Graham Salter
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Graham Salter posted an update 7 years ago
CHILDHOOD MEMORY
The Euston to Blackpool line is swathed in fog,
Early 1958, and the evening train is held at the signal.
The halo of an approaching bicycle lamp looms through the mist.
“A plane crash” says the rider, and “It’s bad”.
It appears in black and white photographs that night
In the Lancashire Evening Post;
Roger Byrne, the unassumin…[Read more] -
Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
Brilliant.
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Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
So evocative! Love it.
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Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
Yes. We played footy in the street, and Peter Lorimer (not me) broke the window-pane at number twenty-eight. Kenneth Wolstenholme was particularly impressed, and Leeds meet Chelsea in the semi-final.
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Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
A touching tribute to a quaint old ground, with its compact pitch and small white gable.
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Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
The poetry of adversity. Flowers watered by our tears. Thanks for a great poem Kevin.
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Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
A wonderful poem. Profound and heartfelt.
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Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
Barry Hines’ story “A Kestrel for a Knave” was turned into a moving and powerful film. In one scene, the PE teacher (Brian Glover) intervenes in a muddy school game of football, takes the ball through, and […]
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Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
Kun Aguero’s way of celebrating was to pretend to have a “punch-up” with the corner-flag.
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Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
Hull City manager Brown had kept his side on the pitch at half-time in order to berate them publicly. In a later match, against Manchester City, the Hull goal celebration was to re-enact the scene, with one of the […]
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Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
I had also thought of calling this “The Silence of the Fans.”
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Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
At the 1994 World Cup, Romario, Bebeto et al. pretended to rock a cradle, to celebrate a goal by Brazil.
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Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
When Juergen Klinsmann came to Spurs, he had a reputation as a “diver.” Seeing the funny side, he celebrated his first Spurs goal with a huge parodic “dive.”
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Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
Hugo Sánchez amazed the crowd at the Mexico World Cup by celebrating a goal with a cartwheel.
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Graham Salter published a poem on the site Football Poets 8 years ago
1950s The Corinthian Casual approach
A gentle trot
Back to the centre spot
In white and black
With just a pat on the back1960s The Peter Osgood approach
He gives a turn and a thump
Then a punch and a […] -
Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
A very touching salute to men like Nobby Stiles, who can no longer remember what the rest of us will never forget.
Thanks Andrew.
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Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
There’s something special about Craven Cottage. Thanks.
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Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
Thanks Ianthe.
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Graham Salter published a poem on the site Football Poets 8 years ago
Sweet Thames run swiftly, till I end my song
Our golden day has all gone wrong
Now each supporter wears a frown
Not long to play, and we’re three-one downWe sense defeat, we fear a rout
Our play-off hopes […] -
Graham Salter commented on a poem on Football Poets 8 years ago
This is a very touching tribute. Thank you Mike.
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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!
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Latest Poems
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4th May 2025
joe morris
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Steven Taylor
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joe morris
28th April 2025
Mike Bartram
28th April 2025
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
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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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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