• Childhood Memory
    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 […]
  • A Brief History of Goal Celebrations
    1950s The Corinthian Casual approach A gentle trot Back to the centre spot In white and black With just a pat on the back 1960s The Peter Osgood approach He gives a turn and a thump Then a punch and a jump On a pitch that’s a mess (Like that teacher in “Kes”) 1970s The […]
  • Lament in the Putney End
    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 down We sense defeat, we fear a rout Our play-off hopes are up the spout The clouds are gathering round the sun Sweet Thames flow swiftly, […]
  • Espying Klopp
    I must go down to the pub again There’s a football match on Sky And all I ask is a decent view Of the screen, with the bar nearby And the crowd’s heave And the Kop’s roar And the sudden surge down the wing And the old familiar anthems sung As only the Kop can […]
  • The Field of The Cloth of Gold
    Had I the Three Lions’ golden manes The M & S suits, so chic and tight And their light new strip, with its fickle mix Of the red, and the blue and the light blue Then I would feel the world was spread at my feet: But we, no longer young, have only our dreams […]