Poems tagged ‘World Cup 2018’
Great Expectations. It’s Looking Good.
Tis a hard one to swallow I know
Though the after match manners
Of three wannabe OTT managers
In the ITV studio, helped soften the blow.
So…we’re out, beaten, dusted an done
But…all down to the waist-coated one
We’ve experienced a month in the sun
Of hope, where before there was none.
Time to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off
Get our show back on the right road
After bearing witness to this little lot?
Anything is possible…we know.
No Time Now For Tears
no time now for tears
we went further than we hoped
so much to applaud
from euphoria
to the first cold light of day
let us not be sad
time to stand up proud
chances come and chances go
we will learn and grow
margins are so fine
in control then all at sea
but how close we came
well done to the fans
sacrificing everything
just to make it there
whatever you say
England filled a Summer month
with such hope and joy
tumble dried and out
but with so much faith restored
thank you for it all
what a ride it’s been
you made football come alive
you brought passion home
in the end we know
we exceeded wildest dreams
we can build from this
one image remains
England clapping all their fans
singing back to them
WC2018 Day 23 – out
Croatia 2-1 England (aet) haiku
Waistcoat Wednesday
We came. We saw. We costumed.
Defence unstitched
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Down the tube.
Is this the end of the line for Southgate?
Nah.
Cockfosters.
WC2018 Day 23 – Wish I Could Be Like…
I am a plain and simple fan
Loving the boy from down the Lane
The Queen wants to bid him “Arise”
And I’m hoping he’ll cause the Croats pain
And I wish I could be like Harry Kane
Fa, fa, fa
Fa, fa, fa
And when I lie on my pillow at night
I dream I could score like Harry Kane
I’d lead Gareth’s team to victory
And take my chances with goals to gain
(Wish I could be)
Conduct my life like Harry Kane
(Wish I could be)
I wish I could be like Harry Kane
Early morning hopeful haiku
The tension rises,
So does the thermometer,
And so will England.
Mbappe Burns Bright -Les Blues Final Bound
France 1-0 Belgium
on a Summer’s night
promising so much in class
two great sides lock horns
in among such stars
like some Winter Russian sky
Mbappe burns bright
Red Devils impress
Hazard bursts and weaves in vain
til Umtiti strikes
tight as tight can be
one sweet set piece is enough
to see Les Bleus through
Post France v Belgium.
A sharp street-wise kid
Shows The World he’s the biz
Belgium flatter, deceive, then fade out
Though a set piece wins a close game
Kyllian Mbappe’s the name
Mesmerized French fans are raving about.
Possessing bewildering pace
This electric French ace
Hides a cute trick or two up his sleeve
How did a mere kid execute
The sublime through ball to Giroud
We witnessed yet still can’t believe?
WC2018 Day 22 – haiku – Allez Les Blues!
- Tuesday 10th July 2018, Semi-Final 1
France 1-0 Belgium
“some shrink, some blossom” *
Kylian Mbappe shoots
right before our eyes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mbappe top drawer
Kev de Bruyne under par
Allez Les Blues
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
water carrier
leads France to the oasis
irrigates Les Blues
Semi final: France reach third Final
France 1-0 Belgium
It was St Petersburg
Where there would fall one nation
France ending the Belgium run
And the golden generation
Like Deschamps they shut shop
The second half wasn’t vinyl
Samuel Umtiti sends
Les Bleus to another final
Pogba was immense
Today he dealt the grime
Working it for Les Bleus
It’s France for the third time
10 07 18
number7
© Emdad Rahman
Red Devils
Summer without Elvis
is only bearable
with RED DEVILS
Even though we must
be empty-hearted
without Elvis
We do have RED DEVILS
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
Gacina Bozidar
15th June 2025
joe morris
15th June 2025
Stuart Butler
13th June 2025
Alex Saynor
13th June 2025
John Gilbert Ellis
7th June 2025
joe morris
7th June 2025
Denys E. W. Jones
31st May 2025
joe morris
31st May 2025
Clik The Mouse
30th May 2025
Clik The Mouse
28th May 2025
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
7th June 2025 at 5:57 pm
Very well put! My recent favourite came when visiting Chesterfield. They have the ‘LMD Vacuum Excavation Stand’.
May be if you’re in the vacuum excavation business, it’s a beautiful sounding name.
See in context
24th May 2025 at 7:19 am
Hi Steve
I’ve come across you before on the live poetry circuit…something I’ve also been involved in since the late 90s at slams, gigs and festivals. Did you ever get to Glasto?
I was also at Swindon when José subbed and berated Kevin in a League Cup game for Chelsea….
Salah as you point out went the same way…
Be interesting to see Kev’s next move?
Best
Crispin
See in context
24th April 2025 at 1:05 pm
Hey Denys..love this
“You may be a miner working down a pit.
You may be a rock star playing sold out gigs.
You may be a fireman putting out a blaze.
You may be an inmate chalking off the days. ”
Not just Dylan but maybe an unintentional nod to and shades of Ian Dury’s enigmatic ‘What A Waste’ rhythmic scanning..eg:
I could be the driver in an articulated lorry
I could be a poet I wouldn’t need to worry
I could be a teacher in a classroom full of scholars
I could be the sergeant in a squadron full of wallahs
What a waste
What a waste
Was lucky enough to meet and interview him twice.
Best wishes from Forest Green to Genoa C
See in context
8th March 2025 at 2:34 pm
Thanks Crispin
I’ve been to FGR a couple of times in the past – great food! Barnet look like they have the NL sewn up for this season, but I wish you well for promotion next season.
Regards, Beth
See in context
11th January 2025 at 8:13 am
TO ADD THIS TO THIS POEM’S COMMENT:WELCOME BACK DAVID MOYES!!!
See in context
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
See in context
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.
See in context
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
See in context
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.
See in context