Premiership Priory
Poor Merse
has a curse
an addiction
no valediction
in sight
try as he might
the demons return
money to burn
and time to kill
looking for a buzz, a thrill
it’s not funny
all that money
gambled away
yet he’ll play
to win
Poor Paul McGrath
he’s come so far
from his days in Dalkey
and though he no talky, much
they want him to keep in touch
so that they can keep tabs
for his demon often nabs
friends want him on an even keel
and though his drink problem is real
it’s his deep rooted shyness
that troubles this mercurial Highness
who once graced the fields of green
now he shies away from being seen
Good ole Tone
just pick up the phone
and ring his clinic
there’ll be no cynic
on the end of the line
just, “hope you’re fine”
and a sympathetic ear
to discuss, the over consumption of beer
of spirits, too many or too low
and now the jockeys too, can ride in tow
so, no matter what the game
no matter the excuses lame
no matter how the addiction came
they’ll be treated just the same
no song and dance
just a Sporting Chance
apologies to all concerned if this is too trite, it’s not meant to be.
it was written after watching the inspired work and charity (Sporting Chance)
started by Tony Adams (Tone) in a BBC documentary last night (10.06.2003),
which focussed on the rehabilitation efforts of addicts
Paul Merson (Merse), at time of writing captain of newly promoted Portsmouth and
Paul McGrath, ex-pro, highly regarded as one of the best players ever to come out of Ireland (Dalkey is a suburb of Dublin)
the documentary also showed the PFA becoming involved and they are now backing the clinic financially
the title of the documentary (and of this poem), was taken from
The Priory – a rehabilitation clinic much used by the rich and famous
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
Denys E. W. Jones
2nd October 2024
joe morris
2nd October 2024
Mike Bartram
30th September 2024
joe morris
26th September 2024
joe morris
19th September 2024
Clik The Mouse
18th September 2024
Clik The Mouse
18th September 2024
joe morris
16th September 2024
John Gilbert Ellis
12th September 2024
Beth Rogers
12th September 2024
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
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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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.
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28th April 2024 at 5:59 pm
Thanks Denys. Yes your replay poem was superb.
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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.
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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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