can we show racism the door?

It’s time for us to say no more

Some people need to learn more

about what racism can do –

today we will find out how everyone is different

red black or blue

yet everyone is the same

don’t be a fool – cant you see

all of us hate Racism

don’t give in

By Khwezi Newanyana and Anne Murphy – St Hughs’,Liverpool

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