TOP XI – The Greatest Team Ever Told..On Paper (apart from Melchester Rovers)
eleven men inside my head and each one true and bold
make up our team on paper the greatest ever told –
whose keeper sat and sometimes stood as steadfast as a mast
between the posts young BUDDHA smiled as ev’ry ball flew past
and celebrated ev’ry goal as if it were a party
and hugged his faithful full-backs the mighty LAUREL & HARDY
and with his socks off in bare feet on any Saturday
reliable ST FRANCIS gave evrything away
brought harmony to any team and to opponents too
for every time he won the ball he’d give it back to you
or nod it to Lord KRISHNA who chanting with the fans
would dance up to the half-way line a flute within his hands
at centre half and number five no thought for recompence
bold SOCRATES who taught us all to know thy own defence
and up-front JESUS juggling alongside JIMMY GREAVES
the fisherman and poacher delighting crowds with ease
with ZOLA streaming down the wing like Pegasus he’d fly
then flip the most exquisite chip to make a grown fish cry
and MOSES parting players like Brylcreem parting hair
igniting crowds like bushes strewn tablets evrywhere
while ever-faithful in midfield MOHAMMED he would bring
a solidness so needed at the heart of everything
and on those days when goals dried up and nothing led to much
there in reserve brave SOOTY** would add that magic touch
or maybe bring on MATTHEWS** EUSEBIO** or BECKS**
or PELE** in his heyday that symphony on legs
but no sub-bench would be complete without VASCO DA GAMA**
a captain when the clock ticked by – a stalwart in a drama
so many sparkling football stars that light our planet’s past
long may their names still fill our heads long may their glory last
long may this game we love and loathe be echoed down in rhyme
those players and those moments all gently etched in time
and long may we continue to utter endlessly
both near and far though quite bizarre this football poetry
Notes:
*(apart from Melchester Rovers)
**6 subtitutes-and why not..i mean how could you leave Sooty out..the bloke’s a living legend- over 50 and still playing today.(.well pantommes and TV at least!)
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
25th April 2024
Denys E. W. Jones
25th April 2024
kevin halls
23rd April 2024
Alex Saynor
23rd April 2024
joe morris
23rd April 2024
Crispin Thomas
22nd April 2024
Denys E. W. Jones
21st April 2024
joe morris
20th April 2024
Clik The Mouse
15th April 2024
Mike Bartram
15th April 2024
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
25th April 2024 at 7:33 pm
Hi Denys,
Thanks mate. I’ll do it now.
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25th April 2024 at 1:56 pm
Thanks Joe,
you might like to write a poem yourself on the same subject…
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23rd April 2024 at 4:03 pm
Hi Denys
With you all the way on the abolition of FA Cup replays. What are they doing to the game?
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23rd April 2024 at 3:59 pm
Hi Crispin,
Yes sorry mate. Villa are still in Europe. Mistake rectified.
Cheers
Joe
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20th April 2024 at 12:04 pm
Hi Joe
Shouldn’t your title read your poem Farewell Europe England to everyone exccept Aston Villa ?
I know you mention them in your poem , but I do feel sorry for Villa re the national press .
Largely ignored. the hype was was all about Man City & Arsenal with a bit of a nod to the Hammers..but hardly a mention of Villa..
So well done to them
C
.
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19th March 2024 at 8:00 am
Hi Crispin. Chris Sutton on the radio has gone for a Chelsea v Coventry final. As we know anything can happen in the Cup, and I reckon we can go to the final.
We’re still in with a chance of the play offs too, so lots to go for.
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19th March 2024 at 7:41 am
Hey Kev
Let the masses drool over their odds on City v Unted Final, but who knows how pressure can hit.
Cov and Chels will be rightly labelled as having no chance..but hey …stranger things have happened..
so Chelsea v Coventry…that’s the Final for us!
Best
C
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29th January 2024 at 10:03 pm
Hi Crispin,
How are you doing mate? Yes, you’re probably right but hey football is all about emotion and passion and I just love writing about the game. I try to keep my poetry to a reasonable length but there’s so much to write about the game and its literature just lends itself naturally to poetry. Sometimes I just get completely carried and I do apologise for the length of my poetry but it’s a great thrill to be associated with Football Poets.
Cheers mate
Joe
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10th January 2024 at 7:52 pm
You’re right of course Joe but…..it’s actually more of a big welcome break for everyone who is not into Premier League ..I’m talking fans of EFL National League and below…..
Btw …is this actually your longest poem ever !?
Best
Crispin
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8th January 2024 at 4:45 pm
Thanks!
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