36 Poems for George Best
(Editorial notes on George appear at the end of the poems.Crispin.) 01 BEST WISHES -Parry Maguire -Haiku* 02 BELFAST’S FAVOURITE SON – Haiku – Crispin Thomas 03 COINCIDENTAL Haiku -Stuart Butler 04 THE BEST OF ALL TIME Haiku – Parry Maguire 05 BEST GIFT OF ALL-Haiku – Crispin Thomas 06 THE BEST -Joe Reid 07 […]
George Best R.I.P.
Words do not do justice to the genius of the man who passed away today. But we’ve tried. Bags I be Bestie “Bags I be Bestie!” the cry would resound, As impromptu goalposts were flung on the ground. And twenty young lads would chase after the ball Without much positional foresight at all. And Greavesie […]
Good Luck Parry & Thank You
GOOD LUCK PARRY! *Parry Maguire has been doing an incredible job for us – helping to keep this free site going and has been editing for us for some tiime now. Sadly for all, Parry has decided to take a complete break from editing in order to fully concentrate on further new writing projects .We […]
Damiano Tommasi
I’m writing this at 6 in the morning with a golden moon shining on the frost and I’m only half awake so apologies for any mistakes – but I read a fascinating feature in the Observer a couple of weeks ago by Barbara McMahon. Damiano Tommasi has come back from injury at Roma and has […]
Roy Keane exits Manchester United
3 very different viewpoints of the Roy Keane exit from Man Utd, all written within hours of the announcement. But before them, a wonderful summary of the Roy & Alex love story, told in Peter Goulding’s inimitable style. The Ballad of Roy and Alex It began with a glance At a Nottingham dance, With Roy […]
Remembrance Day 2005
The poppies proliferate as did the bullet holes with glutinous blood, seeping and the inescapable draining of life that still, sees us weeping We usually wear the poppies with pride, to our matches This year though ‘midst media mania and red top madness we’ll wear them while watching England v Argentina – a more modern […]
Lesson Plans and KIO
Apologies for the delay in putting up new poems with lesson plans but I have had to keep proof reading students’ typing for this project for spare moments and I want the finished article to be right rather than rushed. I imagine we will be ready for Christmas – teachers’ packs available from us at […]
STAND UP … TO BULLYING, RACISM, HOMOPHOBIA
Trying to encapsulate the lot into one poem, hope you like it ……… Unpleasant type The intent is invidious But cleverly disguised – The pass, weighted to perfection Just eludes, a willing trier The watching crowd, groan The intent is invidious But cleverly disguised – A crunching tackle, just about within the laws of the […]
Kick It Out Poems At West Ham U & ELG
EAST LONDON GYMNASIUM Berckton -20th October 2005 WEST HAM UNITED LEARNING ZONE – 21st October 2005 39 wonderfully diverse Anti-Racism Poems created and brilliantly performed live in the Kick it Out Workshops with Crispin Thomas of the Football Poets by children and parents at West Ham United Study Centre & East London Gymnasium. Big thanks […]
From Rosa Parks to football parks
“She sat down in order that we all might stand up – and the walls of segregation came down,” civil rights leader Jesse Jackson said. Who will sit down and talk sense to the powers that be To give us the freedom of choice that we crave at each match we go to see We […]
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
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
Clik The Mouse
6th 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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