Football Poets

Fbk Anti Racism Poem of the Week+Memories

Canoville Emdad Rahman

Emdad penned this emotive poem after meeting ‘Canners’. Emdad was six years old when Paul Canoville made his debut for Chelsea in the 80s, so this is based on his discussion with Paul on meeting him and afer reading about his life.

The scenes described and comments in the verses here are reminiscent of some of the horror Canoville (the first black player to play for Chelsea) experienced in his short career. Emdad’s sensitively toned down the language but has presented Canners with a copy of an un-edited version.

As Emdad also notes, Football in England has improved much but there is work still to be done to stamp out racism. Canners works brilliantly with young people but surely there is a place for him in mainstream football? .

Editor Note:Thank you for sharing this Emdad.
They were dark , dark times indeed ~ Crispin.

For those unfamiliar with Canners ~ Click here :
.Paul Canoville: Chelsea pioneer on racism, rehab and redemption ~BBC Sport
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Index:
1: Football Memories & Nostalgia Poems
2: Hillsborough Poems / Remember The 96 15.04.89-15.04.13
3: Munich Remembered 6.2.58
4: Olympics/Paralympics Poems
5: RIP/ Tribute Poems. 6 What They’re Saying About Football Poets
7: Short History of Football Poets 8: Involvements/ Initiatives
9: Educational Involvements/Global.10:Annual Events covered.

1. Your Football Memories 2013 / 2012/ 2011 and 2010

We’ve only been archiving thesehere in thisc section 2010. From eulogies to stickers to Bobby Robson, Cantona, Maradona, l Shankly, the Kop at Anfield, the Cottage and being carried pitch-side on the hands of fans. From quests for an elusive Keegan card to Jools’ life of a table football player. With poignant reflections on the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s plus 40 years of Motty, the Ibrox Disaster, World War 2, Sounds, smells and walking to and from games. A bank for football memories in verse. Roy Of The Rovers, Istanbul, Marco Tardelli, Higuita, ‘young v old’ street games, Cup Finals of yesterday and ‘Cov Kev’s’ 80s visit to QPR.There are many more via the search button.

