Have you ever been real friends with someone Although you have never met? I have, and his name is Llew Beaton And his kindness I’ll never forget. He contacted me after reading What I wrote after Francis had died, ‘The Knots in The Lace’ Touched him so deeply, He said when he read it, he […]

What has happened to the football game? The ones that I’m watching just aren’t the same. No diving, no crowding. No pulling, no tripping Is this a sign that standards are slipping? No in-the-face challenges To the man with the whistle, No taunting opponents to make them all bristle. No rolling in agony then jumping […]

Fixed stare at the TV screen No football action to be seen Cricket-yes, tennis-yes But football’s gone My life’s a mess. Three months now to wait for action The sport that gives me satisfaction Withdrawal symptoms now abound As all there is, is an empty ground. Transfer wrangling, money spent, Players sold and some are […]

The neglected pitch is dry and rough The goalposts taken down An abandoned ball all scuffed and grubby And the side-paths overgrown. Bleak, unloved and empty The ground no longer used Nothing left to shout for To keep the kids amused. But wait, there is some movement I see the bushes part And slowly looking […]

The ‘News of the World’ spread out on the floor, My Dad walking in through the side door. “I can’t find the Wolves, I can’t see the score! Come help me, I’m looking but can’t look any more!” That was me way back when I was only just eight, Living in Africa- But I just […]