Football Poets

Bradford Recalled 11.05.10 + A February Welcome

1 BRADFORD RECALLED 11.05.10
2 A WELCOME IN FEBRUARY-NEW POETS’ POEMS

1 BRADFORD RECALLED

May 11th 2010 sees the 25th anniversary of the Bradford City fire tradgedy in which 56 Bradford and Lincoln fans lost their lives.
“The whole stand is on fire” were the actual words of the radio commentator that day, 25 years on this week Remembering 11th May 1985.Valley Parade.Bradford.56 died ,over 250 injured and burned. RIP .Our thoughts turn to them all.

2010 Editorial Note:
BBC’s Football Focus show commemorated the tragic occasion this past weekend & Gabby(formerly Yorath) who was there on the day with her dad, also ran a moving piece with an un-sung hero on the day on BBC Radio 5 on Tuessday 11th May .

The Whole Stand Is On Fire

“the whole stand is on fire” he cried upon my radio
but how it started to this day we still may never know
and who here can imagine the fear the heat the pain
but pray that such a day as this will never dawn again

what should have been a joyous game
promotion celebration
claimed lives of fifty six that day
and shocked this sorry nation
and in that dark inferno blaze
too horrible to dream
the lessons learned will ne’re replace
those lives that should have been

as bravery and tragedy
unfurled before our eyes
where fans risked life and limb and more
to save so many lives
so hard to not let anger grow
at things we can avoid
nor find a way to measure
the depth of all destroyed

I used to be nostalgic
for lovely wooden stands
those ancient crumbling terraces
that stretched across these lands
the rusty turnstile mayhem
and big crowd anarchy
that bumbled on for years and years
the way it used to be

for from that day we realised
in sadness and disgrace
while arguments may rage on long
they never can replace
nor bring back those who sat and cheered
all as that game began
when scarves were waved and sunlight shone
on trophy and on fan

no mighty modern structure
no chrome nor steel designs
can ‘ere erase or truly face
those tragic frightful times
we learned a million lessons
we looked to shoulder blame
to those who died and those with scars
we hang our heads in shame

and some will say that something came
to change our football homes
but what a price for luxury
if only we had known
if only this – if only that
for words will always fail
and can’t bring back the ones now gone
’tis all to no avail

“the whole stand is on fire” he cried
upon my radio
and how it started to this day
we still may never know
but still we can’t forget those scenes
the fear the heat the pain
and pray that such a day as this
will never dawn again

© CT Crispin Thomas 05

Football in the sky

In perpetuity, I see the flames
Flicker through my mind
In perpetuity, I see the names
Written on the wall
Forever that day is with me
But I do not wish it not
For fifty six reasons in me
It can never be forgot.

When May arrives, year after year
A shiver comes to me
I cannot help but shed a tear
But I know it will always be
Never forget!, Never forget!
I sing out loud and cry
Fifty six reasons in me
Watching football in the sky.

© KopKred

There have been some incredibly moving and heartbreaking poems on this site over the last five years, from our inception in June 2000, dedicated to those who lost their lives at Hillsborough and Heysel. I found only one other poem about that awful day at Bradford however .Please let us know if there are any other poems here about this awful day that I missed..

I felt it necessary to put down some thoughts. It would be so easy I feel, to pick fault with anything we say or write as bystanders, having not actually been at Hillsborough, Heysel or Bradford personally on those days and night. The images however are still as vivid and frightening though to this day. I cannot imagine for a moment what the experience of either of these tragedies must have been like for those thousands there and those who are no longer with us or indeed those among the 250 plus who suffered serious injuries and burns. Anyone who has experienced a real fire in a building will begin to sense how everyone in the ground and those watching on television would have been forever changed by these events. I just wanted to put my feelings down, that’s all, on what was such a sad and terrible year in football and life itself. For more info and commemorative details visit the Bradford City FC official site.

In February 2010, we welcomed the following new contributors to this site :

Mark Niel

James Scallion

Jimmy Lindsey

Ryan Williams

Tom Quinton

We welcome the following from Rossendale School

Harvey

Michael Kelly

Jasper Stanley

Click on the names above to see that person’s poem(s), or browse some selected first efforts below :

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A Career of Two Halves

So Beckham is doing a timeshare,
Playing for LA and Milan.
I think it’s a brilliant idea
Every player should follow his plan.

