Football Poets

CRYSTAL PALACE v LIVERPOOL. (F.A. CUP Semi – final, Villa Park 1990)

¶ 1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 “They’ve already been beat 9-0 by Liverpool this season,
so it’s really a no brainer to choose,”
said the smug ex pro at Sky telly,
as he predicted the Palace to lose.

¶ 2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 It was a sunny April afternoon,
in the year of our lord 1990,
and Palace needed all the help they could get,
even a few prayers up to — the almighty.

¶ 3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 A place at Wembley awaited the victor,
and a chance to lift the famous cup.
To raise it up high, in front of your fans,
and out of it champers to sup.

¶ 4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 The scousers were all internationals,
big matches for them held no fear,
the bookies had them four to one favourites,
reckoning they’d win without changing gear.

¶ 5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 The Palace were without four first teamers,
including the great Ian Wright,
so all the pundits predicted,
that they’d play it defensive and tight.

¶ 6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 The Palace fans were packed in the Holte End,
and from it, came a deafening noise,
as they chanted the names of their heroes,
and tried to urge on the boys.

¶ 7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 But midway through the first half,
the noise turned into a hush,
as Liverpool went into the lead,
through the Welsh poacher Ian Rush.

¶ 8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 “We’re on the march with Kenny’s Army,
we’re all going to Wember — lee.”
sang the noisy and joyous Liverpudlans,
as they jumped around with glee.

¶ 9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 One nil it stood at half time,
and the pundits to a man agreed,
it was only a matter of time,
before Liverpool increased their narrow lead.

¶ 10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 But Mark Bright upset the predictors,
scoring right at the start of the half,
and then Ian Rush was substituted,
cos of an injury to his left calf.

¶ 11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 The Eagles were now sensing blood,
they had the Pool back four on the run,
and Gary O’Reilly came up from the back,
to put Palace in front two to one.

¶ 12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 But Liverpool players did not panic,
they still looked in control of the ball,
and the hustling Stevie Mc — Mahon,
equalized to make it two all.

¶ 13 Leave a comment on verse 13 0 Both sets of fans were now nervous,
all checking the times on the clocks,
when with just five minutes remaining,
Steve Staunton fell down in the box.

¶ 14 Leave a comment on verse 14 0 A penalty — was promptly given,
a cause for much heated debate,
and John Barnes calmly placed it past Martyn,
to make Palace supporters irate.

¶ 15 Leave a comment on verse 15 0 “Looks like Liverpool are heading to Wembley,”
John Motson informed his home viewers,
as brave Palace scurried on forward,
like rats running down in the sewers.

¶ 16 Leave a comment on verse 16 0 “WALK ON — WALK ON,
with hope in your hearts,”
was sang around the stadium,
except in the Palace parts.

¶ 17 Leave a comment on verse 17 0 Then, with just three minutes left,
the singing was interupted,
and Palace fans at the other end,
instantly erupted.

¶ 18 Leave a comment on verse 18 0 A lapse in concentration,
and the Pool were made to pay,
as the ball was forced past Grobbellar,
by the nippy Andy Gray.

¶ 19 Leave a comment on verse 19 0 So extra time was needed,
to settle this thrilling semi,
and to see who’s going to Wembley,
Steve Coppell or King Kenny.

¶ 20 Leave a comment on verse 20 0 The game was now end to end,
although — much slower paced,
and Palace used the high ball,
and harried, fought and chased.

¶ 21 Leave a comment on verse 21 0 Then !!! the moment came ,
that is written in folklore,
when ‘Super Alan Pardew’
drove home the ball to score.

¶ 22 Leave a comment on verse 22 0 “QUE SERA , SERA
whatever will be, will be,”
sang the hordes of Palace fans,
as they dreamt of Wember –lee.

¶ 23 Leave a comment on verse 23 0 The ref finally blew the whistle,
4-3 was the end result,
and ‘Super Alan Pardew’
became a hero of the cult.

¶ 24 Leave a comment on verse 24 0 The players ran to the Holte End,
surrounded by West Midland Police,
and a banner was raised on the terrace,
saying, “Thank You God , I Can Now Die In Peace.”

¶ 25 Leave a comment on verse 25 0 The Palace theme song “Glad All Over”
vibrated around the Villa ground,
as the disgruntled Koppites wandered out,
too stunned to make a sound.

¶ 26 Leave a comment on verse 26 0 Palace fans hugged one another,
grown men were wiping tears,
red and blue shirts were hurled onto the terrace,
as the players applauded the cheers.

¶ 27 Leave a comment on verse 27 0 So Stevie Coppell’s red and blue army,
were bound for Wember — lee,
after one of the greatest semi’s,
anyone had the pleasure to see.