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Change

S B Ingle

Monday, July 2nd, 2007

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Retractable roof, retractable pitch
Changing the face of our beautiful game
I remember when not even pens were retractable
We had bad writing with inkwells to blame

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 It looks different now, players
With pierced ears and tattooed thighs
We unleashed piercing screams as we cold-showered
Using horse blankets to scratch ourselves dry

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Printed nylon scarves tied round our wrists
Saturdays at home were pure boredom
No commentary on radio or TV
Waiting for James Alexander Gordon

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 Football at school was unheard of
Except for boys, but only the best
The rest consoled with sports day glory
Egg plasticined to spoon and a white Aertex vest

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 Sport at school was sheer torture
The vault, the horse, the burning ropes*
Shin splinting hockey sticks
Excel at games? Some hopes

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 Spectating is the sport of choice nowadays
Squashing into our plastic seats
As fans, we get to pick the team
I picked the one that other teams beat

© S B Ingle 2.7.07

Notes

* by this, I mean that the ropes burned your skin if you were unskilled at
climbng up and down AND NOT the teachers used to set fire to the
equipment before making us use it (though I bet they were tempted)

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/change/