Poems tagged ‘Ian St John’
The Legend That Is St John RIP
looking back
I realize I had the fortune
to see the legend that is St John
play many times
usually at ‘The Bridge’
but only ever once stood
on that fabled Kop
and that was by mistake
it happened
one auspicious Bank Holiday
when my good mate John and I
who’d hitched up from London
in snow and cold
having gone in in by the wrong gate*
found ourselves to be
the only two Blues fans
perched in that towering end
but so it was
and setting off early morning
from that misty M1 laybye
and taking in friendly drivers
and icy motorways
we made it just in time
for the Anfield clash with Chelsea
that freezing Boxing Day in 66
but what a welcome from Liverpool fans
for us and our ‘keeper Bonetti
and then it started the rhythmic clapping
“clap clap clap clap
clap clap -clap clap St John!”
and so it swelled around the ground
until linked with stamped feet to keep out the chill
it enveloped you totally
even if you followed another side
there was a jaunty and unmistakable
swagger and impishness about Ian
passion style and grit
but like Greavesie
his TV pundit partner to be
always a smile when he played
what a player and character though
“you mustn’t take yourself too seriously”
he once said
but when you played against him
St John was some handful
and you needed to be on your toes
because…relentless and creative
he’d flit in and out all game
like some annoying wasp
he was awesome as ever that day for the Reds
we’d gone up hoping to tie in a Cavern visit
but closed for the holidays it wasn’t to be
but the Mersey sound that filled our ears that day
She Loves You… Ee Aye Addio O and the rest
bellowed down from the mighty Kop
and we in our blue and white knitted scarves
were fair fodder and shared mince pies from
the ‘Pool fans amid their Christmas bonhomie
and when you stopped
I grew to love your often infuriating
but mad Saint & Greavesie show
you will be long missed Ian
an integral part of a great team in a great time
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
6th May 2024
joe morris
4th May 2024
Crispin Thomas
2nd May 2024
joe morris
2nd May 2024
joe morris
28th April 2024
Richard Williams
26th April 2024
joe morris
25th April 2024
Denys E. W. Jones
25th April 2024
kevin halls
23rd April 2024
Alex Saynor
23rd April 2024
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
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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25th April 2024 at 1:56 pm
Thanks Joe,
you might like to write a poem yourself on the same subject…
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23rd April 2024 at 4:03 pm
Hi Denys
With you all the way on the abolition of FA Cup replays. What are they doing to the game?
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23rd April 2024 at 3:59 pm
Hi Crispin,
Yes sorry mate. Villa are still in Europe. Mistake rectified.
Cheers
Joe
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20th April 2024 at 12:04 pm
Hi Joe
Shouldn’t your title read your poem Farewell Europe England to everyone exccept Aston Villa ?
I know you mention them in your poem , but I do feel sorry for Villa re the national press .
Largely ignored. the hype was was all about Man City & Arsenal with a bit of a nod to the Hammers..but hardly a mention of Villa..
So well done to them
C
.
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19th March 2024 at 8:00 am
Hi Crispin. Chris Sutton on the radio has gone for a Chelsea v Coventry final. As we know anything can happen in the Cup, and I reckon we can go to the final.
We’re still in with a chance of the play offs too, so lots to go for.
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19th March 2024 at 7:41 am
Hey Kev
Let the masses drool over their odds on City v Unted Final, but who knows how pressure can hit.
Cov and Chels will be rightly labelled as having no chance..but hey …stranger things have happened..
so Chelsea v Coventry…that’s the Final for us!
Best
C
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