Your RIP Poems
Your RIP / Remembrance Poems for those that we have lost. Published: 2000-Present ~
2023: John Motson; Gianluca Vialli; 2022 : John Jackson; Pelé; George Cohen; Chem Abad; Terry Neill; 2021 : Ray Kennedy; Ron Flowers; Roger Hunt; Jimmy Greaves; Gerd Muller; Frank Worthington; Peter Lorimer; Ian St. John; Bobby Kellard ; Colin Bell: 2020: Paolo Rossi; Gérard Houllier; Diego Maradona; Ray Clemence; Nobby Stiles; Jack Charlton; Norman Hunter; Peter Bonetti; Harry Gregg: Hans Tilkowski; 2019 : Justin Edinburgh; Stevie Chalmers; Billy McNeill; Tommy Smith; Gordon Banks; Emiliano Sala; Hugh McIlvanney; 2018: Joe Fascione; Roy Bentley; Alex Young; Tommy Lawrence; Ray Wilkins; WW1 Centenary; 2017: Ronnie Moran; Alex Young; Ugo Ehiog; 2016: Johan Cruyff; ACF Chapocoense Air Crash ; 2015: Howard Kendall; Dave Mckay; Matthew Harding; Ron Springett; 2014: James Alexander Gordon; Alfredo Di Stefano; Sandy Jardine; Tom Finney; Bert Williams; Eusébio; 2012:, Ron Tindall; Gary Ablett; 2011 Socrates; Gary Speed; Nat Lofthouse; 2010: Keith Alexander; 2009: Archie Baird; 2007: Alan Ball: 2006: Peter Osgood; 2005: George Best; Johnny Haynes; 2004: Bill Nicholson ;1994 Andrés Escobar; 1993: Bobby Moore; 1990 :Matt Busby;Lev Yashin; 1989: Hillsborough Disaster (See Your Hillsbrough Poems.) 1985 Heysel Stadium Disaster ; Bradford City Fire Disaster; 1980:‘Dixie’ Dean; 1971: Ibrox Disaster 1971 ; 1958: Duncan Edwards; Munich Air Disaster (See ‘Your Munich Poems’ ) ;1930: Arthur Wharton; 1918: Walter Tull;
Click on poem title for poem. Click on poet name for poems by that poet. ~ Crispin
2023 RIP/Remembrance Poems :
JOHN MOTSON (1945-2023)
23 Feb John Motson- the legend and sheepskin coat joe morris
23 Feb Motty Crispin Thomas
23 Feb John Motson ~ The Man The Coat The Mike Crispin Thomas
GIANLUCA VIALLI (1964-2023)
07 Jan A Fine Bromance kevin raymond
06 Jan Vialli Vialli joe morris
06 Jan Forza Vialli ~ Gianluca Vialli RIP Crispin Thomas
2022 RIP/Remembrance Poems :
JOHN JACKSON (1942-2022)
31 Dec John (Stonewall) Jackson. King of the Palace. R.I.P John J O’Connor
PELÉ (1940-2022)
03 Jan ’23 Respect??? kevin raymond
30 Dec It doesn’t matter Gacina Bozidar
30 Dec The Man Who Designed The Beautiful Game (Pelé ) Crispin Thomas
29 Dec Pelé R.I.P. Clik The Mouse
29 Dec Pelé Sharon Jones
29 Dec Pelé- the great one passes joe morris
GEORGE COHEN (1939-2022)
23 Dec One Club Man Haiku for George Cohen Crispin Thomas
23 Dec Oh Georgie joe morris
CHEM ABAD (1957-2022) (Spanish Football Commentator)
20 Nov Chema Abad RIP Gacina Bozidar
TERRY NEILL (1942-2022)
28 Jul Terry Neill obituary joe morris
2021 RIP/Remembrance Poems :
RAY KENNEDY (1951-2021)
30 Nov Ray Kennedy joe morris
30 Nov Ray Kennedy Sharon Jones
RON FLOWERS (1934-2021)
12 Nov Flowers lie for Ron Crispin Thomas
ROGER HUNT (1938-2021)
