South-South Divide (A Tale of Two Districts)
everybody’s talkin’ bout the South-South divide
everybody’s waitin’ for the turnin’ of the tide
everybody’s known for years – way down deep inside
for Manchester and Liverpool it’s time to step aside
from Elland Road to Tyneside the end is drawing near
the wind that filled the Northern sails is losing strength I fear
the long awaitened Southern grasp for all that we hold dear
will put an end to all we ‘ve known for one too many year
as fortresses must crumble and reputations guage
o how the mighty tumble when limitations rage
Like Narnia and Mordor when dominations age
for Ferguson and Houllier the writing’s on the page
for every flower has its time – each doggy has its day
and some they shine a brief small while and some they overstay
and some pretend they’re mighty still when glory’s gone astray
and others live like Eighties bands on dreams of yesterday
but now from London’s oyster there bursts the finest pearl
those Shandy-drinking Southerners are challenging the world
from Highbury to Stamford Bridge the flags are being unfurled
from Charlton and from Fulham the praise is being hurled
from Archway to Holloway the taverns heave and teem
with bleary thoughts of Europe’s prize and Arsene’s triple dream
from Kings’ Road dives and Chelsea bars they ponder Roman’s scheme
and wonder just how great they’ll be when they become a team
From Millwall’s Den and Upton Park they too now join the dance
unfashionable – unliked for years – nor worth a second glance
while giants of the long lost past still wander in a trance
what price a London Final now – when there seemed little chance?
yes everybody’s talking bout the South-Side divide
everybody’s waitin’ now and ready for the ride
everybody’s dancin’ to the beat of London’s pride
unless you support Tottenham that is!
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© ct04
apologies to the Spurs fan out there and anyone still at Three-Point-Lane (note the now singular derogatory use of ‘fan’ as opposed to ‘fans’……..”ooh little bit of Cockney politics creeping in there “).
Also apologies for not mentioning QPR,Brentford,Leyton Orient,Crystal Palace Watford,,Wycombe Wanderers,Tooting & Mitcham and of course Bexleyheath & Welling Reserves.
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
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
joe morris
14th April 2024
Mike Bartram
11th April 2024
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
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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8th January 2024 at 10:42 am
There’s something so evocative and nostalgic for football fans the world over, in ‘revisiting’ old lost grounds.
Occasionally some remnants remain, with perhaps part of a wall or part or a stand or thre shape of a terrace, but often they are only still there in faded images and in our heads..
Great stuff Graham
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4th January 2024 at 10:13 am
A great idea and well executed. Thanks Graham.
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