John Lyall, R.I.P.
To continue a tradition is hard enough
But then, to enhance it ….
John Lyall did just that
And won the ‘earts of the ‘Appy ‘Ammers
Plus many a neutral too
And while they’ll forever be blowing bubbles
At Upton Park, they’ll always hark
Back to a mentor and his successor –
Ron Greenwood and John Lyall, may they Rest in Peace
Ironed into the memories, of the faithful in Claret and Blue
Quote from Trevor Brooking :
“He was a much-loved figure at Upton Park and had a lasting influence on the club’s development and the way the team played.”
“Like Ron Greenwood before him, he encouraged good, open attacking football and all West Ham fans will be deeply shocked by the news.”
“He was a man of great integrity and loyalty and anyone who knew him would have nothing but good things to say about him. ”
John Lyall succeeded Ron Greenwood as West Ham manager in 1974.
They won the FA Cup twice, in 1975 and 1980. They beat Arsenal in 1980 – the last team from outside the top-flight to win the FA Cup.
John left West Ham in 1989. He took over at Ipswich in 1990 and guided them to the Premiership. He retired from management in 1994.
Our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
The Academy Has Closed Its Doors.
The academy has closed its doors
The sombre mood is but the cause
The graduates are still reeling
From the depth of public feeling
He is gone who put them on
The dizzy road to fame
Whilst all the while instilling in them
The beauty of the game
No kick and rush at this school
No cloggers who will maim
The art of sweet simplicty itself
To enjoy and entertain
As East London mourns a gentleman
Who gave young kids their start
How many top stars still playing today
From this man honed their art?
© kjp raymond 2006
John Lyall R.I.P.
Who rose right up through the ranks to become the guvnor at The Bolyn.
(Upton Park)
The famous West Ham academy in East London is where some of London finest young footballers learned their trade with the emphasis always on playing the game the right way to entertain the punters.
peace
kev.
Honesty & Lyallty
for honesty and loyalty
with diginity and pride
what more can club or fan demand
from one who’s steered your side?
John Lyall was the business
and I can see those tears
shedding down at Upton Park
his home for all those years
from ‘old school’ to golden rule
for three decades and more
the fifties to the eighties
he left his mark for sure
I always loved his hairstyle too
that throwback swept aplomb
his calmness on the touchline
he learnt from old King Ron*
another master leaves us
another talent goes
another age another page
that’s football I suppose
but honesty and loyalty
such diginity and pride
what more can club or fan demand
from one who’s steered your side?
© Crispin Thomas 06
Shine On.John Lyalll ( 24 February 1940 – 18th April 2006))
…. classic English footballer and manager..
*Ron Greenwood, -under whom John Lyall learned his playing and managerial trade at West Ham.This after signing professional in 1957 and remaining there until 1989! 34 years at one club (he initially worked as a member of the office staff)…
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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28th March 2024
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Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
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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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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6th November 2023 at 4:43 pm
Ashington FC have launched a £50,000 Crowdfunder appeal to meet the increased costs of winning promotion last season, to pay for urgent stadium improvements, travel costs and equipment
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