29 Sep ‘Sir Roger’ Mike Bartram
28 Sep ‘Sir’ Roger Hunt Crispin Thomas
JIMMY GREAVES (1940-2021)
21 Sep That Photo of Jimmy Greaves Michael Simms
19 Sep Of All The Stars (Jimmy Greaves RIP) Crispin Thomas
19 Sep Jimmy Greaves Sharon Jones
21 Feb (2010) Jimmy Greaves haikus Crispin Thomas
04 Sep (2005) Jimmy Greaves P Maguire
16 Jun Jimmy Greaves Was My Hero Crispin Thomas
GERD MULLER (1945 – 2021)
Aug 15 Der Bomber. kevin raymond
Aug 15 Ged Muller – ‘Bomber Der Nation’ Sharon Jones
FRANK WORTHINGTON (1948-2021)
23 Mar Elvis in Football Boots Sharon Jones
PETER LORIMER (1946-2021)
21 Mar Heaven Struck By Thunderbolt (R.I.P Peter Lorimer) John J O’Connor
IAN ST JOHN (1938-2021)
02 Mar The Legend That Is St John RIP Crispin Thomas
02 Mar Ian St John Sharon Jones
BOBBY KELLARD (1943-2021)
15 Jan Bobby Kellard (he was Well ‘ard ) John J O’Connor
COLIN BELL (1946-2021)
06 Jan King of the Kippax Sharon Jones
05 Jan Colin Bell – 1946-2021 Emdad Rahman
2020 RIP/Remebrance Poems:
PAOLO ROSSI (1956-2020)
04 FebGrazie Paolo (Pablito) Rossi. Per I Recordi.* kevin raymond
GÉRARD HOULLIER (1947-2020)
15 Dec Gentleman Gacina Bozidar
15 DecThe Gentleman With Class (RIP Gérard Houllier ) Crispin Thomas
14 Dec Le Boss Sharon Jones
14 Dec Gérard Houllier 1947-2020 Emdad Rahman
14 Dec Gerard Houllier – Le Boss (haiku) Sharon Jones
DIEGO MARADONA (1960- 2020)
18 Dec Diego Maradona Ian Andrew
26 Nov R.I.P Diego John J O’Connor
25 Nov Deus Maradona, 1960 – 2020 Clik The Mouse
25 Nov Diego Maradona 1960-2020 Emdad Rahman
25 Nov The Best of Maradona Sharon Jones
25 Nov Maradona RIP Crispin Thomas
25 Nov More Than A Footballer – Maradona Sharon Jones
25 Nov Maradona Sharon Jones
RAY CLEMENCE (1948-2020)
15 Nov “Don’t Get Me Wrong.” (R.I.P. Ray Clemence) John J O’Connor
NOBBY STILES (1942-2020)
01 Nov Nobby Stiles 1942-2020 Emdad Rahman
30 Oct The genial union Gacina Bozidar
30 Oct Nobby Stiles, RIP Clik The Mouse
30 Oct More Than Just A Grin (RIP Nobby Stiles) Crispin Thomas
30 Oct Nobby Stiles Sharon Jones
JACK CHARLTON (1935-2020)
11 Jul Big Jack Charlton – 1935-2020 Emdad Rahman
11 Jul Big Jack’s Gone – Jack Charlton RIP Crispin Thomas
NORMAN HUNTER (1943-2020)
18 Apr They’re wearing Cricket Pads up in Heaven John J O’Connor
PETER BONETTI (1941-2020)
13 April Peter Bonetti, R.I.P. Clik The Mouse
12 Apr The Years Of The Cat (Peter Bonetti RIP) Crispin Thomas
12 Apr The Cat – Peter Bonetti: 1941- 2020 Emdad Rahman
HARRY GREGG (1932 –2020)
17 Feb Harry’s greatest saves John J O’Connor
17 Feb Harry Gregg ~ The Man Who Didn’t Just Save Goals Crispin Thomas
HANS TILKOWSKI (1935 –2020)
15 Jan Haiku for Hans Tilkowski Graham Salter
2019 RIP/Remembrance Poems :
JUSTIN EDINBURGH (1969-2019)
9 Jun gone too soon Clik The Mouse
8 Jun Justin Edinburgh 1969-2019 Emdad Rahman
STEVIE CHALMERS (1935-2019)
29 Apr Stevie Chalmers sharon wilkie-jones
