‘A Century Apart’ Wharton & Elliott in verse -Review
‘A Century Apart’ written by Peter Daniel
Illustrations by Ted Smith Orr.
Creative Energy Publications
It’s always good to come across football poetry publications that involve fellow working poets and contributors to this site whilst
also embracing subjects close to our hearts . So with a moving forward by Phil Vasili, this latest ‘soft back’ from ‘Creative Energy’ (‘Football Pure Poetry 1 & 2’ etc; ) is a worthy and commendable offering .
In poetry form, this book covers and compares the lives of both Arthur Wharton, England’s first black professional footballer in 1886 and Paul Elliott MBE (Charlton, Chelsea etc;) almost a hundred years later in 1981. Set in verse by Daniel and accompanied by trade-make Smith-Orr illustrations, ‘A Century Apart’ offers the reader an insight into the black contribution to football and over a hunded years of black people’s experience of living in Britain.
“When the goals flew past him the insults would begin
His talent couldn’t shield him from the taunts about his skin” P.Daniel.
Peter Daniel of Westminster Archives, was virtually single-handedly responsible for externally launching the Education Through Football programme , now a regular part of life at Stamford Bridge. He championed Chelsea’s first ever black player – Paul Canonville’s story of racist abuse from fans and much more through the delivery of poetry and art workshops to children iin schools and libraries involving myself, Ted S-O top Zimbabwean poet Albert Nyathi , Michael Foreman and the Chelsea pensioners.
As a result, and now with it’s own Hub Study Support Centre, Canonville has been re-discovered and taken back into the Chelsea fold undertaking Anti-Racism workshops regularly for the club . Paul Elliot continues to represent Kick It Out internationally .
Hot on the heels of the harrowing award-winning ‘Black & Blue’
from Canonville, (Headline) this book is another timely reminder of our oft-forgotten and sinister British past, in which Arthur remains a sad but remarkable symbol of stuggle against oppression .
In Vasili’s own introductory words Wharton was ” a metaphor for both excellence and weakness”.’
The Editor – Crispin Thomas
Copies are available at £6.00 each (incl of Postage & Packing)
from:
Creative Energy Publications, 365 Homesdale Road,
London SE25 4PN
For further enquiries and information contact :
tsopoetryshow@hotmail.co.uk
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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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Latest Poems
Crispin Thomas
2nd May 2024
joe morris
2nd May 2024
joe morris
28th April 2024
Richard Williams
26th April 2024
joe morris
25th April 2024
Denys E. W. Jones
25th April 2024
kevin halls
23rd April 2024
Alex Saynor
23rd April 2024
joe morris
23rd April 2024
Crispin Thomas
22nd April 2024
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
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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23rd April 2024 at 3:59 pm
Hi Crispin,
Yes sorry mate. Villa are still in Europe. Mistake rectified.
Cheers
Joe
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20th April 2024 at 12:04 pm
Hi Joe
Shouldn’t your title read your poem Farewell Europe England to everyone exccept Aston Villa ?
I know you mention them in your poem , but I do feel sorry for Villa re the national press .
Largely ignored. the hype was was all about Man City & Arsenal with a bit of a nod to the Hammers..but hardly a mention of Villa..
So well done to them
C
.
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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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