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Poems tagged ‘Bobby Charlton’

My Life As A Football Fan

Steven Taylor

Saturday, June 22nd, 2024

We used to sing that Charlton (Bobby) was better than Pele.

We knew he wasn’t, objectively, but we hoped the song
Would inspire him to play better. Also, it was a measure
Of our faith. In the team, in our players. The Red Devils. Their

Collective and individual qualities. An expression of solidarity
Our willingness to stand beside them, even as the firing squad

In Goya’s great painting, ‘Third of May 1808’
Took aim and waited the command to fire. Fearless.

We were inspired and defiant. Bobby was the man
In the white shirt with his arms spread. Christ-like.
Front and centre. More than eight feet by eleven feet.
Colossal. Taller than a goal post if not (quite) as wide.

When Goya began his masterpiece he was already
In poor health and profoundly deaf. Aged 68. Me.

He wouldn’t have heard our song even if he had been stood
With us in the middle of the Stretford End. It describes Pele,
A Brazilian (and Eusebio, who played for Benfica, Portugal)

As ‘no good bums’, which somewhat diminishes Charlton’s
Status. If they were so rubbish, what kind of achievement
Was it to be better? Surely it would have made more sense
For the song to have elevated them? His contemporaries.

Football fans are an irrational bunch.

Goya’s painting transformed war art, breaking with
The European tradition of depicting kings and generals
And showing us the greater (almost divine) heroism
Of the common man. As luck would have it, United

Had become the first English football team to win
The European Cup in May 1968, defeating Eusebio
And Benfica at Wembley by four goals to one. Bobby
Charlton scored twice. A glancing header followed
By a beautiful flick with his right foot. I can’t remember

If the song came before or after.

 

Bobby was diagnosed with Dementia and died  aged 86 after an accidental fall in Macclesfield General Hospital on 21 October 2023.

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Sir Bobby Charlton – obituary.

joe morris

Saturday, October 21st, 2023

Oh the heavens are weeping
The angels softly plucking on
Harps of Mancunian hymns
Of the ultimate eulogy
The one we were dreading
Back in dear old Blighty
Please tell us that Sir Bobby
Has not left the earth
Sir Bobby Charlton passes
Through the pearliest of gates
Oh beautiful, breathtaking Sir Bob
It surely is a false rumour
But no it’s true
Bobby Charlton, bless your soul
Dead but never ever forgotten
We’ll never forget your enduring
Legacy of legacies
Surely legendary well before
The word had been minted
Now sadly dead and just
An emotional remnant
Of that beloved day
In July 1966
When England held its breath
Bobby Charlton whose name
Was uttered across so
Many global frontiers
With the loveliest lilts
And the softest of inflexions
In Spanish and Italian bars
Bobby Charlton senor
Everybody knew Sir Bob
Even if not personally
He was your hero, mine
An ambassador of warmth
Friendship to all of us
Congeniality on every continent
That foot of thunderous power
That destroyed Portugal and Mexico
When Sir Alf could hardly
Bring himself to engage
In the enormity of that year
Bobby was vital to everything
England’s central cable
The electrical generator
Shots crackling and cracking
From North, South, West, East
But how could we forget
The Busby Babes?
When Manchester United
Almost died completely
Forever
But then Sir Bobby
Emerged from the wreckage
With the ethereally gifted
And the jug eared European Cup
Victory in 1968
Eclipsing Eusebio
Of Portugal’s transcendent best
Only Denis Law, the other
Governing body in United’s attack
To mourn the loss of his closest
Friend
And George Best
Taken too tragically young
Sir Bob
Goals galore heard everywhere
RIP Sir Bobby Charlton

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Brave Bobby Charlton ~ RIP

Crispin Thomas

Saturday, October 21st, 2023

the strength and power in his boot
from near or far when he would shoot
the many times I saw him play
at countless games back in the day
the archetypal number nine
who stays a legend for all time

the crowds that flocked to pack each ground
when Man United were in town
the buzz when he was on the ball
the one-club man who gaves his all
in ev’ry game on ev’ry park
brave Bobby Charlton left his mark

the strength and power in his boot
from near or far when he would shoot
the many times I saw him play
at countless games back in the day
for club and country may he be
remembered for eternity

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Source: http://footballpoets.org/news/poem-tags/bobby-charlton/