Football Poets

Messi, Messi, Messi,
Bless he, bless he, bless he
Guess he, guess he, guess he
Doesn’t need advice from me!

And when you draw breath and think about it
A misplaced pass from Messi
Is about as commonplace […]

There was a young fella named Bertie
Whose predilection didn’t include Gertie(s)
He went to Qatar
They found him bizarre
And now he’s banged up watching CR7 get shirty!

“They call us Cinderella,
Cos we’re in Serie B.
But I say the Ferraris
Is the only place to be.

We’re playing Cittadella,
No pushovers are they.
So get down to Marassi
At 3pm today.

We’ve S […]

Hey Mr Cool
don’t be no fool –
make sure you give out
berate and sharply shout
at all those around you
whomsoever may confound you;
those not pulling their weight;
those late –
into a tackle;
those not p […]

When watching Brazil

It’s just like watching Brazil.

Life’s like that sometimes.

I was determined to boycott the World Cup,
And be like Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress:
Avoiding all seductive temptations,
And deceptions from the ‘beautiful game’ –
For the arguments against watch […]

One Love
garners no love
from the unlovable

it’s a dream that would blossom two decades ago
when the Spirit of Football gave birth
to a symbol that’s more than just something you kick
but unites everyone on this Earth
and it’s rolled and been kicked by […]

I’m Spartacus!
No, I’m…..

well not quite.
I’m boycotting!….
England’s first game, for all the right reasons –
repudiating a Republic where rights are unreasonably 
driven roughshod into the […]

let’s boycott Qatar
it’s wrong for heaven’s sake
however little diff’rence
our non-viewing will make
let’s go watch a small club
while games go on at home
while they just greenwash endlessly
to justify […]

That autumnal expedition to Brimscombe
Seems all a bit too good to be true:
Cycling past that spring alongside Bagpath,
Where an old Rodborough resident
Once slaked his thirst descending to Brimscombe,
Where […]

We used to argue ad-nauseum
As to whether or not the ball crossed the line
Case-in-point: ‘66

Now we have microscopic lenses
And digital wristbands
That pinpoints crossing ‘tween the sticks!

That ball
has found its time
and its place

guided there
by my bonce
and a smile ‘pon my face;

as it nestles gloriously
there
in the back of that net

it is
for me
my most favourite goal yet!

migrant workers meagre wages
lacking in support
dying in the searing heat
in the name of sport
all are welcome so they claim
we know that’s not true
there’s no understanding
of LGBTQ
women made to live […]

I would opine
much more online
but…

“password not accepted”

so I try password this
password that
password another
but I even forget
the maiden name of my mother!

And so I switch
from the ether […]

It rarely garners plaudits
it often ushers pain
those masters of the darkest art
who waste our time again
the dragging to the corner flag
that Shangri-La of spaces
the long slow walk to be replaced […]