Football Poets

If I were a Wise Man, I’d gift Him
a football, just so He could learn
a Game, could surprise Him and lift Him;
one more spark could ignite Him and burn,
and the Angels would line up with Shepherds
and the Keeper […]

Can someone tell Nathaniel how to throw-in?
Or Jordan H. which goal’s the other team’s?
And Danny, what it’s like to get a toe in?
He only had a hat-trick in his dreams.
Can Rooney always play the same pace he […]

The ESA could just have asked Aguero
how it could prevent a double save.
The margin is quite fine from goat to hero;
the gap ‘tween conq’ring Prince and troubled knave.
See: love and free-kicks try ’til they get […]

His posts are too close.
The ball won’t cross the line.
“Offside!” he yells,
then he just grins.
If you had a dose
of that nephew of mine,
you could tell
Innes always wins.

“The ref didn’t see it!”
“It’s […]

They nip at my heels.
I stay on my feet.
I trip on the rules.
As my enemies cheat.
Integrity: nothing.
If no one’s around.
My compass is crumbling.
I go to the ground.

Seeking my strength from
the stones once […]

Don’t leave your post from a corner
if all of your lines haven’t cleared.
Run off if you’re substituted,
regardless of score and be cheered.
Take pains to make simplest passes
a thing of some beauty for […]

It’s not so much striking the ball,
as the way I now run
that tells me my game’s in its Fall
and that soon I’ll be done.
It’s not in the way that I think
or where I want to go,
but rather that I’d rather […]

The Move will occur with a pass, two, or three,
at a pace where opponents can’t cope.
We must, I am sure, make it fast, you and me.
It’s a race to deprive them of hope.
The Move will not linger,
its nose to its […]

Today I met a Chelsea fan,
a quite distinguished older man
who grew up there; that was his claim.
He called me just by my last name,
and did not get over-excited
when I said I watch United
(neutral, but a friend […]

The leg’s the gun.
The head, the bow.
The ball, a bullet
best shot low.
The number nine,
a hunter’s role.
His one design?
To prey on goal.

Will my great-grandkids play football?
Will there be water for real grass?
Will we keep enough of their trust
that they’ll have to adjust to conditions,
and make weather-related decisions,
or will it simply be too […]

The ground’s not too hard.
The grass has been cut.
The lines are still easy to see.
Though I’ve lost half a yard
since last we were out,
won’t you come and play football with me?

I no longer run
as much as I […]

So, Naismith’s scored in each of three:
Leicester, Gunners, Blues,
but that’s not what’s done it for me.
Here’s why he cannot lose:
I read here on the Internet
he’s from humble beginnings,
overcame dyslexia,
then […]

I read Atletico Madrid
cost less than Eden Hazard did.
The same eleven play each match.
They’re phenoms of endurance.
My wife would tell you I am worth
much more if I’d just leave this earth.
She once considered […]

I built a squad around Giroud
and Mata, and some others, who
I’d barely heard of, just to watch
an ankle break, United scotch
what looked to be three wins.

Then things went from bad to worse
a Premier transfer […]

The honeymoon’s over.
Where did it go?
We thought we’d have nine points.
Our start has been slow.
Sir Alex still drops by.
He could still manage, no?
The honeymoon’s over.
Where did it go?

The daylight is […]

Pass me my orange-Champagne.
Too early to get into beer.
Today starts a brand new campaign.
The big boys are finally here.

Pass me my orange-Champagne.
I’m camped by my TV to cheer.
This morning no one can […]

I’ve been cut by Football Poets.
Should have seen it coming.
Used same rhymes too many times.
Not nuanced, really: numbing.
In early starts
I’d cut their hearts.
My metre’d duck and swivel.
Lately all I offered […]

He had worked quite enough for one day.
He’d a roof and warm clothes and some food,
and a wife and some children he’d not seen enough,
and a habit that did him no good.

So, he’d stopped for a spell at the […]

I’m just an ordinary football bloke.
Played a bit when I was still in school.
Scored a couple winners.
Met some girlfriends. Ate some dinners,
and I’ve shared my share of stories from this stool.

I’m just an […]