2013
21 Nov The Knots in the Lace Ianthe Exall
19 Nov The Mighty Magyars kevin halls
12 Nov When The Dynamo Came By (Revisited) Crispin Thomas
07 Nov Durban Derby Days Ianthe Exall
August 2013
09 Aug Once I watched a match on Ceefax mark merriman
July 2013
31 Jul Teenage Crush Karen Lindsay
25 Jul When They Lived Down Our Street
Andrew Detheridge
23 Jul A Walk in the Park for Derek Parkin
Robbie Kennedy Bennett
20 Jul Bickerstaff Bryan Murphy
18 Jul I Saw The Name Of ‘Sailor’ Hunter Robbie Kennedy Bennett
17 Jul Bobby Hundreds Anthony Arnott
15 May Claret and blue Harry Orr
14 May Ghosts of legends stuart ashworth
April 2013
11 Apr Hughie Curran Hung High In The Air Robbie Kennedy Bennett
10 Apr Who the hell are you ? The spurs poet
March 2013
08 Mar Bring It Back kevin halls
07 Mar John Lennon P Maguire
07 Mar Rock & Roll is the New Football
P Maguire
03 Mar The History Boys P Maguire
03 Mar The Echoes of Childhood P Maguire
03 Mar Fine dreams of Heaven (A Liverpool Child) P Maguire
03 Mar The Liverpool Way P Maguire
February 2013
14 A Scots Laddie Called Cameron Buchanan Robbie Kennedy Bennett
January 2013
21 Jan Musings From An LCC* Changing Room kevin raymond
26 Dec Christmas Eve Stuart Butler
24 Dec Christmas Truce of 1914 Emdad Rahman
November 2012
05 Nov First Match (Trilogy) Phil Whyte
Sept 2012
29 Sep It’s a Man’s Game Football M’bet
27 Sep Back to the 60’s kevin halls
25 Sep Totò Schillachi Emdad Rahman
22 Sep Those Were The Days Phil Whyte
August 2012
16 Aug Sunderland 0– 2 Everton FA Cup QF 2011-12 Simon Moore
15 Aug Plastic Pitch Astro Turf
June 2012
05 Jun Here’s To The Team. (For My Wyatt)
kevin raymond
01 Jun Back In The Nineteen Fifties Crispin Thomas
01 Jun Stuart Butler
May 2012
20 May El Diego Nicholas Griffiths
20 May King Eric the Red Stan Warburton
April 2012
02 Apr Looking through old Scrapbooks and Annuals kevin halls
01 Apr Ginga Bob terry oldham
March 2012
31 Mar R.I.P. Our Big Man terry oldham
26 Mar My Summer of Love (Molineux Days)
Steve Hill
24 Mar Memories of Wembley mark merriman
15 Mar He smokes cigars he drinks champagne
Lesley Palmer
13 Mar Waiting for Roy of The Rovers Crispin Thomas
05 Mar Shankly in the Sixties Dachlan Cartwright
04 Mar Roger Byrne Dachlan Cartwright
01 Mar The Bridge of the ‘Rising Sun’ Apollo Gees
01 Mar Oh for another few inches ! * chris barber
February 2012
29 Feb The Birth of Everton Dachlan Cartwright
26 Feb The Old Days Dennis swift
13 Feb Touchlines Matthew Paul
13 Feb Boro Days louis spence
12 Feb Bill ‘Dixie’ Dean Dachlan Cartwright
07 Feb The Battle of Wrexham Dachlan Cartwright
January 2012
16 Jan Chalkie mark merriman
10 Jan On being a Boro fan louis spence
09 Jan Through a child’s eyes R Kydd
03 Jan The Seventies, And Today S B Ingle
03 Jan Goalkeeper Don Mullan
December 2011
31 Dec Oi Mister. Give It A Rest kevin raymond
30 Dec Mid Morning. St Stephens Day kevin raymond
23 Dec Dunlop and Macedo Gacina Bozidar
21 Dec LUFC 1987 Jason Stevens
20 Dec Let’s Get Physical kevin raymond
07 Dec The Hand of God Matthew Paul
06 Dec That Carlos Alberto Goal Chris Barber
November 2011
25 Nov The Spion Kop Mike Bartram
17 Nov Down The Dell Philip Douch
17 Nov Southampton’s Secret Factory Philip Douch
02 Nov Giving the boots the boot S B Ingle
October 2011
29 Oct The Season We All Believed Billy Pendrill
28 Oct Jumpers 4 Goalposts 0 Clik the mouse
14 Oct Fifty years of Football kevin halls
10 Oct Knighted by a Wagstaffe Cross
Robbie Kennedy Bennett
06 Oct 40 Years Of Motty Crispin Thomas
September 2011
30 Sep Bill Shankly Emdad Rahman
28 Sep @ron ronnie ronaldo Ethan
20 Sep A Celebration kevin raymond
17 Sep Being a supporter of.. ron dixon
16 Sep Fifteen years Peter Goulding
14 Sep René “El Escorpio” Higuita Emdad Rahman
12 Sep Land Mark Darren O’Keeffe
05 Sep Can You Hear That Emily Williams
04 Sep On Tommy Burns Patrick J. Murray
04 Sep The smells of Football kevin halls