BILLY MCNEILL (1940-2019)
24 Apr Hail Cesar! Billy McNeil 1940-2019 Emdad Rahman
23 Apr Billy McNeill sharon wilkie-jones
TOMMY SMITH (1945-2019)
22 Apr Tommy Smith RIP Clik The Mouse
13 Apr Tommy Smith sharon wilkie-jones
13 Apr Tommy Smith haiku Crispin Thomas
GORDON BANKS (1937-2019)
22 Feb Only One Banksy( R.I.P. Gordon) – John J O’Connor
12 Feb Gordon Banks – England’s number one – Emdad Rahman
12 Feb Gordon Banks R.I.P.– Clik The Mouse
12 Feb Banks of England – sharon wilkie-jones
3 Jun A Hero That Could Fly Mike Bartram
EMILIANO SALA (1990-2019)
8 Feb There Is A Bluebird In The Sky Jim Dolbear
30 Jan No Football Today ~ Song for Sala Crispin Thomas
HUGH MCILVANNEY (1934-2019)
27 Jan Hugh McIlvanney Haiku-sharon wilkie-jones
2018 RIP/Remembrance Poems:
JOE FASCIONE (1945-2018)
Jun 25 The One and Only Joe Fascione kevin raymond
19 Dec The Un-Final Count of Footballers Lost 1914-1918 – Crispin Thomas
TOMMY LAWRENCE (1940-2018)
25 Feb Reverie for Tommy Lawrence – Harry Owen
RAY WILKINS (1956-2018)
04 Apr Ray Wilkins RIP – Clik The Mouse
ROY BENTLEY (1924-2018)
01 May (2005) Pass It To Roy Bentley!–kevin john patrick raymond
07 Dec (2004) Well Done Roy! (for Roy Bentley)–Crispin Thomas
2017 RIP/Remembrance Poems :
RONNIE MORAN (1934-2017)
22 Mar RIP ‘Bugsy’ Moran – Mike Bartram
ALEX YOUNG (1937-2017)
01 Mar Alex Young RIP-Gacina Bozidar
27 Jul Alex Young –P Maguire
UGO EHIOG (1972-2017)
23 Apr Ugo Ehiogu 1972-2017 – Emdad Rahman
2016 RIP/Remembrance Poems :
ACF CHAPECOENSE (RIP 71 Players – 26 Nov 2016)
29 Aug (2017) Chapecoense – Héber Bensi
04 Dec (2016) The Chapecoense Boys – E Power
02 Dec (2016) Sometimes…= Mike Bartram
JOHAN CRUYFF (1947-2016)
24 Mar One Sweet Turn ~ Johan Cruyff RIP – Crispin Thomas
2015 RIP/Remembrance Poems:
HOWARD KENDALL (1946-2015)
19 Oct Howard Kendall RIP – Clik The Mouse
17 Oct Big Gentleman~Howard Kendall RIP – Gacina Bozidar
DAVE MACKAY (1934-2015)
03 Mar Dave Mackay RIP – Crispin Thomas
BRIAN HALL (1946-2015)
15 Sep Brian Hall RIP – Graham Salter
JIMMY HILL (1928-2015)
19 Dec Jimmy Hill – 1928-2015 Emdad Rahman
MATTHEW HARDING (1953-1996)
22 Oct For Matthew ~Matthew Harding RIP Carol Ann Wood (Chelsea)
RON SPRINGETT (1935-2015)
14 Sep Ron Springett RIP Crispin Thomas
2014 RIP/Remembrance Poems:
JAMES ALEXANDER GORDON (1936-2014)
09 Nov James Alexander Gordon – Alun Robert
20 Aug JAG, R.I.P. Clik the mouse
18 Aug He’s Still The King (Revisited) J.A.G RIP Crispin Thomas
18 Aug James Alexander Gordon (Revisited) RIP SB Ingle
18 Aug The Voice – J. A. Gordon (Revisited) RIP Emdad Rahman
SENZO MEYIWA (1987-2014)
30 Oct A Nation Mourns -Senzo Meyiwa RIP – Crispin Thomas
ALFREDO DI STÉFANO (1926-2014)
07 Jul Alfredo Di Stéfano P.Maguire
08 Jul Di Stéfano -haiku kevin halls
07 Jul Di Stéfano’s Gone crispin Thomas
SANDY JARDINE (1948-2014)
