John Oliver
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John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 13 years, 3 months ago
Last of our pre season friendlies
Another meaningless game
In the height of the Summer
And pouring with rain.
Match is abandoned
And neither team scores
Farcial conditions
It never rains but it pours
So next […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 13 years, 3 months ago
Today I am saddened
Today I am dismayed
Today I am worried
Today I am afraid.
Afraid of what is happening
To Newcastle United
To the City I am so proud of
And a club so devided.
I am really not interested
Who […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 13 years, 4 months ago
When Saturdays came, we used to say
‘Howay we’ll gan and watch United play’
And in the Farmers Rest we would meet
A now long lost pub on Percy Street.
And after the match, our next port of call
From St James’ Park […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 13 years, 4 months ago
If someone had told me right at the start
That this game of football would tear me apart
But would I have listened ? Probably not
I chose Newcastle United, So deserve all I’ve got.
I could go on forever about our […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 13 years, 6 months ago
We are approaching that time of the season
When we will be embarrassed by grown men who cry
As they sit in the stands, with their heads in their hands
And their tears are seen by millions on SKY.
Be it a confirmed […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 13 years, 10 months ago
I was at my Granny’s enjoying a bowl
Of her piping hot home made broth
It will warm the cockles of your heart
She used to say, but I was never sure what she meant
But it always tasted delicious.
Saturday morning […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 13 years, 10 months ago
David Miliband joining the ‘Mackems’
Now watch his majority shrink
Half of his constituents are TOON fans
In South Shields what will they think ?
He is also a self confessed ‘GOONER’
And the President of South […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 13 years, 10 months ago
The Matthews final
Montgomery’s save
Stan Mortenson’s hat trick
Bert Trautmann the brave.
Community singing
A hundred thousand in song
On the Wembley terraces
Where our memories belong.
Hand knitted scarves
Flat […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 13 years, 10 months ago
I beg your Pardew Alan
And I am sorry for my doubt
And I must confess to thinking
What’s all this about.
I was an admirer of Chris Hughton
And I’ll always feel the same
And I was saddened by his departure
But […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 13 years, 10 months ago
The New Year will bring
What a New Year will bring
And soon another football season will be over
Nerves will be wracked
And more managers sacked
While others will be rolling in clover.
Shocks will take place
As […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 13 years, 11 months ago
I knew what I wanted for Christmas
At Santa’s grotto I stood in the queue
But it seemed as if thousands of Geordies
Were after the same present too.
We all asked for a change of owner
But dear old Santa just shook […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 13 years, 11 months ago
A man of great dignity
A man we could trust
Who now in wild west parlance
Has bitten the dust.
Since Fat Mick the storekeeper
Breezed into the toon
Many staff have been drinking
In the last chance saloon.
Big Sam […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 13 years, 12 months ago
The poor lads looked frozen
As they stepped off the team bus
To a warm Geordie welcome
Well………From some of us.
But a group of young lasses
All ‘Wor Cheryl’s’ mates
To give grief to young Ashley
They had been […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 14 years ago
I have 20 albums full of Paninni stickers
I shudder to think what I’ve spent
I swapped Everton’s FELLAINI for the toons COLOCCINI
And paid a fiver for young DARREN BENT.
But to find THOMAS ROSICKY, I found rather […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 14 years ago
Big Sam shaking hands with Mike Ashley
Who not so long ago gave him the sack
Both with big grins on their faces
On the night the big fella came back.
Of course Lord Samuel of Blackburn
Walked away with a few […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 14 years ago
The ‘TOON ARMY’ did all the singing
While the ‘GOONERS’ just sat and waited
Many of you went home quite early
Feeling somewhat frustrated
Wenger did his moaning
But we didn’t really care
Pat Rice sat there like […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 14 years, 1 month ago
You do your jobs
And I will try to do mine
This place should be renamed
Rumours upon Tyne
I’m asked so many questions
So much speculation
Regarding my future
And my situation
Up here on Tyneside
It’s one thing […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 14 years, 1 month ago
I had been away on holiday
To see the sights of ancient Rome
But as we approached the north east coast
I knew I was back home.
And on the descent towards the airport
I saw the bridges of the Tyne
On a Friday […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 14 years, 1 month ago
I have let the dust settle
And gave the matter some thought
Watched replay after replay
And still I’m distraught.
Not only for that tackle by Nigel De Jong
In the lads heart of hearts
He will know it was […] -
John Oliver published a poem on the site Football Poets 14 years, 2 months ago
I stood alone inside an empty St James’ Park
Closed my eyes for a few moments
And once again saw Jackie Milburn in full flight
As a chorus of The Blaydon Races
Echoed around the stadium.
I saw ten’s of thousands […] - 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
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
Clik The Mouse
6th November 2024
Alex Saynor
6th November 2024
joe morris
29th October 2024
joe morris
17th October 2024
Denys E. W. Jones
16th October 2024
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
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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25th April 2024 at 1:56 pm
Thanks Joe,
you might like to write a poem yourself on the same subject…
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23rd April 2024 at 4:03 pm
Hi Denys
With you all the way on the abolition of FA Cup replays. What are they doing to the game?
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