02 Sep Man of the People (Bill Shankly) mike bartram
August 2011
25 Aug Enfield Playing Fields 1989
Laurence Cotterell
25 Aug The Wind off the Thames Mike Hopkins
01 Aug Jimmy Hill kevin halls
July 2011
27 Jul In Awe Of Your Foe kevin raymond
27 Jul When Saturday came around. John Oliver
20 Jul Hooked On A Feeling kevin raymond
09 Jul My introduction to a fantastic dream.
Stuart Ashworth
07 Jul Snatched Memory: Bobby Robson
Calvin Erlington
06 Jul The Glorious Fields of Anfield Road
Mike Bartram
04 Jul Now & Then kevin raymond
01 Jul Ibrox Calvin Erlington
June 2011
23 Jun Goodbye Part XVI Nathan L
23 Jun La Mano de Dios.1986. Oops CV kevin raymond
21 Jun Paul McGrath Emdad Rahman
21 Jun McGrath Emdad Rahman
20 Jun Stan Bowles Emdad Rahman
09 Jun Upon The Hands Of The Fans Sudbourne Primary
03 Jun A Hero That Could Fly Mike Bartram
01 Jun Peter McParland Emdad Rahman
May 2011
30 May The night Villa ruled Europe Emdad Rahman
29 May Shoe shine Joe Cullen
29 May Made in London Kevin Francis
28 May There is a place Kevin Nolan
26 MayThe way it used to be Kevin Francis
25 May Blow the whistle Kevin Francis
23 May Roger Osborne broke my heart Kevin Francis
21 May The Fisherman’s Song Mike Bartram
19 May Football Collections Jools Hampton
17 May The Sound of Music kevin raymond
16 May An Ode to Walter Scott McGhee
15 May The legendary Walter Smith Emdad Rahman
09 May Two heroes Gacina Bozidar
08 May 1991-Gazza Stripped Laurence Cotterell
06 May I (almost) subbed Martin Chivers Laurence Cotterell
05 May Where the heck is Dennis Law? Robbie Kennedy Bennett
01 May Song of the Old Sweeper Laurence Cotterell
April 2011
30 Apr Laudrup The Danish Prince Emdad Rahman
30 Apr Jairzinho Emdad Rahman
25 Apr The real damned United kevin halls
19 Apr The halfwayline terry oldham
25 Apr United in grief Clik the mouse
22 Apr The Liverbird and our history Stuart Ashworth
19 Apr André the Giant Darren O’Keeffe
16 Apr Le Carré magique Emdad Rahman
06 Apr The Life of a Table Football Player
Jools Hampton
March 2011
31 Mar In Praise Of The Underdog kevin raymond
31 Mar Streets of the Boro Gordon Farrel
24 Mar Walking From Games Crispin Thomas
23 Mar The Away Game kevin halls
22 Mar Ricky Villa’s solo moment Emdad Rahman
18 Mar Everton And Neretva Gacina Bozidar
06 Mar The Sky Blue Lament Jools Hampton
06 Mar The Rovers Stuart Butler
03 Mar Nostaalja S B Ingle
February 2011
23 Feb Roy of the Rovers Jools Hampton
21 Feb Field Of Dreams Jimmy Whelan
15 FebThe Real Ronaldo Darren O’Keeffe
14 Feb Ronaldo (Luiz Nazario de Lima)
Emdad Rahman
14 Feb Young versus Old in Irwell Road Simon Icke
01 Feb The Smell of Panini Stickers Jools Hampton
January 2011
30 Jan Saturday Afternoon Heaven. Jools Hampton
28 Jan Nat Lofthouse-The Legend . Ann Madden-Walsh
21 Jan A Lion Sleeps Tonight. jim dolbear
18 Jan The Lion of Vienna Nat Lofthouse Emdad Rahman
16 Jan Tanka-1970 Tony Lewis-Jones
16 Jan Chris Lawler Lol Ross
16 Jan The Lion of Vienna kevin halls
16 Jan Sleeping Lion Alan McKean
16 Jan No More A Wandering Nat Lofthouse Crispin Thomas
12 Jan Character Building? kevin raymond
11 Jan The Once Special F.A.Cup John Oliver
11 Jan Saturday On The Somme Andy Lockett
10 Jan Early Retirement Package Emdad Rahman
10 Jan Brisbane Road Steve White
09 Jan Kevin Keegan Picture Card Doug E Harper
07 Jan Burrows’ Ballon D’Or moment Emdad Rahman
07 Jan Game of two halves Greg Freeman
06 Jan The Centre Circle of Life Kevin Yates
05 Jan Stadio Artemio Franchi1983 kevin raymond
03 Jan Ibrox disaster 1971 Emdad Rahman
December 2010
29 Dec The Future of Football Andrew Detheridge
19 Dec Loftus Road ’82 Matthew Paul
12 Dec Roger Miller Traps Higuita Emdad Rahman
12 Dec Those Were The Days kevin halls
01 Dec Proud to Wear the Shirts mark merriman
November 2010
25 Nov Swapping Garrincha Kevin Halls
22 Nov I’m A Collector Get Me Out of Here Crispin Thomas
18 Nov Any stickers to swap ? John Oliver