30 Apr Sandy Jardine Emdad Rahman
TOM FINNEY (1922-2014)
24 Feb Tom Peter Branson
17 Feb Football in Heaven kevin halls
16 Feb North End Morns.( Haiku ) jim dolbear
16 Feb Sir Thomas Finney kevin raymond
15 Feb Finney’s Final Year Graham Salter
15 Feb Tom Finney RIP haiku Crispin Thomas
15 Feb The Preston Plumber Emdad Rahman
15 Feb The Proud Preston Plumber John J O’Connor
14 Feb Sir Tom Finney P Maguire
BERT WILLIAMS (Wolves /England) (1920-2014)
25 Jan The Cat Haiku Crispin Thomas
25 Jan Bert Williams, The Original ‘Cat’ Robbie Kennedy Bennett
EUSÉBIO (Benfica/Portugal) 1942-2014
08 Jan Great Players kevin halls
07 Jan Portugal’s favourite son Maureen Yeo
06 Jan o Rei (The King) kevin raymond
06 Jan Memories of Eusébio Emdad Rahman
05 Jan Remembering Eusébio Crispin Thomas
05 Jan Eusébio P Maguire
2012 RIP/Remembrance Poems:
RON TINDALL (Chelsea) (1935-2012) RIP
11 Sep Ron Tindall-Footie Cricket & More RIP 1935-2012 – Crispin Thomas
GARY ABLETT (1965-2012)
02 Jan Gary Ablett – 1965-2012 Emdad Rahman
2011 RIP/Remembrance Poems :
SOCRATES (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) Socrates Signs for Garforth Town Parry Maguire
GARY SPEED (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
DUNCAN EDWARDS (1936-1958)
22 Sep The Greatest of them All (Duncan Edwards) Ianthe Exall
2010 RIP/Remembrance Poems :
KEITH ALEXANDER (1956-2010)
Apr 28 RIP Keith Alexander – Geoffrey Piper
30 Mar Keith Alexander -14 November 1956 – 3 March 2010 – Emdad Rahman
2009 RIP/Remembrance Poems:
ARCHIBALD BAIRD (1919-2009)
05 Nov Archie Baird RIP – Clik The Mouse
2007 RIP/Remembrance Poems:
ALAN BALL (1945-2007)
30 Dec Alan Ball RIP – Simon Parr
2006 RIP / Remembrance Poems :
PETER OSGOOD (1947-2006)
03 Mar Osgood Was Good – Crispin Thomas
03 Mar Osgood –Mark Thomas
02 Mar Osgood Is Good – Crispin Thomas
01 MarPeter Osgood, R.I.P. – Clik The Mouse
2005 RIP / Remembrance Poems :
JOHNNY HAYNES (1934-2005)
21 Sep 2021 Thoughts While Standing Beside The Statue of Johnny Haynes at Craven Cottage Michael Simms
20 Oct 2005 Remembering Brave Johnny Haynes – Crispin Thomas
GEORGE BEST (1946-2005)
03 June (2018) George Best – sharon wilkie-jones
Oct 17 (2014) Belfast’s Favourite Son~George Best haiku – Crispin Thomas
05 Jul (2007) GEORGE Best. 1946-2005 – Jim Dolbear
29 Nov (2006) Georgie Best – Steve Wickham
22 Nov (2006) The George Best Rhapsody – Jason Grant
2004 RIP/Remembrance Poems:
BILL NICHOLSON (1919-2004)
26 Oct Bill Nick, RIP – Clik The Mouse
1994 RIP / Remembrance Poems :
ANDRÉS ESCOBAR (1967-1994)
23 Nov (2004) Still Just A Game-Andrés Escobar 1967-94 – Crispin Thomas
1993 RIP / Remembrance Poems :
BOBBY MOORE (1941-1993)
Feb 28 (2014) Bobby Moore – sharon wilkie-jones
Feb 24 (2013) Bobby Moore – All English hero – Emdad Rahman
Sep 8 (2007) Bobby Moore- Me
Feb 05 (2005) Come Back Bobby Moore-P Maguire
