Football Poets

[Football on soiled turf]

This is a wonderful phrase which I shall be using from now on!

Well said Crispin. One of the reasons for The Ball 2022/23 is exactly this – that FIFA need to know. The Ball is essentially a petition to FIFA to honour their commitments to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework. They signed up; they should act. The Qatar tournament takes the World Cup in the opposite direction to that commitment. And 2026 looks like it’ll be even worse.

Hi Guys

Re ‘Lets Boycott Qatar ‘ poem

You probably hate me banging on..and problably know (like me) that my/your not watching the World Cup in Qatar will make no difference.

Of course it won’t. That’s not the point.

OK someone might possibly eventually publish a minimal drop in terrestrial TV viewer numbers, but I fear that is unlikely.

But please above all, do  go on writing poems about the World Cup, as/you we have always done. I hate to think a poem or two of mine might l make you feel bad about comenting on a game or country …or that I’ve put you all off  about wanting to contribute.

So we’d love to hear from you and read your thoughts and observations, as ever on what’s going on.

Some of us have been here since Football Poets website  birth/inception for the Euros 2000 ….

All my best wishes

Crispin

Shoot! (Something we’ve also been screaming in vain at our team all season !)

Great memories Joe . Before Shoot, it was Roy of the Rovers comic too, dropping through my letterbox.

Anxiously waiting each week to see if they survived in the mexcian jungle after an ambush..or a pre-season earthquake!

Thanks for the kind words Sharon.  Yes, it was a shame with Billy Shako, but with five subs now being allowed, he might yet make it off the bench. Even if it’s just a cameo to close out a poem.

John, your new book is an absolute delight and more please. It’s a shame ‘Swapping Shirts With Shakespeare’ never made it off the bench, but quality football poets light up the writing fields like Roman candles. Go well.

Great memories Greg. Took me right back.

Today I stand on a small terrace in the hills where I live watching Forest Green Rovers in L1, and keep up with Chelsea on highlights.  It’s a far cry and a world away from those times when I lived as a child within walking distance of ‘The Bridge’ – just off the Ifield Road, which led to Fulham Road. The Blues were rubbish for so long, but we loved them and somehow we stayed in the old First Division for so many seasons. And  of course we got to see Greavesie at his impudent best, scoring goals for fun. Mad unpredictable games where we’d score 4 and let in five.

The looming floodlights in the dark and mist on magic night games. The big games when the ground heaved.

I don’t think we ever realized how magical and incredible it was back then. The atmosphere and arriving there so early – like you said.. just to make sure you got in. Back when Bovril, tea and cake and roasted peanuts for sixpence a back were just about all on offer.

Good times.

see above

To put it politely!

Thank you. It is great.