Football Poets

they’re movin’ in there early
they think that it’s all done
and Cyril’s checking out the pitch
he’s Squirrel’s number one

he’s sussing out the atmosphere
hes’ sniffing out the land
they said it was a library
but […]

for honesty and loyalty
with diginity and pride
what more can club or fan demand
from one who’s steered your side?

John Lyall was the business
and I can see those tears
shedding down at Upton Park
his home for […]

I was born to follow you
with heart and soul and voice
yes I was born to follow you
and sometimes there’s no choice

and some nights I awaken
as if inside some dream
but there’s no use I pay these dues
in chains […]

At last the quest is over
at last we understand
we started in the water
we ended up on land

that’s why we walk in crocodiles
when we go out at school
that’s why we canot really grasp
this “are they diving?” […]

They’re always there before the rest
And often with a towel
They dig in quick with spade or pick
And sometimes use a trowel
They like to make their presence known
As footie fans all do
And nine of them have made […]

Shall I compare thee to a summer buy?

Thou art more valuable up-front

Tough forwards at whatever price so rarely do appear

And season’s length til May so long doth seem

Regardless of such sponsorship or […]

if we should ever move apart
the way fans sometimes do
if we should miss be sure of this
our friendship will stay true

if we should ever drift away
along the path of time
let not the haze of long gone days
be to […]

As much as it pains me to say it
But credit where credit is due
You have to admire such passion and fire
That the Arsenal had laid out on view

It’s their free-flowing play and posession
That saw them unbeaten so […]

You blame the rest of Europe
As though we are so pure
And never leapt to such great depths
As they did long before
You blame the Latin temperament
How racist can you be
The downward spiral’s everywhere
And there […]

now you don’t get distracted on Ceefax
you just stare at those fixtures for hours
it’s not quite as trying as watching paint drying
or the slow motion growing of flowers

you can gaze at that old black […]

he’s a Thomas Hardy figure from another time
prowling and scowling up and down that line
a dual personality that only gets shown
when Queen’s Park Rangers are playing at home
the rest of the time he’s just […]

They were formed in the late eighteen- hundreds
I still shudder to think of the day
when Chelski were poor as their neighbours next door
and lost six-nil to Rotherham away

since 1907 they’ve played at that […]

cold pitch yesterday

today delivered free – look

this snow white carpet!

he was an icon in sun and in rain
back of The Shed we just sang out his name
great in the air strong on the ground
“Osgood Is Good” that was the sound

Raquel Welch on that old touch-line
Steve McQueen and […]

Stamford Bridge February 12 noon
and it’s freezing..I mean freezing
we could be talking eskimos in track-suits
and long-john thermal merchandise heaven
if only they’d known.. it’s that cold..
behind the Matthew […]

we are Barça and we are the Blues
we are the champions and we are the news
and this is the sound when we want more
stamping our feet every time we score
the sound in the ground the sound of the fans
stamping […]

it’s turned quite brown now
my old school team photograph
but there I am with long lost mates
whose names still linger
together In the sepia vibe

can this be me at fourteen?
another person then – fresh f […]

If Curbishley is feeling it
and Stuart Pearce is too
imagine what the pressure
on a terrier can do
If Martin O is stressing out
about the job in hand
if Allardyce has both hands tied
who then to lead our […]

we know what’s coming don’t we
it’s written in the stars
as long as they breathe Britsh air
who cares if they’re from Mars

’cause that’s where most blokes come from
according to the missus
they need no training […]

I’ve done some ‘big-jobs’ in my time
upon the field and ground
by birth-right I am Scottish
and in the West I’m found
when last the post was offered
like lamps on any street
I raised a leg and cocked my head
but […]