Football Poets

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

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