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2 2012 Hillsborough Poems Selection
Remember The 96 15.04.89

With the truth finally out and justice it seems at last to happen, these are a selection of the poems we have received in the last 12 years which remember the lives of those 96 souls we lost . They commemorate the 23rd anniversary on Sunday 15th April 2012 of the tragic Hillsborough disaster, a human crush which occurred during the semi-final FA Cup tie between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest football clubs on 15 April 1989 at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England. The crush resulted in the deaths of 96 people, with a total of 766 other persons being injured. All of them were fans of Liverpool Football Club. New poems always welcome.

2013
23 Oct Never Came To Me Mike Bartram
20 May Heaven And Heaven Mike Bartram
29 Apr Goodbye Anne Mike Bartram
28 Apr Injustice Garyn Jones
20 Apr Anne Williams.-Heaven Sent.
jim dolbear
19 Apr A Place (For Anne Williams) Mike Bartram
17 Apr Let the Truth Come, When the Lies Fall Emily Williams
15 Apr Hillsborough – Gone but never forgotten Emdad Rahman
15 Apr Imagine Mike Bartram
15 Apr Today Mike Bartram
18 Mar Think On Mike Bartram
12 Mar The Hillsborough Disaster Tracey Clifton-Jow
09 Mar Mothers Day Love Mike Bartram
2012
24 Dec Justice reaches number 1 Emdad Rahman
24 Dec Christmas Number 1 2012 !! Mike Bartram
22 Dec Down the Long, Long Road Emily Williams
18 Dec Number 1 For Christmas Mike Bartram
05 Dec No Pity Mike Bartram
03 Dec Balloon stuart ashworth
30 Nov stuart ashworth .
Unusual red moon stuart ashworth
07 Nov ’10/99′ Mike Bartram
30 Oct Solidarity Has No Colours Mike Bartram
23 Oct Resigned Mike Bartram
18 Sep All Apologies Darren O’Keeffe
18 Sep A New Chapter (12/9/12)
Mike Bartram
16 Sep Ban them for life kevin halls
13 Sep The Truth is Out Emily Williams
13 Sep JFT96 P Maguire
13 Sep The Hand Of Justice Points The Finger
jim dolbear
13 Sep When The Truth Turns Blame To Shame Crispin Thomas
12 Sep The Truth Will Out.( Haiku ) jim dolbear
07 Sep Hillsborough Haiku Hy Koo
07 Sep Sept 12th 2012 Mike Bartram
23 Jul What Goes On Mike Bartram
17 Jun Six Minutes Past Three in the Afternoon
Emily Williams
16 Jun Hillsborough Dads Mike Bartram
27 Apr A City United ( JFT96 ) Tony Stapo
27 Apr J F T 9 6 – Y N W A Tony Stapo
21 Apr Mirror Mirror Mike Bartram
15 Apr Don’t Go Mike Bartram
15 Apr Abandoned Clik the mouse
13 Apr The Sad Times Mike Bartram
09 Apr Hillsborough Emily Williams
03 Apr The Stench of Lies Mike Bartram
01 Apr Aprils’ Angels Mike Bartram
16 Mar Closing Ranks Mike Bartram
21 Feb Wembley (26/2/2012) l Mike Bartram
16 Feb Justice For The Ninety Six Emily williams
30 Jan Every Hillsborough Story Mike Bartram
19 Jan Establishment Curse Mike Bartram
16 Jan Time goes by Emily Williams
2011
13 Dec Justice Tonight Mike Bartram
15 Nov Liverpool v Notts Forest (Abandoned) Mike Bartram
04 Nov How about a song? Emily Williams
04 Nov Bonfire? Mike Bartram
11 Sep A Flame Emily Williams
05 Sep An Ordinary Day Emily Williams
24 Aug The 22 Year Wait Emily Williams
09 Aug Sunderland AFC (Thanks!) Mike Bartram
24 Jul How can no one hear Emily Williams
22 Jul Hillsborough Jim Bell
06 Jul The Glorious Fields of Anfield Road Mike Bartram
23 Jun Every Hillsborough Story Mike Bartram
21 Jun I Dread to Think Emily Williams
20 Jun 6 Minutes Past 3 Mike Bartram
16 Jun Count to 96 Emily Wlliams
16 Jun I was not there but I know Emily Williams
15 Jun The Legacy of Hillsborough > Mike Bartram
10 Jun Justice Cal Mike Bartram
04 May Peter Beardsley’s Shot Mike Bartram
30 Apr The scouse end Mike Bartram
19 Apr Goodnight Mike Bartram
19 Apr Victims Without A Number Mike Bartram
19 Apr The Nightmare of Hillsbrough Mike Bartram
19 Apr Hillsborough Memorial Emdad Rahman
15 Apr 96 haiku Clik the mouse
15 Apr Ninety Six William Curtis
11 Apr Gone But Never Forgotten Emdad Rahman
2010
15 Ap Why Oh Why Oh Why? Crispin Thomas
15 Apr The 96 The Bard of Burnley
15 Apr Twenty One Today. jim dolbear
15 Apr Souls Of Our Departed. Ken Bushell

