Football Poets

Clawing Our Way Back

it’s still a long road up ahead
we’ve only just begun
we’re right back where we started
among the fallen ones
the mountains that we’re facing
draw strength to just keep on
as our belief grows strong again
when hope had all but gone
you feel like you’ve lost your way
your passion starts to crack
but in a flash a light appears
we’re clawing our way back

two relegations in a row
can drain you if you let it
the constant losing on your watch
that won’t let you forget it
we climbed so high we touched it all
we faced the biggest teams
who brough twelve hundred to our home
the little village team
we watched them with euphoria
we thought we’d touched the sun
but we got burnt like Icarus
before it had begun
the little club upon the hill
who dipped and veered off-track
the journey starts again from scratch
we’re clawing our way back

when I first watched the Rovers
no-one knew our name
til Dale* arrived to save us
and nothing stayed the same
now ev’rybody knows us
from USA to Spain
they follow all our eco moves
and how we change the game
in learning to sustain ourselves
it’s courage we don’t lack
and daring to be different
we’re clawing our way back

this rural outpost in the West
where Rugby rules the hills
where Farmers Markets pull the crowds
and ev’rybody chills
our crowds are not the greatest
we have no burger van
among the non-league battlers
we’re back where we began
they taunt us for our oat milk
our Quorn Pies make them sneer
our pledge to save the planet
can fall upon deaf ears
but all who venture up here
care not for what we lack
it’s green and clear in black and white
we’re clawing our way back

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This Old Turnstile

like them all before

I’m one more who makes their way

through this old turnstile ~

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Back For The Start

far from the finished article but back for the start
still reeling from two relegation seasons
we board the coach with renewed hope

Ewan who I’ve never met before
shows me images from away games
and we talk music
the feeling here is… just don’t lose

sunny fields stream by and we’re there
‘The Rec’ is vey much that – deceptive from the outside
a wreck of a once beautiful old school ground inside
behind The old stand we are alongside
crumbling terracing and ageing toilets
meet long abandoned turnstiles

we’ve brought a healthy turn-out
the South Stand lads are here in force
and here’s Joanna and Martin from Ipswich
home fans are friendly too as we mingle

the game itself a mad and hectic
ragged blur of early mistakes
and oh dear we’re two down
embarrassment is partially avoided
with a late first half goal
and suddenly from nowhere
were 3-2 up as the second unfolds

a late unguarded cut-back
levels it for the Shots
could’ve have won it – could have lost it
I would have definitely taken a draw
and that’s how it ends

There are long roads ahead
and much to improve ahead
I don’t get to many aways
but this had made me keen for more…
onward

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When You Win at Last

anyone who’s been here
anyone at all
anyone who loves their club
loves them rise or fall
if you’re superstitious
if you have a dream
you endure the ups and downs
following your team
when you’re on a losing streak
games can turn to farce
Groundhog Day and Groundhog Night
til you win at last

ev’ryone goes through it
ev’ryone’s the same
ev’ryone gets down so low
ev’ry single game
pressure’s always present
pressure ev’rywhere
even if the manager
swears it isn’t there
pressure on the terraces
pressure on the pitch
pressure if your club is poor
pressure if you’re rich
no one can describe it
no one can explain
no one hides their feelings
when you win again

all the suff’ring falls away
songs ring out from fans
smiles return to faces
in a sea of hands
like a curse that lifted
from some nightmare past
no more endless hoodoo
when you win at last…

….at home!

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When It’s Time To Go

If you’ve ever been there
If you’ve had the call
If you’ve had that feeling
Writing’s on the wall
Like some guilty party
In your heart you know
There is no alternative
When it’s time to go

When you see it coming
When you feel it’s near
Something tells you carry on
Overcome the fear
Ev’ry club goes through it
Ev’ry fan I know
In the end the coach must pay
When it’s time to go

Seeming backings from above
Only bring delay
Rumours blowing in the wind
Closer draws the day
Toxic chants that manifest
From the stand in song
Leave us all in little doubt
It won’t be too long
Did you feel it coming?
We will never know
In the end it’s best for all
When it’s time to go

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