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An old ex-pro’s lament

John J O’Connor

Wednesday, September 24th, 2008

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 They say a footballers life’s now slavery,
god I wish I felt their pain
like I did when tackled from behind
the reason I walk now with a cane.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Cortisone was my drug of choice
it helped me play each game
little did I know then
that the effects would leave me lame

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Flair was the strong point of my game
all swerves and shoulder dips
but now I have the price to pay
as I wait to get new hips.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 We roasted our defenders
no twenty two man squads
and when we reached our sell by dates
it was back to docks and hods.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 Metatarsal was near Sunderland
well that’s what we’d have thought
and every high ball in the box
by our keeper it was caught.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 We defended both our goal posts,
we had men out on both wings
and when we saw fans on the bus
they treated us like kings.

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 We charged nowt for an autograph,
we were privileged just to sign,
we all just thanked our lucky stars
that we weren’t working down the mine.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 A beach ball was not used back then,
and we weren’t scared of the mud
and yellow cards weren’t given
for every little thud.

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 There was no such thing as diving
or tearing off our shirts
and no running crying to the ref
when you got kicked where it hurts.

10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 We played for love of the game
money wasn’t the main reason
the most I made in a playing year
was 5 grand in my last season

11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 In my local town I don’t pay for drinks
they still recall v Leeds my goal
but every Thursday afternoon
I still sign on for the dole.

12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 So as I line up in the solemn queue
with some characters unsavory
I wish I was playing in the prem
being a part of legal slavery

© John J O’Connor Sept 23 2008

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/an-old-ex-pros-lament/