2000-2009 Selection
20 Years to Yesterday S B Ingle
Just A Minute S B Ingle
Heroes mark merriman
Empty seats – the 96 legacy Clik the mouse
96 Haiku Hy Koo
Milan – Real Madrid 19/04/89 Minuto di silenzio P Maguire
The Day Truth Died P Maguire
3.06pm P Maguire
19Darren O’Keeffe
Hillsborough> Daniel McDonagh
Hillsborough P Maguire
how do you sleep? poet1978
96 poet1978
Hillsborough Justice For The 96 SB Ingle
96 Reds We’ll Never Forget P.Maguire
Hillsborough Memorial Mark Thomas
Anyone Mark Ballard
Souls Of Our Departed Ken Bushell
Do You Remember P.Maguire
Justice Part 1 Tina Bass
April 15th Hillsborough DJ Bullen
A Terrace called Leppings Lane Emsy
Hillsborough Roses Alan McKean
Remembering Hillsborough P.Maguire
The Funny Thing About Justice Mike Nicholson
Hillsborough 15 Years On Redlady
Justice For The 96 P.Maguire
At Hillsborough Stephen A Owen
Hillsborough Robert Romans
96 tears Clik the mouse
May We Never Forget Nikki Young
For the 96 Shaun Maddy
Cry me a tear mottman
96 Reasons Mark Ballard
Are You Sorry? P Maguire
96 Angels P Maguire
Justice P Maguire
Sorry Mike Nicholson
His darkest disgrace> Mike Nicholson
Why did you do it? Mike Nicholson
Wishing for their old Mum Mike Nicholson
What colour justice? Mike Nicholson
Liverpool Justice Louise Ann Lacey
Why Do I Care?Tom England
Justice for what? Chris Murphy

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3 .Munich Remembered 6.2.58 – 6.2.13 Your Poems

Link: munich58.co.uk Munich 58 Tribute Site Features

On February 6th 1958, 23 people (of the 44 passengers & crew) lost their lives when a plane crashed at Munich Airport, while attempting to take off in snowbound conditions. Among the dead, were members of Manchester United Football Club, who were returning from a European Cup match, having just played against Red Star Belgrade. Munich was a re-fuelling stopover. Listed below as many poems as we can find on the subject, that have recently, or previously been, uploaded onto this website by many of our contributors, paying their respects. Further thoughts of course welcome.