01 May (2005) Bobby Moore East End Messiah – kevin john patrick raymond
1990 RIP / Remembrance Poems :
LEV YASHIN (1929-1990)
07 Jun (2018) Lev Yashin–sharon wilkie-jones
29 Mar (2005) Lev Yashin–kevin john patrick raymond
MATT BUSBY (1909-1990)
Oct 3 Sir Matt Busby (for National Poetry Day)-sharon wilkie-jones
1985 RIP / Remembrance Poems :
HILLSBOROUGH ( 15 Apr 1985) See Your Hillsbough Poems
BRADFORD CITY FIRE DISASTER (11 May 1985)
11 May (2015) The Whole Stand Is On Fire.Bradford 11.05.85 –Crispin Thomas
11 May (2014) Remembering the Bradford City fire disaster-Emdad Rahman
HEYSEL STADIUM DISASTER (29 May 1985) .
29 May (2009) Under the Atomium (Heysel) – Mark Thomas
12 May (2009) Heysel And The Darkest Hour – Crispin Thomas
05 Apr (2005) For Liverpool and Juventus-kevin john patrick raymond
10 Aug (2004) Who Remembers Heysel? – P Maguire
1980 RIP / Remembrance Poems :
WILLIAM ‘DIXIE’ DEAN (1907-1980)
Feb 12 (2015) Bill ‘Dixie’ Dean Dachlan Cartwright
1971 RIP / Remembrance Poems :
IBROX DISASTER 2 Jan 1971
17 Nov Burial of the Dead Al McClimens
1958 RIP / Remembrance Poems :
DUNCAN EDWARDS (1936-1958)
22 Sep ’14 The Greatest of them All (Duncan Edwards) Ianthe Exall
MUNICH AIR CRASH (Feb 6 1958) : See ‘Your Munich Poems’
1939 RIP / Remembrance Poems :1939
ARCHIBALD LEITCH (1865-1939)
08 Mar (2014) Archie’s Stands – Graham Salter
1930 RIP / Remembrance Poems :
ARTHUR WHARTON (1865-1930)
28 May (2010) Wharton of Darlington – Shaun Campbell
28 May (2010) Song For Arthur – Jimmy Blue
26 May (2009) Arthur Wharton: Prince of Keepers – Peter Daniel
03 Dec (2005) ARTHUR WHARTON- Elaine Fearn
13 Oct (2004) arthur wharton (1865-1930) – haiku – Crispin Thomas
Nov 22 (2002) Arthur, Arthur What’s the Score – Ralph Hancock
19 Oct (2002)Arthur Wharton – A Burning Black Star -(1865-1930)-Crispin Thomas
1918 RIP / Remembrance Poems :
CENTENARY WW1 (1914-1918)
08 Nov 2020 The Flowers of Liverpool (Lest we forget) Sharon Jones
19 Dec 2018 The Un-Final Count of Footballers Lost 1914-1918 – Crispin Thomas
WALTER TULL (1888-1918)
28 Sep (2014) Walter Tull-Emdad Rahman
29 Apr (2013) Man not colour – The spurs poet
17 Apr (2008) Crossing the White Line-Peter Daniel
03 Dec (2005) WALTER TULL –Elaine Fearn
Sep 08 2004 Walter Tull-P Maguire
04 Aug (2003) Walter Tull and Family History – Stuart Butler
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
joe morris
24th March 2023
Gacina Bozidar
22nd March 2023
joe morris
20th March 2023
joe morris
17th March 2023
Denys E. W. Jones
13th March 2023
joe morris
13th March 2023
Clik The Mouse
13th March 2023
Crispin Thomas
11th March 2023
Sharon Jones
11th March 2023
joe morris
10th March 2023
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
10th February 2023 at 8:45 pm
I misspelt Jimmy’s nickname as it should be Greavsie. Typo !
