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Black Country Homage

Andy Lockett

Sunday, April 2nd, 2006

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Hard faces, generations of workers in dirty,
Heavy trades – iron and steel, Mild and Bitter.
Football in their bloodstream and in their
Bloodlines, passed on like DNA – part of
Life, part of their culture down the years.
From small Black Country towns they
Thronged to the Hawthorns, to the Molineux –
In times of old, and still today – keen as ever.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Honest men, who prize honesty and effort
As noble qualities in their footballing heroes.
Alas, qualities seen all too rarely in these
Modern times. The Albion, and the Wolves –
Eight miles apart, and a rivalry across families,
Streets, districts. The stripes of the Baggies
‘Gainst the Wanderers’ Old Gold – contests of
Power and passion, when ‘belonging’ matters.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Great names, ignored by the national media –
Where the North and London dominate air time
And column inches. But pride still runs deep
In this neglected corner of the football world;
Fans follow their team with heart, soul and wallet –
In return they get heartache and under-achievement
From men with no feeling for the jersey they wear;
Frustrated supporters resort to radio phone-ins…

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 But still the fire burns, a loyalty beyond reason
To the badge of their heritage – be it West Brom,
Or Wolves. Players, managers may come and go;
Some make an impact, some become legends –
Others drift along, picking up their thousands.
For the punters from Oldbury, Bilston, Dudley,
And places between it’s their Club that matters;
A cherished institution in a changing world.

© Andy Lockett 2006

Notes

A proud region – my home.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/black-country-homage/