Football Supporters For Peace
How many wars has the world seen since homo sapiens first fought? Far more than you will read of in any diplomatic Wisden, I’ll be bound, For any definition of war must go beyond just state sponsored violence, To include all collective acts of conflict that pre-date the nation state, Conflicts that stretch right back […]
Word Up For Kick It Out & Conkering Racism Now!
Hi Some poems and thoughts here..during these special awareness-raising days of October and Black History Month .Right here and right now..we are specifically looking for poems about kicking racsm out of football (and conkers of course!) so please… keep them coming.(.nice one L Norman! would like ot perform that one?.. thanks- Crispin Word-Up Kick-It-Out Rap […]
HEY HOLD THE BACK PAGE GUYS… WE’RE THE SUNDAY TIMES SITE OF THE WEEK!
Big thanks to Richie Hession for not only spotting this in the Sunday Times this weekend,but for also on spookily being the un-named One Contrbutor in this piece printed among the football shorts .. “Now that David Beckham has a son called Romeo, is football taking a more literary turn? You can see for yourself […]
On “Let’s Get Nostalgic Again”… & Billy Wright Where Are You?
I remember that summer of 58 August in London and sweltering stand clear of the doors… all change for Fulham Broadway… official programme – sixpence a go! wear your colours! roasted peanuts – tanner a bag first game highs bearing down on Stamford Bridge in the distance floodlight pylons tower and loom on blue blue […]
On Such A Day (for Holly and Jessica and their families)
it was one summer’s day when the news it came by you could search high and low and not find a dry eye and it wasn’t the news that you prayed it would be but the same awful moment for you and for me – while away in the distance they were playing some game […]
Why Don’t People Whistle Anymore? (Unless They’re A Ref?)
WHISTLING Why don’t people whistle anymore? My dad used to embarrass me With his whistling constantly, Any refrain That came in his brain, And he could go on for hours And hours And hours; And even though he embarrassed me With his whistling constantly I have some veneration For my father’s generation And it’s ability […]
If It’s August it Must Be Football Love Poetry Month…
To celebrate the forthcoming new Out To Lunch With Crispin Live album..The Power of Fluff…two football love poems..for August…. you are like football you are like football the grace and thrill you are excitement a beach in Brazil you are a stadium theatre of light you are a temple brilliant as night and you are […]
Why Don’t People Whistle Anymore?
Why don’t people whistle anymore? My dad used to embarrass me With his whistling constantly, Any refrain That came in his brain, And he could go on for hours And hours And hours; And even though he embarrassed me With his whistling constantly I have some veneration For my father’s generation And it’s ability to […]
SUMMER TIME AND THE LIVING IS EASY
Walking through the appropriately named Gunnerside, Listening to an Easter tide Arsenal victory on the radio. Watching the desultory interest in the Queen Mother’s death As the football results came in on the telly at the pub, Then shopping for shoes at an open air market in Wenseleydale, Where we could only find a right […]
On Staying Open In The Close Season (& footy poets taking break)
we’re staying open In the long close season staying open to the earth and sky staying fluffy when the going gets roughy staying in touch while the days go bys grabbing the only four days of summer grabbing them all as fast as we can and we’re not jealous of the ones out training it […]
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
John Gilbert Ellis
28th November 2024
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
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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