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5th December 2022 at 8:11 pm
Stuart, you are not alone, in your dichotomy of doubt
but without dissention
you stand alone
in hogging our attention!
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16th November 2022 at 11:04 am
[Football on soiled turf]
This is a wonderful phrase which I shall be using from now on!
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15th November 2022 at 3:54 pm
Well said Crispin. One of the reasons for The Ball 2022/23 is exactly this – that FIFA need to know. The Ball is essentially a petition to FIFA to honour their commitments to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework. They signed up; they should act. The Qatar tournament takes the World Cup in the opposite direction to that commitment. And 2026 looks like it’ll be even worse.
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8th November 2022 at 2:06 pm
Hi Guys
Re ‘Lets Boycott Qatar ‘ poem
You probably hate me banging on..and problably know (like me) that my/your not watching the World Cup in Qatar will make no difference.
Of course it won’t. That’s not the point.
OK someone might possibly eventually publish a minimal drop in terrestrial TV viewer numbers, but I fear that is unlikely.
But please above all, do go on writing poems about the World Cup, as/you we have always done. I hate to think a poem or two of mine might l make you feel bad about comenting on a game or country …or that I’ve put you all off about wanting to contribute.
So we’d love to hear from you and read your thoughts and observations, as ever on what’s going on.
Some of us have been here since Football Poets website birth/inception for the Euros 2000 ….
All my best wishes
Crispin
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18th October 2022 at 10:06 am
Shoot! (Something we’ve also been screaming in vain at our team all season !)
Great memories Joe . Before Shoot, it was Roy of the Rovers comic too, dropping through my letterbox.
Anxiously waiting each week to see if they survived in the mexcian jungle after an ambush..or a pre-season earthquake!
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3rd October 2022 at 8:32 pm
Thanks for the kind words Sharon. Yes, it was a shame with Billy Shako, but with five subs now being allowed, he might yet make it off the bench. Even if it’s just a cameo to close out a poem.
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2nd October 2022 at 1:49 pm
John, your new book is an absolute delight and more please. It’s a shame ‘Swapping Shirts With Shakespeare’ never made it off the bench, but quality football poets light up the writing fields like Roman candles. Go well.
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4th September 2022 at 12:42 pm
Great memories Greg. Took me right back.
Today I stand on a small terrace in the hills where I live watching Forest Green Rovers in L1, and keep up with Chelsea on highlights. It’s a far cry and a world away from those times when I lived as a child within walking distance of ‘The Bridge’ – just off the Ifield Road, which led to Fulham Road. The Blues were rubbish for so long, but we loved them and somehow we stayed in the old First Division for so many seasons. And of course we got to see Greavesie at his impudent best, scoring goals for fun. Mad unpredictable games where we’d score 4 and let in five.
The looming floodlights in the dark and mist on magic night games. The big games when the ground heaved.
I don’t think we ever realized how magical and incredible it was back then. The atmosphere and arriving there so early – like you said.. just to make sure you got in. Back when Bovril, tea and cake and roasted peanuts for sixpence a back were just about all on offer.
Good times.
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4th September 2022 at 12:37 pm
see above
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