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Children At A Game

Crispin Thomas

Monday, February 21st, 2022

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 between the pitch and concourse
the seconds ticking on
her dad was early in in the queue
to beat the half time throng
not one to miss a second
his daughter stood alone
the sound of clanking seats was heard
as she watched on alone

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 her figure framed and caught in time
a tunnelled silhouette
these are the days of childhood
that she will not forget
I thought about when I was young
before I ever knew
the threats of relegation
or what some fans go through

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 the rollercoaster journey
when first young fans embark
upon this crazy sea we sail
from playing in the park
to going to your first live match
with friends or mum or dad
excitement and emotions
that all of us have had

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 the magic spell of moments
the day it all began
the pitch that spread before you
when you became a fan
there’s nothing that can beat it
and nothing quite the same
than being close to players
for children at a game

Notes

This poem is inspired by a lovely post and image by Mark Tomlinson which appeared on the Forest Green Rovers chat page and which we also shared on Football Gone Rogue on Facebook .

It was taken seconds before half time at the New Lawn as Forest Green played Walsall in EFL League 2 on Saturday Feb 19 2022 .

As Mark queued up for half-time refreshments, his daughter stood lingering alone watching in the exit/tunnel to the concourse . Here is an extract from his post :
“The great atmosphere within lower league football is the fact children can be introduced and see up close the play, the pitch and the players. Thank you to the players that come round the pitch after the game to applaud the fans. Kids really get excited. I caught this image of my daughter just before half time on Saturday. We were in the queue for the traditional green cola and chips when she broke ranks to see the final minutes of the first half. Reflecting on this image it captures the whole story, child excitement, the club, the fields and the trees, and EFL Div 2 football. Let’s get behind the club on this charge for promotion, young and old, we are all proud of the club and what it stands for “.

Thanks Mark. We had to stretch the image to fit our featured poem/ image shape and format so you can’t see the foreground of the tunnnel or the trees. . Apologies!

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Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/children-at-a-game/