|

If – dedicated to Survival Sunday 2005

S B Ingle

Thursday, May 12th, 2005

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 If you can take your chances when all around you
Are missing theirs and don’t know what to do
If you can trust yourself when others doubt you
But make allowance for their ‘keeper too
If you can play for ninety minutes plus
Without playing too deep, don’t play too deep
Don’t give way to tackles, get up, no fuss
Yet don’t back off, nor fall asleep
If you can defend and not make defending a disaster
If you can pass and preferably to a team mate
If you can serve your public and your master
And rely on skill and effort, not on Fate
If you can bear to hear the final results
Misread by presenters who know not what they do
Or watch the team you gave your life to – insulted
And cheer and build ’em up, belief renewed
If you can keep going to the final whistle
Risk it all on one toss of a coin
If you lose a goal, don’t forget to dodge the missiles
And not mention that you’ve strained your groin
If you can force your legs and heart and scar tissue
To mark your man long after they are gone
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Gaffer who says to them ‘Hold on’
If you can thrill the crowd and keep them singing
Salute the board, but make good your first touch
If it hurts you when you are not winning
If all goals count for you, flukes and such
If you can fill the unforgiving minutes
Added by mean officials just for fun
Yours is the Premiership and everything that’s in it
And – which is more – you’ll be a hero, Ashton

Notes

‘If’ is a big word

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/if-dedicated-to-survival-sunday-2005/