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4.40 on a Winter Saturday

Andy Lockett

Tuesday, February 7th, 2006

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Gathered round a radio, hushed with baited breath
For the Sports Report refrain that meant so much.
A knowledge of the British Isles from names
With no other recognition – Walsall, Tranmere,
Crewe Alexandra – and those strange Scottish
Teams; Alloa, East Stirlingshire, Brechin City.
From a few hundred souls to the big city clubs –
Equality and fraternity under the microphone.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 No information overload, no saturation TV –
The chattering teleprinter on Grandstand was
All you had to go on. That agonising moment
When your team was away, and their fate
Rested on an endless pause – relief, score draw.
Classified results, a days’ ups and downs
In stark letters and numbers on the screen;
There was always a late kick off from Stoke.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Then the reports, shots of emptying stands
And wobbly captions giving all the goals.
Commentators in sheepskins did interviews
In familiar surroundings – no corporate
Sponsor boards smothering the backdrops.
Match of the Day meant two games only,
And how you looked forward to it –
Less was more in those far-off times.

© Andy Lockett 2006

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/4-40-on-a-winter-saturday/