Match Of The Day Football Poets Sun 23rd Oct 7.30am
MATCH OF THE DAY
SUNDAY OCT 23RD 7.30AM
You can catch a great bunch of really enthusuastic kids working on and reading their poems on Racism on Match of The Day on Sunday Oct 23rd at 7.30am… so set your alarms and videos ..or recordable DVDs i guess! The Kick It Out Anti-Racism Football Poetry workshop was run by Crispin Thomas of The Football Poets and took place at Fulham FC Study Centre, at Craven Cottage on Wednesday 19th October.Also present were Fulham players who were brilliant chipping in with help on poem-writing and eventually selecting the best poems to win tickets for the Liverpool game.It was a particluarly poignant day at the home of Johnny Haynes,with the beautiful flowers and tributes adorning the ground gates for a true legend..the great Johnny Haynes.
We’re a little behind on new names on the site as we approach 7000 poems, it’s hard keeping up with all..but we’ll get there…so this from August….
Incredibly, we have only one new poet to welcome this month. Take a bow,
Shaun Williams, Southampton fan.
We should of course, welcome in the new Premiership season, 2005 / 2006.
We do welcome back, two of our European friends, who have posted again after absences of over a year :
Flemming Mclind, from Denmark.
And Yodi Iwan from Germany.
Both their latest contributions are featured below. We are always happy to highlight the fact that this site is appreciated far and wide.
Possibly there is another new poet contributing to the site (I have my reservations) ….. if so, welcome Brigante. (Carlito?) Their poem below.
But of course, the BIGGEST, LOUDEST and MOST WELCOME welcome has to go to …. Our new fellow editor ….
PARRY MAGUIRE.
We’re really thrilled to have her on board. She has been such a valued contributor for many years, and now her quality shines out from an editorial perspective.
We Three Saints
Come on lads put on your shirts,
paint stripes upon your face,
its Saturday and we are off to that very special place,
St. Marys is the name and Football is the game,
where the boys in red and white seek the glory and the fame.
The Arena by the ocean draws us to its core,
ninety minutes of excitement,
win, lose or draw,
floodlights in the distance kick off not far away,
questions all unanswered will we win today,
the fans all stand and have a drink at Le Tiss’ feet,
and we pace forward with some purpose down the red and white filled street.
We are at our place of worship and we are loyal and we are true,
and we don’t like any other teams especially those in blue!
through the gate and up the steps,
we observe the hallowed turf,
Niemi, Beattie, Phillips its time to prove your worth.
Heart is beating faster,
tension starts to build,
as our heroes emerge from the tunnel and walk onto the field,
hold on to your hats my boys the actions on its way,
90 minutes of drama on the menu here today.
Ooh’s and Ah’s, anxiety, emotions they run high,
please don’t let the others score,
you’ll see a grown man cry!
but wait a minute there he goes,
Fernandes down the right,
and Phillips he heads in the cross,
much to our delight.
Well we hold out to the whistle,
three points are in the bag,
but Saints are very modest and I resist the urge to brag,
we dissect the match when walking home in a series of replays,
but my sons these times I spend with you are truly Golden Days.
© Shaun Williams
A poem written by Shaun Williams to his two sons Tom (11) and Liam (9) Christmas 2004
Life we dream
The breeze upon our faces
on terraces and benches
with laughter and love
trust and belief
be there and console
revel in the glory
fight on
even when the fight’s done and told
Give what we can
watch them do what we cannot
jump with athletic joy
cry tears at the final whistle
whether we win or lose
pride ourselves in our players
our team, our muse.
Forgo everything
when the needs must
see them in a pub
watch them at home
the back of a bus
on a small black and white
on the worst television of all
in a hotel lobby
or at Anfield’s bustling ball
Thrill at the kicks, shots, passes and runs
sit upon the terraces and benches
and learn
the breeze of history upon our faces
teaches us so much of life
of what we’ve seen
other than the life we own
of the life we dream
of the life we dream
© Brigante 23/8/05
We`re Rubbish And We Know It
WHO cares about winners medals, TVspots and glory?
WHO cares about trophys, spoiled kids and stories?
WHO cares about millions, golden watches and honours?
WHO cares about the devils, the blues or the gunners?
OUR cupfinal is a lower division bottomclash, year after year,
OUR cupfinal is standing together staring at our worst fear,
OUR cupfinal is heartattacks when everything is over the top
OUR cupfinal is a late goal somewhere else meaning: We stay up
OH YEAH, In my weirdest wildest dreams, we win the triple in style
OH YEAH, for a taste of the league I`d walk the world and a mile
OH YEAH, sure I`m jealous and I`d love to go to Europe and shout
but maybe hard work without millions is what football is really about?
© Flemming McLind
Dedicated to my favourite club, Aarhus Fremad, playing in the Danish 2nd division.
I had a hard time translating it, but I hope the outcome is all right?
And I hope some British and Irish supporters can recognize the feelings in it.
Enjoy 🙂
To Michael Owen
Owen, we want to ask you
What will you do in Bernabeu?
Less chance of playing by Luxemburgo
We think better for you to go
With Rooney as your pair
England duet would be fair
Behind you two, we have Gerrard
Owen, sometimes life is hard
With Beckham by the right
Figo has then out of sight
With Raul and Robinho
Owen, less chance, do you know?
Owen, where was your school?
Will you consider Liverpool?
We’ll watch you with relish
Along the line up with the spanish
Owen, think of the future
Seasons lead you to be mature
We want to see you in Germany
But then before, you must play many
Owen, you are no longer cute
You should not be a substitute
In other club you’ll get more chance
We need you both to beat the France
With the offers still going
You should consider of moving
But then you know the best
Owen, maybe you think it’s test
With every minutes goes, bitter
In second half you’ll join later
As substitute, you’ll save the team
Owen, is it really your dream?
© Yodi Iwan Aug 22 2005
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
Crispin Thomas
22nd April 2024
Denys E. W. Jones
21st April 2024
joe morris
20th April 2024
joe morris
17th April 2024
Clik The Mouse
15th April 2024
Mike Bartram
15th April 2024
joe morris
14th April 2024
Mike Bartram
11th April 2024
joe morris
11th April 2024
Alex Saynor
9th April 2024
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
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
.
See in context
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!
See in context
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
See in context
4th January 2024 at 10:13 am
A great idea and well executed. Thanks Graham.
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19th November 2023 at 1:45 pm
Thanks Gacina, glad you liked it, and I have just posted a new one about our points deduction…
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7th November 2023 at 6:34 pm
Today B.B.C post on F.B was titled:Premier League reduced to 18 clubs? I really think it may be interesting to see if this would be Everton’s nightmare and this poem is well suited for this concern.If there would be more difficult battle to stay if there were 18 teams.Great poem and somehow true.
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