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Basil For England – More Verb Than Herb

Crispin Thomas

Monday, January 30th, 2006

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 To be or not to be
the England mananger
for Basil The Dog – six years on
that is the question..again

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 true – given the media frenzy and focus
you’d need to be barking mad to accept the job
but why then should he too
not be in with a sniff…
and along with every other candidate
what fools we to deny
some football poet’s doggie his day

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 many of you – too young to recall me-thinks
will shudder that some 6 years back
Basil – this wirey living legend of Sky TV
trusty Football Poets mascot and more
applied to the FA for the position
back then when we were just Stroud Football Poets….
among those halcyon virus and Sven-free days

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 for every bone we ever picked with the game
a dog’s a dog for all that
by any other name t’would growl so deep
for every lamp-post a season
for every tail a happy end
and for every team a little leader
with bite and passion
a Scottish Strachan
with no fear lacking
in need of backing
but for now..in our great need
Basil is still here

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 and so it comes to pass
we call on you once more O Basil ..and Stuart
for who is master – dog or man?
to beg our loyal canine friend
“apply apply and don’t be shy”
think not of some Liberal Democrat
alternative post.. God forbid
put your name forward now..
if one figure can get us out of this dog’s mess
tis you..and children
see you not – if lists be fair and true
one name alone stands out..
even if it is in captials..

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 O’Neill
Alladyce
Curbishley
BASIL THE DOG
Jade Goodey
Jarvis Cocker
Kate Moss
Pete Doherty
Prince William
Chantelle

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 and so while Stroud still dubiously claims
the home and capital of football poetry
why not then the inspiration of those same poems
in our own capital..

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 what choices now for Soho Square?

© CT06

Notes

If this all seems mad.,.please see Stuart’s piece..and click on ARCHIVES…in panel to left of page

In 2000 Basil applied to the FA for the post of England Manager as replacement for Kevin Keegan. He wrote explaining that although he was a dog he had a wide experience of football and hoped his Scottish ancestory would not count against him. He also included a picture of himself.

Basil’s letter in 2000 to the F.A:

“Dear Mr. Crozier,
I wish to apply for the post of England Team Manager. Although I am a dog, I have a wealth of football experience behind me; indeed I sponsor a whole team of football poets. I enclose a photograph.
Yours sincerely, Basil the Westie”

NEEDLESS TO SAY..HE WAS REJECTED..WITHOUT AN INTERVIEW ….NOW OK WE’RE NOT SUGGESTING RACISM WITH THE F.A…. BUT FOR ALL WE KNOW.. ALL APPLICANTS WERE TREATED LIKE DOGS!

The F.A. proved they are barking mad and quiet unable to tell the difference between dogs and people. To see the FA’s reply go to Archives.(Can’t copy and paste it into here sorry!)

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/basil-for-england-more-verb-than-herb/