October review
What a month!
We bid a sad farewell to Ken Bigley, Bill Nicholson and John Peel.
May they Rest In Peace.
In October, we welcomed first time submissions from the following :
Matt Phillips
Graham Bell
Mark Thomas
mottman
Tony Walsh – a Manchester-based performance poet
Johnny Wallman
James Edgar
Neil MacLeod
S B Ingle
Jim Ramsay
Steve Wickham : Steve would be familiar to most of you as one of the members of The Waterboys (one of my very favourite bands).
We also welcomed into the world, young George Wilkinson, son and heir to one of our regular poets, Grimsby Town fan Alistair Wilkinson.
We also saw a welcome return from poets who’ve not posted in a long while : Declan Houton and Joe Reid.
Trying to choose a poem to highlight this month, was really difficult.
I’d recommend :
Declan Houton’s ‘Wayne Rooney Debut’
Parry Maguire’s tribute to Ken Bigley : ‘No Football in Liverpool Today’
‘Crispins Corner’ editorial page for John Peel tributes and also Crispin’s recent workshops
Mottman’s Hillsborough tribute : ‘Cry me a tear’ which includes the names of all 96 victims
Graham Bell’s ‘Giants of Glasgow’
& emphasising the ‘welcome’ theme :
Alistair Wilkinson’s proud daddy ditty : ‘Thank You Uncle Peter’ and also his plaintive ‘How Can I Persuade Him?’
Alan McKean added his congratulations with the following contribution :
Blank Canvas
A new blank canvas
Arrives with each new baby
Ensure its best use
© Alan McKean
I’d like to take that theme and offer :
Haiku for George Wilkinson
A gaping net
Dad’s determination decrees
A Grimsby catch
© Clik the mouse
In the end I’ve plumped for three poems, starting with this poignant double from Mark Thomas :
Friday Night
Football match
Friday night
Steaming cup of tea
Big rosette
Bobble hat
Dad sitting next to me
Big arms
Keep me warm
A love for all to see
Floodlights
Come on Whites!
Lets’s get two or three
Hear my prayer
Take me back there
If only that could be …
© Mark Thomas
Like many Liverpool supporters from the Birkenhead side of the River Mersey, my first “live” football experience was watching Tranmere Rovers. Great memories. Thanks Dad.
The Empty Seat
From his seat he watched Jack Balmer, Billy Liddell then Roger Hunt
Then his favourite was Kevin Keegan when he played up the front
From that seat he clapped and cheered each and every Ian Rush goal
And how he idolised Robbie Fowler when he filled the goal king’s role
By the time of Michael Owen’s reign he found it harder to take his seat
That Scouse spirit was still willing but the flesh it was growing weak
Djibril Cisse is the new young gun. He had dreamed of seeing him score
Ticket in pocket, he passed away. Never quite made it through his door
The turnstiles clicked and the stadium filled. The Kop turned up the heat
Nobody gave thought to where he was. He was now the empty seat
Dedicated to all who have been “the empty seat”.
© Mark Thomas
CONCENTRATED EFFORT
Concentrating.
Really hard.
It is
really hard
To focus on the league
When our eyesights been ruined
by trying to make out faded sepia faces
Of our last cupwinning team
© S B Ingle 28.10.2004
Yes. Norwich City won the Frist Division Championship last season.
No. “Grandad” hasn’t stopped going on about the ’59 cup run.
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.
See in context
25th April 2024 at 1:56 pm
Thanks Joe,
you might like to write a poem yourself on the same subject…
See in context
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.
See in context
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
See in context
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
See in context
8th January 2024 at 4:45 pm
Thanks!
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