An April Welcome
In April 2007, we welcomed the following new contributors to this site :
non humphries
Richard Brooks
jessie
Michael Bibby
Rosie Jones
Paul Johnson
From Mitchell Intermediate, Texas , we welcome :
From McCullough Jr. High, Texas , we welcome :
Clair Spaulding (a very clever ten to one poem)
A blast from the past – a welcome return to
For a wonderful review of a Football Poetry book, click here :
Gareth Southgates’s Proverb
The review is written by one of our esteemed contributors : Eddie Gibbons
Click on the names above to see that person’s poem(s), or browse some selected first efforts below :
Burnley Fc
“Just like watching Brazil More like watching The Bill”
Like Thomas Gradgrind Hard Times fall
Yet Turf Moor faithful they recall
This grand auld club played side by side
Old Trafford, Anfield and the like
The ‘Duck and Boot’ the locals den
Whilst in ‘The Turf’ they’ll tell you when
The FA Cup was held up proud
In Claret ribbons streaming out.
© Michael Bibby
Foul? No Way!
I push past a player, maybe a little too hard
She falls to the ground, hand clutching her knee
The ref holds up a bright yellow card
My team starts to argue with him
“Foul? No way!” I shout angrily
I roll my eyes
Ref’s these days
Never agreeable
Foul
© Clare Spaulding
It’s a ten to one poem…
Football
I love the feeling of the game,
But don’t want to loose and be put to shame.
I cheer them on hoping to win,
And when they do I have a big grin.
I love how they dribble with all that pace,
And I see how fast they run as if they were having a race.
Football is the way of life,
Like a bread being cut by a knife.
It is the game where legends are born,
When football can make many things form.
The one and only football.
© Donovan McNair
Our Dad
Our Dad he played just like a King
Upon the pitch was sound
Jumpers goalposts we would fling
And left ’em on the ground
Our Dad he raced and leaped up high
With goals he wore the crown
Til skills like dreams all went to seed
And scattered on the ground
Our Dad he never made the grade
But Saturday’s we were proud
With bursting hearts and bloodied knees
We cheered him in the ground.
© Rosie
The Post and Destiny
I stand in my destiny,
between jubilation and disaster.
The appocalypse approaches,
my heart beats ever faster.
My hands itch in anticipation.
she takes a shot with a question to answer.
Success the vocation,
of a skillful dancer.
It cannot be allowed,
though their movement is refined,
the ball’s in my hands,
the horror has declined.
© non humphries
I know this is an extremely self -flattering summary of an inter-school game, but as an aspirant keeper i am proud of this moment. i would also like to point out that i owe that success and indeed any other future successes to my lucky gloves. seriouly, without
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
John Gilbert Ellis
28th November 2024
joe morris
26th November 2024
Denys E. W. Jones
26th November 2024
Gacina Bozidar
26th November 2024
Wynn Wheldon
26th November 2024
joe morris
17th November 2024
Crispin Thomas
17th November 2024
kevin halls
10th November 2024
joe morris
10th November 2024
Clik The Mouse
10th November 2024
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
27th November 2024 at 5:55 am
‘You’re Supposed To Be At Home’ is an excellent and moving poem Denys.
You start off thinking it’s just about another oft-sung chant, one we personally heard a lot last season throughout our second relegation in a row here at Forest Green(FGR) ! I always love poems where you think they are saying one thing and then they suddenly pull you deeper to somewhere or something else else.
I’m currently helping in a local school for FGR in a voluntary capacity using football to help young students with reading. At an upcoming session we will tackle racism, just like we did in workshops at football schools and grounds when we first started this site 24 years ago. I’m gonna try and weave your poem into a session.
We’ve added it to the Anti- Racism/Kick It Out section under Crispin’s Corner.
Best C
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26th November 2024 at 1:59 pm
Great poem and great to see you back Wyn.
Don’t leave it so long next time my friend!
More please.
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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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