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Albion’s Astle

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 ALBION’s ASTLE
brought smiles to MIDLANDS

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Although it had been two years
before EVERTON’s triumphant
1969/1970 season

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 The company of
BALL, ROYLE, HURST and MORRISSEY
were unable to score past WEST BROM’s keeper
OSBORNE

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 1968 Cup Final was unlucky for EVERTON
and lucky for ALBION’s keeper OSBORNE
and the author of a fantastic goal ASTLE

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 But WEST BROM’s determination was EVERTON’s
experience of the lifetime

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 BRAVE ALBION of 1968 had strengthen
ELEGANT EVERTON of 1969

Notes

Perhaps we expected too much. Here was a Cup Final that was to be fluent, imaginative, and pregnant with goals; with Everton the sound favourites and West Bromwich Albion offering excitement by their unpredictable flair and dangerous living. In the event it was little like that, except in one all-important matter. West Bromwich, the underdogs, at least kept faith with their supporters to lift the Cup for the fifth time in their history of 10 finals. And they did so in one lightning moment, which was a marriage of luck, inspiration, and a passing touch of madness.
(THE TIMES, MAY 1968)

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/albions-astle/