2013
06 Feb Munich 1958 Emdad Rahman
04 Feb 2 Tragedies Mike Bartram
2012-2000 Selection
2012
04 Mar Roger Byrne Dachlan Cartwright
50 years on … – Clik the mouse
The Day We Lost A Football Team – Crispin Thomas
Like the Shirts! – Denys E. W. Jones
Standing Together – Mark Thomas
Sir Matt’s Babes – Emdad Rahman
(Just) a moment of silence – Emdad Rahman
sixty seconds of silence – Mike Garry
Munich anniversary – Clik the mouse
Munich, Feb 6th 1958 – Clik the mouse
Imagine if – Pogue Mahone
Diamonds in the Snow – Me
Belgrade: 6th February 1958 – Ted Smith-Orr
Matt Busby’s Babes Play On – Dennis Gould
Fifty Years Sixty Seconds – S B Ingle
6.2.58 – Alan McKean
8.8.3 – Alan McKean
2007
Glasnevin Cemetary – Peter Goulding
More Than A Football Club – Andy Lockett
Munich 58 – John Fisher
Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes – Gerry Lawrence
Lost For Words – S B Ingle
Forever & Ever – John Fisher
The Flowers of Manchester – Eric Winter
2006
Our Busby Babe – Caddy
The Day A Team Died – A.M.
2005
The Last of The Busby Babes – Poet Shot
2004
Sir Matt Busby – Parry Maguire
We Will Remember – Alan Laine
The Busby Babes – Paul Collins
Flowers of Manchester – Ben Andrew

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4 15 OLYMPIC/PARALYMPICS POEMS & 18 HAIKUS

Olympic Fooball POEM League Table / Leader Board (15)
OMPeake 4,K Halls 3,C Thomas 3,SB Inge 2,E.Rahman 2, Olymp 1
Olympic Football HAIKU League Table / Leader Board (18)
C Thomas 8, Olympian 5, A.McKean 3, E Gibbons 1 Olympian 1

06 Sep 2. Blind football /London 2012 Paralympics Emdad Rahman
06 Sep 1. Blind football/London 2012 Paralympics Emdad Rahman
01 Sep Blind Faith In The Game Pt 2 Crispin Thomas
11 Aug Korea take bronze haiku Crispin Thomas
11 Aug Mexican waves haiku Crispin Thomas
07 Aug Brazil stroll on haiku Crispin Thomas
07 Aug goal fest haiku Crispin Thomas
06 Aug Olympic Football kevin halls
05 what crowds haiku Crispin Thomas
05 taking part haiku Crispin Thomas
05 dream is over haiku Olympian
01 Aug team GB are through haiku Crispin Thomas
01 Aug Olympian kevin halls
01 Aug Team GB 2012 v Dick Kerr Ladies 1914 Crispin Thomas
01 Aug Land of Hope and Glory olympian
31 Jul no heeby GBs haiku Crispin Thomas
31 Jul Nut Crackers jim dolbear
30 Jul kevin halls olympian
30 Jul The Olympics come to Coventry kevin halls
29 Jul Sounds of Silence olympian
29 Jul Walk on with Hope olympian
29 Jul Absent Friends olympian
29 Jul game haiku 14 Alan McKean
29 Jul game haiku 11 Alan McKean
29 Jul game haiku 10 Alan McKean
28 Jul Leave It To The Women Crispin Thomas
27 Jul Twenty Twelve S B Ingle
27 Jul Olympics 2012, day 2 S B Ingle
26 Jul Olympics 2012, day 2 Oliver M Peake
26 Jul Olympics 2012, day 1 Oliver M Peake
26 Jul Team GB Haiku Eddie Gibbons

