Retributive and Restorative Justice Part One
In the week before the Liverpool – Juventus fixture and with memories of Heysel all around us, how disappointing it was to see the baseness of the behaviour at St. James’ Park. Although a fight between two grown men followed by an insincere apology is of minor insignificance compared with so many deaths a generation […]
A March welcome ……
A warm welcome to all the new poets posting in the month of March. They are, in chronological order …. Harry Horsman Robert Jenkins Dan Hockaday Campbell Dean Learner Noel McGrath Jimmy Marklove Hayley Bowman David Foy Kevin Raymond Ron Fairweather Plus the following, who are all part of the Celtic Writers group : Lucian […]
Too much Irish influence?
In reply to somebody posting as Wee Willy, who wrote ; Do ye have to be Irish/and or a celtic fan to be on this site???? From the submissions this week, it would appear so, wouldn’t it? Not so. Yes, there has been a lot of Irish influenced poems or poets posting lately. However, we […]
anger management
I think the Guardian carried a feature a while ago about Wayne Rooney and how he is having sessions with an anger management consultant, so I suppose Wayne will be mouthing all the phrases of a graduate of a course of emotional literacy soon. Which is better than swearing, I think. I also heard the […]
Rinus Michels – an appreciation
Anybody who has ever admired the brilliance of the Dutch team and their playing system in the days of Johan Cryuff, will want to pay homage to the passing of Rinus Michels – attributed as the ‘father’ of ‘total football’. He was the manager who gave Cryuff and his teammates the license to thrill. He […]
I’ll be loving you always”
“I’ll be loving you always” 4 old ladies, sleeping in the ward, I wait for mum to wake; a bored Doctor asks a nurse if Swindon Are playing today. She tells him, “Doncaster, away.” Mum wakes up and I hold her hand, Then Nora awakes and sobs as she struggles to stand, Singing “I’ll be […]
Shed Loads of Memories..(Chelsea Loathers Look Away Now!)
Shed Loads of Memories..(Chelsea Loathers Look Away Now!) Blue Is The Colour..Football Is The Game He’s Got A Shed ..And Crispin is his name! Hi all…since I shall in all probability, never again be invited to appear in my own Shed and The Shed on TV again, I’m reprinting the BBC take on my recent […]
A February welcome ……
During the month of February, 2005, we welcomed the following poets : Darragh McNamara Paul England Paul Conatzer elljay (Elliott Joseph) Michael Hett Jason Hewitt E. Kirkland Hamilton John Edward McBride John Cox Anna Metcalfe & Robert Mechie Thomas Henry Nicky Gregal Shaunie Ayres Mashuda Wahid Fahima Khanum Mohsen Hamedpour Darabi Geoff Holland Steven Brennan […]
when you watch a game you’re watching every game you’ve ever seen
I got my first red shift moment in 1960, It was near Traitor’s Gate at the Tower of London, When sister Fliss with husband Rod helped me peek behind the veil, And I peopled my footsteps with the dead great and glorious, And I saw and heard them all, as they courteously passed me by; […]
sunday papers
Up at 5 and out by 7 for a walk with the dog after a bit of school work and vegetable bashing and then back for a quick scan of the Observer’s football pages. A couple of things took the eye before I at last reached the bit where it says Swindon 2 Barnsley 1 […]
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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