Draft letter from Bas (1st draft)
To Whom It May Concern:
May I firstly introduce myself – I am Basil a six year old West Highland Terrier and official mascot of the Stroud Football Poets. ( see www.footballpoets.org) You may recall that you considered me for the post of England manager in the interregnum after the resignation of Mr. Keegan, but rejected me, presumably, on the basis of age.
I now feel that as a more mature dog, and British to boot, (or should it be paw? Woof! Woof!) I am much more worthy of consideration this time around. My ball skills and fitness are readily seen on my local Common as well as on the website mentioned above, whilst I have an almost instinctual ability to train sheep (and they are surely little different from your average footballer?). In addition, I watch football on the telly with a passionate avidity and leap out of my basket every time a goal is scored by whatever team. I need not draw your attention to the contrast this presents with the present incumbent.
Breeding, good taste and manners also prevent me from drawing any public attention to my spotless private life. I have been neutered, however, if you wish to know. This means, in consequence, that I am devoted to the toy dalmation that inhabits my back garden, and devoted to that inanimate dalmation alone. I now draw a veil over these matters of the heart but I am sure you see, once more, the contrast I represent with the current manager.
In addition, I have studied the two world wars in some detail, with especial reference to the trenches; Dunkirk; the Battle of Britain and the Blitz. I would find it easy, in consequence, to summon up an appropriate half time analogy to motivate the lads. In conclusion, I am sure that you will give this application the serious consideration it deserves. I enclose a SAE and eagerly await your reply – I would hope that I will not be rejected on the grounds of speciesism, however.
Yours faithfully
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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joe morris
8th October 2024
Crispin Thomas
6th October 2024
joe morris
6th October 2024
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
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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
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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.
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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!!!!
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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
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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.
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28th April 2024 at 5:59 pm
Thanks Denys. Yes your replay poem was superb.
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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.
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25th April 2024 at 7:33 pm
Hi Denys,
Thanks mate. I’ll do it now.
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25th April 2024 at 1:56 pm
Thanks Joe,
you might like to write a poem yourself on the same subject…
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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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