NOW THEY’RE TURNING FOOTBALL INTO WINE
oh sweet F.A desert us not – the tables they have turned
within the hallowed temples of evr’y gound we’ve spurned
they’ve turned our one-time people’s game of football into wine
with crap designer labels at twelve pounds ninety-nine
you’d pay much less and get much more
from down your local superstore
but why should we care what’s inside
when we’re content to swallow pride
but yet again the racist slant has reared its ugly head
they’ve limited the colours to only white and red
no thought or care for lesser hues – elitism is back
should you be born to wear the blue or gold or green or black
no sky blue neat aperitif with elegant bouquet
no stripey drink to relegate and wipe the tears away
that goes down well and often-like some do now and then
but also has the habit of coming up again
and why no thought for Hammers or Aston Villa clarets
so overpriced but guaranteed to make you sick as parrots
or Leeds-fraumilk in sweet or dry – for extra drinking time
now football’s just for ‘love-ies’ they’ve turned it into wine
but here’s a strong reminder for those who’ve had their day
the Greavesies and the Adamses and Besties down the way
it won’t be long before we have the Rangers Burger Star
the Chelsea Drug Store selling dope or Arsenal Lap Dance Bar
and whilst i wish no sour taste to leave upon your lips
i cannot wait for Man United A La Fish & Chips
but take this thought- and carry it- like Bovril memories
it’s not about the football… it’s you they want to fleece
and think on this Gin-ola-the penalty of life
it doesn’t pay to sip and play..no NEVER DRINK AND DIVE…
Crispin Thomas Sept 01
Written on hearing a recent football-club wine-tasting session on BBC Radio 5… how refreshing – how Chardonnay… that having tackled the hooligan problem by not letting fans drink in stadiums… we can now sit in exhorbitant glass-boxes with the prawn sandwich brigade and more importantly in our own homes.. and drink disgustingly over-priced wines .. thank you football!…
ANY THOUGHTS FELLOW POETS?
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
John Gilbert Ellis
28th November 2024
joe morris
26th November 2024
Denys E. W. Jones
26th November 2024
Gacina Bozidar
26th November 2024
Wynn Wheldon
26th November 2024
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
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
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
See in context
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.
See in context
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
See in context
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.
See in context
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!!!!
See in context
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
See in context
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.
See in context
28th April 2024 at 5:59 pm
Thanks Denys. Yes your replay poem was superb.
See in context
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.
See in context
25th April 2024 at 7:33 pm
Hi Denys,
Thanks mate. I’ll do it now.
See in context