Farewell
In the past fortnight, we bid a sad farewell to two Football icons – not World renowned, but they’ve played their part to ensure that they’ll live on in local & National folklore.
Tributes to Ian Porterfield and Ollie Byrne below, plus tributes to Pavarotti, who will always be associated to the football fraternity via his famous rendition of Puccini’s Nessun Dorma, used by the BBC as their anthem for Italia ’90.
Ian Porterfield, R.I.P.
You shocked the mighty Leeds
With your FA Cup winner
You became a household name
We even talked of you over dinner
You’ll forever be remembered
Part of the folklore of ’73
And on Wearside they mourn you
That much is plain to see
But there’s appreciation elsewhere :
Fond memories down at the Bridge
Also in Armenia, Zambia, Trinidad & Tobago
World Cup Qualification – you took them to the ridge
© Clik the mouse, 11th September 2007
Ian Porterfield, died Tuesday 11th September, 2007, aged 61
BBC obituary :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6984981.stm
Ollie Byrne, R.I.P.
Shelbourne 4 Limerick 37 0
In the night that was in it,
How else could it end?
The applause for a minute
Brought a lump to each throat.
Limerick 37
Just could not compete,
As we sent him to heaven
Upon a high note.
In the night that was in it,
Emotions ran high.
We needed to win it
And win it in style.
Our financial folly
Has made grown men cry,
But the mem’ries of Ollie
Make stony hearts smile.
In the night that was in it
Each shot found its mark.
The song of the linnet
Was never so sweet.
Poor Lim’rick were caught up
In events off the park,
As circumstance brought up
A crushing defeat.
© Peter Goulding 12th September 2007
In the week we buried Shels legendary supremo Ollie Byrne, Limerick never stood a chance
Italia ’90
That tenor could sing
and I know nothing Opera.
Top of the World Cup.
© John Cox 06 September 2007
I can’t remember any other World Cup songs.
Pavarotti, R.I.P.
Italia 90 :
It’ll long be remembered
For all the big moments …
Pearce’s penalty miss
Packie Bonner’s penalty save
O’Leary’s penalty conversion
Irish pubs’ submersion
Platt’s over the shoulder hook
Gazza’s lachrymonious lapse
Lineker’s concerned : “Boss ‘av a look”
The big scoring little man, Toto Schillaci
The Rijkaard – Voller spat
Roger Milla making love to the corner flags
Waddle’s mid tournament scalping
Plus all the ensuing gags
And of course
The big finish
From the Big Man …
Every time he reaches that crescendo …
Even when I hear it now
It sends shivers up my spine
Song & tournament – so sublime
And all too often it happens, that copycat moment …
Clik ‘has a Gazza’
That year Pavarotti won so many new non-Opera fans
With that rendition of Nessun Dorma –
What a performer!
© Clik the mouse, 07.09.2007
The heavenly choir now has another great performer.
Pavarotti died 06.09.2007.
From BBC Editorial :
In Puccini’s aria, probably the most celebrated moment is the climax, when the word “Vincero” (meaning “I will win”) is sung three times, with the third being the most dramatic – and this was where Pavarotti hit his most thrilling, highest note.
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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