Crispin Thomas
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Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 2 years ago
we used to be invisible
to some perhaps a joke
reserved for those whose daughters played
the rebels and the wokebanished for a hundred years
our game at last expands
but struggles on for backing
in […] -
Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 2 years ago
feel it getting closer now
never mind the rain
where they are the sun will shine
as we go againcan we do the business…
can we show the world ?
football is for everyone
ev’ry boy and girlthe past […]
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Crispin Thomas commented on a poem on Football Poets 2 years ago
Lovely imagery in your Blyth poem Greg
C
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Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 2 years ago
come so far and its nearly here :
The Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand
so much to admire and enjoy
and guess what
this time we’re one of the favourites-
Early mornings late nights aho […] -
Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 2 years ago
on any street at any time
and right across the world
you’ll see them glaring from the shirts
of grown ups boys and girls
these gambling match day sponsors
who boldly underline
that betting is for e […] -
Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 2 years ago
once in a blue moon
comes a day when you can say
oh yes I was there
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Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 2 years ago
BBC confirm
here within our national game
free speech ain’t allowed ~
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Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 2 years ago
classic shots and lines from games
there are loads I know
the freezing figure of the man
just standing in the snow
blizzard howling round his head
empty pitch and stand
the patron saint of sheepskin […] -
Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 2 years ago
call him old fashioned but he had his own style
churned out facts like an old speed dial
started out way back in sixty nine*
Motty was a one off in his own time
call him quirky and say what you like
Motty […] -
Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 2 years ago
If you’ve ever been there
If you’ve had the call
If you’ve had that feeling
Writing’s on the wall
Like some guilty party
In your heart you know
There is no alternative
When it’s time to goWhe […]
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Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 3 years ago
The blue Azzurri fire that burned
when I first saw you on my screen
one Nineties Sunday Channel 4
Sampdoria your long time homethe passion in your play that shone
as bright as bright for all to […] -
Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 3 years ago
I was 10 years old when I first saw you
that steamy Summer of ’58 the World Cup …Sweden
when before you – for me
there had only been one hero…Jimmy Greaves.we’d only had our tele a year
but there y […] -
Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 3 years ago
one club man our George
gentlemanly on and off
his old Cottage pitch ~
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Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 3 years ago
whose ground this is I surely know
unrecognizable in snow
and I my glee can barely hide
to find these gates all open wide
my little dog must think it strange
to stop with neither fan nor game
he gives his […] -
Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 3 years ago
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 […] -
Crispin Thomas commented on a poem on Football Poets 3 years ago
Hi Guys
Re ‘Lets Boycott Qatar ‘ poem
You probably hate me banging on..and problably know (like me) that my/your not watching the World Cup in Qatar will make no difference.
Of course it won’t. That’s not […]
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Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 3 years ago
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 […] -
Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 3 years ago
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 […] -
Crispin Thomas published a poem on the site Football Poets 3 years ago
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 […] -
Crispin Thomas commented on a poem on Football Poets 3 years ago
Shoot! (Something we’ve also been screaming in vain at our team all season !)
Great memories Joe . Before Shoot, it was Roy of the Rovers comic too, dropping through my letterbox.
Anxiously waiting each week […]
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About This Site
Welcome to Football Poets -- a club for all football poets, lovers of football and lovers of (alternative) poetry. Discover poets in every league from respected internationals at the top of their game to young hopefuls in the school playground.
Publish your football poems here and then discuss them with your team mates and fans. We're archived by The British Library, so your masterpieces are in the safe hands of a world-class keeper. What a result!
My Account
Latest Poems
Mike Bartram
8th July 2025
joe morris
6th July 2025
Crispin Thomas
6th July 2025
Mike Bartram
4th July 2025
Denys E. W. Jones
29th June 2025
joe morris
29th June 2025
Crispin Thomas
26th June 2025
joe morris
23rd June 2025
Crispin Thomas
16th June 2025
Gacina Bozidar
15th June 2025
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
7th June 2025 at 5:57 pm
Very well put! My recent favourite came when visiting Chesterfield. They have the ‘LMD Vacuum Excavation Stand’.
May be if you’re in the vacuum excavation business, it’s a beautiful sounding name.
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24th May 2025 at 7:19 am
Hi Steve
I’ve come across you before on the live poetry circuit…something I’ve also been involved in since the late 90s at slams, gigs and festivals. Did you ever get to Glasto?
I was also at Swindon when José subbed and berated Kevin in a League Cup game for Chelsea….
Salah as you point out went the same way…
Be interesting to see Kev’s next move?
Best
Crispin
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24th April 2025 at 1:05 pm
Hey Denys..love this
“You may be a miner working down a pit.
You may be a rock star playing sold out gigs.
You may be a fireman putting out a blaze.
You may be an inmate chalking off the days. ”
Not just Dylan but maybe an unintentional nod to and shades of Ian Dury’s enigmatic ‘What A Waste’ rhythmic scanning..eg:
I could be the driver in an articulated lorry
I could be a poet I wouldn’t need to worry
I could be a teacher in a classroom full of scholars
I could be the sergeant in a squadron full of wallahs
What a waste
What a waste
Was lucky enough to meet and interview him twice.
Best wishes from Forest Green to Genoa C
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8th March 2025 at 2:34 pm
Thanks Crispin
I’ve been to FGR a couple of times in the past – great food! Barnet look like they have the NL sewn up for this season, but I wish you well for promotion next season.
Regards, Beth
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11th January 2025 at 8:13 am
TO ADD THIS TO THIS POEM’S COMMENT:WELCOME BACK DAVID MOYES!!!
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27th November 2024 at 5:55 am
‘You’re Supposed To Be At Home’ is an excellent and moving poem Denys.
You start off thinking it’s just about another oft-sung chant, one we personally heard a lot last season throughout our second relegation in a row here at Forest Green(FGR) ! I always love poems where you think they are saying one thing and then they suddenly pull you deeper to somewhere or something else else.
I’m currently helping in a local school for FGR in a voluntary capacity using football to help young students with reading. At an upcoming session we will tackle racism, just like we did in workshops at football schools and grounds when we first started this site 24 years ago. I’m gonna try and weave your poem into a session.
We’ve added it to the Anti- Racism/Kick It Out section under Crispin’s Corner.
Best C
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26th November 2024 at 1:59 pm
Great poem and great to see you back Wyn.
Don’t leave it so long next time my friend!
More please.
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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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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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