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5. RIP. Tribute poems for those greats no loger with us:
Ron Tindall, Gary Ablett ,Socrates, Gary Speed , Nat Lofthouse

2012
Ron Tindall 1935-2012 RIP
11 Sep Ron Tindall 1935-2012 RIP Crispin Thomas
Gary Ablett – 1965-2012
02 Jan Gary Ablett – 1965-2012 Emdad Rahman
Socrates RIP 1954 – 2011
06 Dec Socrates the good Doctor Emdad Rahman
05 Dec Socrates R.I.P. Clik the mouse
06 Dec Socrates (Acrostes) Crispin Thomas
05 Dec The Playmaker kevin raymond
2004 From the archives:
Socrates Signs for Garforth Town Parry Maguire
God Speed – Gary Speed RIP 1969-2011
17 Dec Speedo Jason Stevens
01 Dec Gary Speed, a human super hero S B Ingle
30 Nov Gary Speed Emily Williams
30 Nov weeping For A Welsh Warrior Jim Dolbear
29 Nov A Simple Tribute John Oliver
29 Nov For Gary MBE Steffan Evans
28 Nov Gary Speed R.I.P kevin halls
28 Nov Spede Tomas De Faoite
28 Nov Gary Speed -The Welsh Dragon Emdad Rahman
28 Nov God Speed Crispin Thomas
27 Nov Speedy Alan McKean

Nat Lofthouse 1925-2011
28 Jan Nat Lofthouse-The Legend . Ann Madden-Walsh
21 Jan A Lion Sleeps Tonight. jim dolbear
18 Jan The Lion of Vienna – Nat Lofthouse OBE Emdad Rahman
16 Jan The Lion of Vienna kevin halls
16 Jan Sleeping Lion Alan McKean
16 Jan No More A Wandering – Nat Lofthouse Crispin Thomas

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6WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT FOOTBALL POETS ..

“The only known collective of football poets in the world”
Today BBC Radio 4.

“The beautiful game in all its guises . In the street, in the ground, in the memory, in the heart . Poetry with balls! ” Michael Foreman

“Wacky funny and downright mad..but also serious ” Kick It Out

7A SHORT HISTORY ……..

Founded by Stuart Butler and our ex-webmaster Dave Cockcroft in June 2000 whose totally un-funded vision was achieved along with Crispin Thomas who with his drive and enthusiasm has kept the site as a living breathing adjunct to the wonderful world of Football, where who visit get to daub their own little mascara’d touches to the face of the Beautiful Game.

During these past 12 years the site has survived with 5 editors; Crispin, Stuart, Parry Maguire, Peter Goulding and Clik . For the past 7 years we have been without a webmaster and with no funding but have inherited and sustained a wonderful yet antiquated site which still runs even if wildly un-modernised, like some old but much-loved football ground.

There are on the site, poems about every aspect of Football, and also how Football reaches into people’s lives, in so many different ways. We take pride in the fact that we try to encourage fans of every age, gender, race, creed, colour, physiology and social standing to embrace the world of Football in poetry.

8INVOLVEMENTS /INITIATIVES MEDIA & BEYOND

Along the way , we have worked alongside, been associated/ aligned/appeared with and recognised by many worthy social initiatives to further encourage those aspirations including (in no particular order) :
‘Kick It Out’, ‘The British Council’ ,’National Literacy Trust, ‘Playing For Success’ ‘Kick Into Reading’,’ Reading The Game’, ‘Reading is Fundamental’, ‘Show Racism the Red Card’, ‘Word Up’, ‘Football Unites, Racism Divides’, ‘Give Us Back Our Game’ , ‘Philosophy Football’, ‘Dads Against Drugs ‘ , ‘Read A Million Words’, ‘The Guardian’, ‘The Independent’, ‘The Telegraph’, ‘They Think It’s All Over’ ‘When Saturday Comes’,’Match of The Day 2′ ‘Inside Out’ BBC 1 TV, ‘BBC Radio 5 Live’, ‘Sky Sports’, ‘BBC Radio Gloucestershire’ ‘Cheltenham Festival of Literature, ‘Cheltenham Poetry Festival’, ‘Glastonbury Festival’, ‘Stroud Fringe Festival’, ‘Larmer Tree Festival’, ‘Marlborough Jazz Festival ‘ ,and of course ‘The British Library’ who archived us for posterity as one of only 1000 recommended sites and for which we are very proud.