Wayne Rooney can timeshare with Watford;
Taste life outside the top flight.
Let’s see how flash his play is when
Away at Cardiff on a cold winter’s night.

Bring Ronaldo to Luton!
British football at it’s grass roots
And if, just once, he tried diving
Defenders would kick him out of his boots.

Imagine, every premiership Prima Donna
Timesharing with the game’s lower leagues,
Far away from the fame and the limelight
Just the football, training and fatigue.

Then, perhaps, at last they’d realise
They’re living every boy’s dreams,
And might learn a little humility
And lead lifestyles a little less obscene.

© Mark Niel

Written in 2009 when David Beckham started playing for Milan when the American season finished. Mark did a season as “Sports Poet Laureate” for BBC Three Counties Radio in 2009

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Football Is A Beautiful Game

With the ball a perfect sphere
courteous touch we must revere
whack it hoof it or the like
will not bring us much delight

If the table is all you see
that’s the wrong mentality
for a game of buoyancy
is a mere accountancy

Put some flair in our formation
would be source of great elation
with the fun we’d find solution
to the panic for salvation

© Jimmy Lindsey

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The optimistic terrace

On a cold winters day
I watch my team play
They give it their all
But they don’t see the ball
The weight of their passes
That ref may need glasses
Demoted, promoted neither’s the case
Mid table’s the usual ambiguous place.

One day we’ll play this beautiful game
With all the elegance, without all the shame
Like that team off the telly with that wonderful grace
The one with the hairdos and electrified pace
Until that time I’ll keep turning the turn style and chanting the song
What else can I do but support my team strong?
In summary.
Come on you yellows, come on you blues, come on you reds for god’s sake don’t lose.

© jamie scallion

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The Beautiful Game

I’m forever slaying lions
Disarming gunners too
Harry’s cowboys have lost their spurs
And Stamford Bridge is blue

The seagulls are lost in the valley
And the eagles have lost their spark
Warnock looks like a ranger
And there’s a shoot out at Upton park

The toffees are stuck to the table
And Anfield’s seeing red
Rooney’s scored a hatrick
He scored two goals with his head

South Africa’s calling
and things are looking up
The English lions are roaring
As we lift the World Cup

© quintonta81jr27022010

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A Millwall Passion

I never realised how much Millwall means to me
my beloved lions my wonderfull M.F.C
My heart beats hard as they go to score,
we all jump up, cheer, shout and roar,
those raging lions are sometimes slow
what goes on in their heads we will never know.

They race to the goal like their tails are on fire,
we want them to succeed that’s the desire!!.
As we play on and win the game
we chant our hero ……. what’s his name ..
.. Neil Harris, Neil Harris come on son,
you make us proud you’re the one.
As we leave the Den, our heads held high,
full of excitement we wave bye bye…..
those sad away fans coming all this way
to see their team lose in dishonour and shame.
Remember one thing, we’re not alone
we’re a Pride of South Londoners and this is our home!!

© Ryan Williams

COME ON YOU LIONS!!!!!

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Kick It Out – acrostic

Keep the games fair.
In the match it doesn’t matter what you wear.
Choose to be nice and try to care.
Kick it out we’re nearly there.

In this world we are the same
Together we can change the game.

Over a time racism has got worse
Understand and try to stop this curse.
Together we will stop it now.

© Michael Kelly

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Blackburn Rovers Acrostic

Black or white
Let’s not get racist
Altogether were one team
Care about players not their skin
Kick racism out don’t keep it in
Black or white
Under one roof
Racism is wrong
Not under our roof!

Racism needs to stop
One game one community
Very soon
Everybody needs to know
Racism needs to
Stop!

© Jasper Stanley

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Blackburn Rovers – Kick it Out Acrostic

Be nice to everyone
Let’s not get tight
A lot of people are black and white
Colours do not matter
Kick it out and have a chatter
Being different is okay
Understanding is the right way
Remember racism isn’t smart
No one should take part

Racism isn’t clever
Or smart
Very horrible get a heart
Each of us can make a change
Racism is very
Strange

© Harvey

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