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Doughty Tomass’s no more

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Damiano Tommasi plays for very little
David Di Tommaso, plays no more
After Georgie Best, our senses are so brittle
Every footballers death – leaves us feeling sore

Notes

I read of the sad & untimely death of a French footballer, playing in Holland, and wondered why the name sounded vaguely familiar?

It wasn’t the same player though – it’s all explained by the two following items :

BBC 30/11/2005

FC Utrecht defender David Di Tommaso has died at the age of 26.

The Frenchman was found dead at his home in Holland on Monday. It is thought he died in his sleep, but the cause has not been established.
Club doctor Frank van Hellemondt said: “Medical experts are carrying out an investigation to determine the cause.

“He ate dinner on Monday and went to bed as he usually did. He didn’t complain of feeling ill.”

Di Tommaso began his professional career at AS Monaco before moving to Sedan for four seasons, and joined Utrecht last season.

Di Tommaso, who had one goal this season, played in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Ajax. He played in 31 matches for Utrecht last year.
He leaves a wife and daughter.

Stuart Butler wrote : 19 Nov

Damiano Tommasi

I’m writing this at 6 in the morning with a golden moon shining on the frost and I’m only half awake so apologies for any mistakes – but I read a fascinating feature in the Observer a couple of weeks ago by Barbara McMahon. Damiano Tommasi has come back from injury at Roma and has asked to be paid the minimum wage only. He pointed out that even that rate would be more than many of his compatriots receive. His stance has attracted the attention of the Pope, apparently. The article quotes a Roma website – “His head is never in the clouds, his words are always moderate, he has strong moral values”. Tommasi is conscious of his responsibility as a role model and also seemingly conscious of how football is a religion to some: “Kids see us as idols and we have to give a good example…This is a joy but also a big responsibility.” Perhaps our writer in residence in Italy, Mr. Jones, or anybody else might have the time or inclination at some point to pen a piece about this story?
Best regards, Stuart

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/doughty-tomasss-no-more/