Football Poets

Inside the mind of the school team goalie.

¶ 1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Feel so proud at the age of ten,
cos I’ve fullfilled my dream,
I’m named as starting goalie,
for my school football team.

¶ 2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 I see myself as an international,
when I play — in the playground,
cos I am in the school team,
and new found fame I’ve found.

¶ 3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 I get to leave school early,
when a game away we play
upsetting my un-sporting teacher,
but there’s nothing he can say.

¶ 4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 I gaze into the future,
and see I’m a superstar,
so goodbye to my history books,
farewell to algebra.

¶ 5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 I dream of saving free kicks,
that are swerved in, placed and curled,
as I head home after school
to my secret practice world.

¶ 6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 I can’t play in the garden,
because usually rain is lashin,
but in my tiny bedroom
I’m Gordon Banks and Yashin.

¶ 7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 A tennis ball against the wall,
and I dive for the rebound,
trying at the same time
not to make a sound.

¶ 8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 My six yard box which I command
is the battered little bed,
softer than the pavement
where I often bled.

¶ 9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 Neighbours peering over,
convinced that I am wacko,
but I’m only emulating
my Palace hero Jacko.

¶ 10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 I fantazise I’m playing
for Palace in the cup,
and Chelsea get a penalty
and Osgood he steps up.

¶ 11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 He looks at first to place it,
but then decides to rip it,
as I dive across my mattress
and around the bed-post tip it.

¶ 12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 My autograph is practiced
for two hours every night
changing it around,
until I get it right.

¶ 13 Leave a comment on verse 13 0 In eight years time they’ll refer to me,
as the up and coming Shilton,
as I hang out with the stars
and crash out at the Hilton.

¶ 14 Leave a comment on verse 14 0 The school keepers jersey
was a polo neck of wool,
and when I had it on
I thought I looked so cool.

¶ 15 Leave a comment on verse 15 0 School emblem displayed
proudly on the chest,
I was ready for Pele,
Eusebio and Best.

¶ 16 Leave a comment on verse 16 0 I’m still not very tall,
and I cannot touch the bar,
and despite my hardest efforts,
my goal kicks don’t go far.

¶ 17 Leave a comment on verse 17 0 All the goals had puddles
the pitches all huge slopes,
you could be 6-0 down at half-time
and if you’re down-hill still have hopes.

¶ 18 Leave a comment on verse 18 0 There was no net or onion bag,
to bulge when someone scored
and periods of inactivity
often left you bored.

¶ 19 Leave a comment on verse 19 0 You’re praying for a shot to save
when you’re well ahead,
but when the game is even,
another shot you dread.

¶ 20 Leave a comment on verse 20 0 The rival schools hard men,
congregate behind your goal,
warning you to let one,
through your fingers roll.

¶ 21 Leave a comment on verse 21 0 These threats at times could be,
difficult to ignore,
but there’s no way —- in the world
you’re goin to let them score.

¶ 22 Leave a comment on verse 22 0 Because we’re only ten,
the game only lasts an hour,
with half an orange at half-time,
for vitamin C and power.

¶ 23 Leave a comment on verse 23 0 We won the Croydon league that year,
of my young life, the highlight,
but at sixteen there was no Palace
only a dirty building site.

¶ 24 Leave a comment on verse 24 0 So what I’m trying to say young chaps,
is listen up to me,
just because your’e good in goal
don’t quit on history.

¶ 25 Leave a comment on verse 25 0 Nor English, Maths or Geography,
cos they’re all your future tools.
because for every Nigel Martyn
there’s a hundred thousand fools.