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Farewell to Football

Mark Thomas

Sunday, December 2nd, 2007

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Farewell to football, King and country awaits
To the green fields of France, a conscience dictates
Hell here on earth, sees young men fall and die
Close to enemy lines, a soldier looks to the sky

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 A hero steps forward, the wounded one to save
Links in a chain, two from Scotland the Brave
Rope around his waist, from trench to unknown
Conspicuous bravery, admired from the throne

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Undetected by foe, he reaches out to his friend
Back into No Man’s Land, prepared for the end
Aware of them now, bullets rain from on high
Hit again and again, shattered foot, bloodied eye

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 No chance of escape but they reach a safe place
The noblest of deeds, to stare death in the face
The Great War’s great hero, football’s great loss
William Angus: For Valour, the Victoria Cross

Notes

The story of the daring rescue of Lieutenant James Martin by Lance Corporal William Angus on 12th June 1915. Angus played for Wishaw Thistle at the time of his enlistment and was previously a professional footballer with Glasgow Celtic.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/farewell-to-football/