John Paul Kirkham
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John Paul Kirkham published a poem on the site Football Poets 3 years, 11 months ago
Merchant ship cranes
unloading their grain
Confederate ships built at Cammell Lairds
opposite sits the Liver BirdsFerries glide across the Mersey
supporters wear their red or blue jerseys
high above the […] -
John Paul Kirkham published a poem on the site Football Poets 3 years, 11 months ago
How many people can claim that
breaking their leg
saved their life
twiceSeconds from signing for those Red Devils
shattered bones stunned the cheering crowds
on that Saturday afternoon
put paid to those […] -
John Paul Kirkham‘s profile was updated 3 years, 11 months ago
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John Paul Kirkham published a poem on the site Football Poets 4 years, 2 months ago
In kits and jeans
we’d pick two teams
by dip dip dip
and my blue shipAlthough quite small I’d play in goal
hoping that we wouldn’t foul
then a trip inside the box
and big Pete rolled down his s […] -
John Paul Kirkham‘s profile was updated 4 years, 2 months ago
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John Paul Kirkham posted a new activity comment 8 years, 12 months ago
Hi Crispin …….. 9/9 points …… blimey a great start. That FGR is a whisker far for a late Nov evening KO. See how it goes. Eddie C plays cool tunes, my kind of acoustic guy. Don’t know him up close and personal though.
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John Paul Kirkham changed their profile picture 8 years, 12 months ago
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Hi John….do you do away trips?.Might you be at FGR(evening game()..your lot are looking great..Ddo you know Eddie Cooney /Singer songwriter diehard Tranmere fan..lovely guy..met him last season at FGR 0 Tranmere 2 …his Hillsborough song/poem is on this site..welcome aboard..C
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Hi Crispin …….. 9/9 points …… blimey a great start. That FGR is a whisker far for a late Nov evening KO. See how it goes. Eddie C plays cool tunes, my kind of acoustic guy. Don’t know him up close and personal though.
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good sides always leave it late…. re yesterday….phew…
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John Paul Kirkham became a registered member 8 years, 12 months ago
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John Paul Kirkham published a poem on the site Football Poets 10 years, 10 months ago
I happened upon a stretch of quiet beach.
The mantis green palms flayed lightly in an uncertain breeze.
The course abrasive sand now cooling in the early evening
under a purple sky broodingly framing a round […] -
John Paul Kirkham published a poem on the site Football Poets 10 years, 10 months ago
Not far from Grange road
there is a park and a field
where they play Sunday league
all proper and skilledWe went for a stroll
me and my Gran
just around the corner
with mothers and pramsWhilst watching the […]
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
5th August 2025
Wynn Wheldon
1st August 2025
joe morris
28th July 2025
Crispin Thomas
28th July 2025
joe morris
23rd July 2025
Crispin Thomas
23rd July 2025
Phil Brennan
22nd July 2025
joe morris
18th July 2025
Crispin Thomas
18th July 2025
Emdad Rahman
15th July 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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