Ron Greenwood R.I.P.
The ‘appy ‘ammers
Not so joyful now
And the rest of football
Takes a respectful bow
For today we’ve lost
One of life’s Gentlemen
Even the Fourth Estate, wouldn’t berate
With their judgemental pen
To Ron’s family
We extend our sorrow
His guiding hand from Heaven
Could yet shape England’s tomorrow
From BBC.co.uk :
Former England and West Ham manager Ron Greenwood has died, aged 84, following a long illness.
Greenwood, who managed the national team between 1977 and 1982, died at his Suffolk home.
World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst said: “It would not be overstating the case to say that Ron was the single most influential figure in my career.
“He opened the door to the world of modern football and I consider it a privilege to play for him.”
Greenwood was West Ham manager from 1961 to 1974 and continued as general manager at Upton Park until 1977.
During that time, the club won the FA Cup for the first time in 1964 and won the European Cup Winners’ Cup the following season.
He took over as England boss after Don Revie’s surprise move to the Middle East and led the team to the 1980 European Championships and The 1982 World Cup in Spain.
As a player, he had spells at Chelsea, where he played in the 1955 Championship-winning side, Bradford Park Avenue, Brentford and Fulham.
He leaves a widow, Lucy, two children, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren
Ron Greenwood, affectionately remembered by so many in football.
I remember him as one of the more enlightened England managers.
I don’t remeber him (because I wasn’t born then) – but as a Chelsea fan fully respect the fact that he captained us to our first League Championship win in 1955.
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
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
See in context
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.
See in context
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!!!!
See in context
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
See in context
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.
See in context
28th April 2024 at 5:59 pm
Thanks Denys. Yes your replay poem was superb.
See in context
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.
See in context
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?
See in context