Football Poets

The Ballad of 14th November 2003

¶ 1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 They promised us a hurricane, a night we’d not forget,
They said there’d be persistent rain and we’d get soaking wet.
They told us ‘twould be madness to go in the open stand,
And yes, a storm was raging, but ‘twas not the sort they’d planned.

¶ 2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Jayo played a lone-man role, with five men in midfield,
Bohs played their normal passing role, but Shelbourne would not yield.
They crunched into the tackles and began to gain control,
And they were well rewarded when they got an early goal.

¶ 3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Super Scouse came charging through and slotted through for Jay,
Who crossed the ball but Colin Hawkins got into the way.
But then he slipped [oh, tragedy!] and tireless Stewie met
The ball with such a rasping shot which flashed into the net.

¶ 4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 We celebrated cautiously, remembering apropos
How Bohs had equalised so quickly ten short days ago.
And lightning nearly struck again, when Ryan seemed to score,
But somehow Bomber stretched a leg to knock the effort o’er.

¶ 5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 From the corner, Willo saved from Jamie’s backward flick,
And Rogers had his work cut out, as Ryan looked quite kick,
And Weso drifted past two men, as if he were a ghost,
But Seamus Kelly tipped his effort just around the post.

¶ 6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 Shels began the second half as thought they were behind,
Their status as contenders was supremely underlined,
And Jim put Ollie in about the fifty-second minute,
But Kelly made a brilliant save to keep the Bohs right in it.

¶ 7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 And, not so very long thereafter, Jayo, bursting through,
Saw the keeper save again, instead of number two.
And then Crowe had an effort that bould Willo somehow blocked,
And Keegan nearly equalised, as our defence was rocked.

¶ 8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 For Bohs are worthy champions, and played all-out attack,
And every minute dragged as our defence soaked up the flak.
Robbie Doyle thought he had scored, but Willo saved with style,
And for us poor supporters, ‘twas a very nervous trial.

¶ 9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 The crosses kept on flying in, for Bohs were on full throttle,
But once again the mighty Reds showed they had lots of bottle.
And when the final whistle blew, we all were so relieved –
The game had gone much better than the faithful had believed.

¶ 10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 So once again, it’s in our hands, our destiny’s our own,
But anyone who follows Shels knows we’re disaster prone.
We showed a lot of character and showed a lot of fight,
But who can say that we won’t mess it up on Monday night?

19