9 EDUCATIONAL INVOLVEMENTS LOCAL & GLOBAL

We know we have a global reach, there are poems on the website from every continent on the planet. Our biggest restriction is that we can only currently accept poems in English.

We are also a conduit for countless schools, colleges and educational establishments across the globe – many of whom have sent in the fruits of their wonderful efforts. What a great vibrant contribution they make & also the community initiatives with poetic contributions from clubs we have directly inspired including Chelsea FC, Reading, Portsmouth, Cambridge United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and West Ham Utd (ELG) to name but a few..

In addition to extensive work in the UK at football clubs and comminutles Crispin has also along the way been invited by the British Council to perform and run workshops in Germany during the World Cup and in Porto at theri offcies and in ‘secondaria’ schools .

We are indebted to the many people who have championed the site including Jim Sells of The National Literacy Trust, Suzi Raymond and Wendy of Chelsea FC ,Peter Daniel of Westmister Archives, Jude at Fulham FC, Jennie at Reading SSC ,Piara Power and Lord Ousley at Kick it Out, Show Racism The Red Card, Football Unites Racism Divides and Liam Murtagh of King Edward V1 Morperth..we thank you .

Alongside its online presence and undoubted contribution to raising literacy standards Crispin has performed, run workshops and inspired hundreds of enthralled students at the following
Football Club Study Support Centres : AFC Telford, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea FC, Charlton Athletic, Colchester United, Everton, Forest Green Rovers, Fulham FC, Lincoln City, Mansfield Town, Nothampton Town, Portsmouth, Plymouth Argyle, Queens Park Rangers, Reading, Sheffield United, Stoke City, West Ham United & West Bromwich Albion.

There are too many individual contributors to mention – over 2000!!
The full list can be seen under the ‘Poets’ link and there are certainly many, more people who read and enjoy the poems on the website, including sections of the media, who have refercned us on many occasions and also make enquiries from time to time.

10ANNUAL EVENTS COVERED & COMMEMORATED

We have commemorated and continue to cover annual events and anniversaries of various football tragedies, e.g. Hillsborough, Heysel, Bradford, Munich Air Crash and the Christmas Truce of 1914. The various footballing events/ major competitions. From our inception at Euro 2000 to the FA Cup, African Cup of Nations, World Cups 02, 06 & ’07 (Women’s) and more recently with World Cup 2010. We hope there’ll be plenty more inspiration for all our past, present and future contributors! Regards

Clik. Ireland (Editor 2001-Present)

“Big thanks to Clik for being there through thick and thin, most especially when my wife was very ill. Much respect also to you all for contributing to support the site with your wonderfully diverse poems. I do hope that one day day we’ll have instant translation here and an up-dated site – with much requested exciting sections for us to share.. given that football is an international language.Keep on.
Crispin Thomas Butterow. Stroud (Editor 2000-Present )

“Of all the things I’ve achieved in my life, I do take pride in the recognition and success the site has achieved – and all from a simple idea originating in the back room of a pub in Stroud in 2000”.
Stuart Butler Rodborough Stroud 1.6.10 (Editor 2000-2005 )

Here are a few of our own earliest poems and a couple from just three of our long-time contributors and supporters.

Football Time Stuart Butler – 2000
Football Stuff Crispin Thomas 2000
Desperately Immature, But.. Peter Goulding- 2003
Young Versus Old In Irwell Road. Simon Icke- 2011
The Save of The Century Kevin Raymond – 2005
The Ghosts From the Playground P Maguire – 2005

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