John Oliver
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John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 7 years, 8 months ago
These Days……When football is not quite the same
When football is much more than a game
When football is not all that they claim……These Days.
Those Days……Before diamond formations, Before eight at […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 7 years, 10 months ago
So our top lad has gone off to referee
In the land of milk and honey
Issuing cards and blowing his whistle
In conditions warm and sunny.
But when I wore my suit of black
And took abuse that was was not […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 7 years, 10 months ago
For years I stood on windswept terraces
And never thought I’d see
A player displaying on his back
The number Sixty Three.
Wearing boots of pink and purple
And advertising on his chest
A price tag of Thirty […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 8 years ago
Look out Big Sam
Is after your Job
Palace’s Pardew
Or Swansea’s Bob
United’s Jose or City’s Pep
And West Ham’s Bilic
Better watch his step
Mackems’ Moyse
Or The Potters’ Hughes
Big Sam is the lad to fill your shoes. -
John Oliver changed their profile picture 8 years, 2 months ago
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John Oliver‘s profile was updated 8 years, 2 months ago
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John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 8 years, 10 months ago
IN OR OOT, UP OR DOON
EUROPEAN UNION OR THE TOON
BUT NEE NEED TO WORRY
WE’LL AL KNAA SOON
IF WE ARE IN OR OOT
OR UP OR DOON. -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 8 years, 12 months ago
Gallowgate flags fly at half mast
Toon legends statues now wearing black
Teardrops fall from leaden skies
Pavel, forever a Geordie in Tyneside eyes. -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 8 years, 12 months ago
St James’ Park flags fly at half mast
Club legends statue’s draped in black
Hope’s of Tyneside cruelly slain
The legacy of Ashley’s Eight year reign. -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 9 years ago
WITH ANOTHER BLEAK SEASON
AND WITH TIME TO ASSESS
I HAVE REACHED THE CONCLUSION
MY CLUBS IN A MESS
A CLUB I COULD CHERISH
FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE
BUT JUST LIKE THE MODERN GAME
I’M AFRAID NO ONE CAN SAVE
AS FOR […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 9 years, 1 month ago
Of course It’s cold
No use denying that
But I’m wearing me thermals
Me top coat and hat
Price of admission a mere Three pound
A warm welcome awaits
As you enter the ground
Buy a raffle ticket for a worthy cause
As […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 9 years, 2 months ago
Are ye gannin’ to McClaren’s party
If Forty points we reach
Party hats and poppers
And warmed up bits of quiche
Ice cream will be plentiful
Both strawberry and vanilla
And we’ll celebrate
Gannin’ doon the pan
With […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 9 years, 3 months ago
Sept the 10th 1958
To have been at ‘The Bridge’
Must have been great
A Six Five Special they said at the time
Joy and heartache on The Thames and The Tyne
Young Greaves scored Two and twice smacked the […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 9 years, 3 months ago
If you refuse to sell me then I won’t play
Imagine that happening in Shankley’s day
Or youngsters attempting to call the bluff
Of BUSBY, REVIE or MISTER CLOUGH
The CHARLTON brothers, HURST and GREAVES
Spitting out […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 9 years, 4 months ago
Is there a medic on the bench
Jose’s gone down with a fever
His speech is slurred
He makes no sense
He needs his darling Eva. -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 9 years, 7 months ago
I have seen my last goal
I have sang my last song
At St James’ Park I know longer belong
To all those lads who built ships
And all those who mined coals
For the past and the future
The death Knell now tolls
One […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 9 years, 7 months ago
Miliband’s gone Gleggy’s gone
Leaders falling by the hour
Farrage about to bite the bullet
But John Carver’s still in power……HOW.? -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 9 years, 8 months ago
IT WAS COLD AS I EXPECTED
SPRINGTIME HALTED IN IT’S STRIDE
IN THIS NORTH WEST CORNER OF DURHAM
WHERE FOLK ONCE LIVED AND WORKED WITH PRIDE.
FOR I’M AT AN AGE WHEN I CAN REMEMBER
THOSE GLORIOUS WEMBLEY DAYS
WHICH […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 10 years, 5 months ago
Goodbye John and goodbye Liam
Supporters Unique who followed their dream
Then an act of pure evil, over far away skies
Next came the silence, denials, and lies.Now at St James’ Park,
Your seats will be […]
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John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 10 years, 8 months ago
I’ll paint Sports Direct on the roof of The Kop
I’ll bring in Joe Kinnear whether you like it or not
I’ll remove the Shankley gates and dispense with tradition
And I’ll sack Brendan Rodgers he shows to much […] - Load More
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
John Gilbert Ellis
28th November 2024
joe morris
26th November 2024
Denys E. W. Jones
26th November 2024
Gacina Bozidar
26th November 2024
Wynn Wheldon
26th November 2024
joe morris
17th November 2024
Crispin Thomas
17th November 2024
kevin halls
10th November 2024
joe morris
10th November 2024
Clik The Mouse
10th November 2024
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
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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10th July 2024 at 6:07 pm
Hi Crispin,
I don’t know if you’ve see the picture in social media today…
a picture of a teenage Lionel Messi cradling a baby in Africa as part of a photoshoot…. the family had won a lottery to have their baby pictured with him….
the photographer has just revealed that the baby is actually in fact Lamine Yamal!!!!
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26th May 2024 at 2:30 pm
Hi Denys…
Re Man City:
OK it was 20 years ago but Criag Wilson did write this and a few others on them back in 04/05.
BTW I’m more Forest Green Rover since 2014 (and Chelsea) these days . I drum and am a standing season ticket holder .
Best
Crispin
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29th April 2024 at 2:47 pm
Hi Denys,
Yes Richard Williams you’re a brilliant wordsmith, my friend. When I first saw your football poetry I thought it was the superb Guardian sports and music writer. I once had the honour of sitting next to Richard Williams while at the Independent on the sports desk. He writes about music and sport with immense knowledge and authority. I’ve read a couple of Richard’s books recently. Great writer rather like you Richard Williams the Pompey fan. Congratulations on promotion.
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28th April 2024 at 5:59 pm
Thanks Denys. Yes your replay poem was superb.
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26th April 2024 at 4:46 pm
Nice work, Joe. You were quick off the mark with that! Good one from Richard Williams too I see.
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25th April 2024 at 7:33 pm
Hi Denys,
Thanks mate. I’ll do it now.
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