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Black and Blue (for Paul Canoville)

Greg Freeman

Monday, June 7th, 2021

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 1 As the boos rang out at the Riverside
I remembered my team’s
first black player
coming on as sub in the 80s,
the storm of hate from the Shed.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 The shock and anguish I felt,
wondering if I could continue
to follow the Blues.
Of course, somehow, I did.
Football’s coming home?

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 They’re still out there, they haven’t
gone away, these ‘patriots’
who barrack their national team
before a European tournament,
before they’ve even kicked off.

Notes

I understand that this is a ‘feelgood’ football poetry site in its overall ethos – and quite right, too – and that the admins may well decide that this is too controversial to post. Or just not very good. But I do hope this poem won’t be offensive to most if not all of the poets who use this site, and that they will understand where I am coming from.

Editor Note: Thanks Greg for your valued slant on the sad booing of The Knee’ in both Riverside England pre-Euros friendlies this week.

We love Paul Canoville and all that he stands for on this site. Stuart Butler and I have both worked with him at Chelsea and Clik The Mouse is a huge lifelong Blues fan. I’m incredibly proud to be mentioned in his book Black & Blue. Paul’s story is phenomenal, the things he endured.

Keep them coming Greg and let’s hear more  from you in the Euros.  Crispin

 

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Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/black-and-blue-3/