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It’s not like it was in the old days

Neale Blackburn

Tuesday, March 13th, 2001

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 It’s not like it was in the old days!

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 The premierships top boys by playing it clever
Can corner the market, stay up there forever
Big money European fixtures attract their best team
In the Worthington cup watch their under nineteens!

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 They say sky’s been good. In many ways their right
revolutionised coverage, armchair fans delight
With huge cash injections they’ve pushed our game forward
Raising it’s profile to draw top stars from abroad.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 Don’t be mistaken they’re not altruistic
Businessman Digger is most realistic
He knew that the way to defeat bsb
Was to tie our game to his SKY TV.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 Paying much more than anyone thought it was worth
Saw his chimney woks spread to the ends of the earth
The peoples game had been auctioned and though live everyday
Became the preserve of those who could pay.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 But they’ve done something else away from the screen
They’ve changed our game in a way unforeseen.
The scramble for cash sees chairman become madder
As the premier league few seek to pull up the ladder.

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 I witnessed Wimbledon who like them or not?
Climbed four divisions from nowhere and with their best shot
humbled the mighty scousers champions home and abroad
As Denis Wise crossed and Laurie Sanchez scored.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 With my son I watch Bolton mostly through a frown
As we fight our way up and bounce straight back down
Is this team successful? He struggles to divine
with survival dictated by the foreigners we sign.

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 Away from the hype of the false promised land
I’m forced to admit that I don’t understand
Where the game has arrived at if cause for elation
For two thirds of the league is to avoid relegation

10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 They’re playing for the cash line by line clause by clause
But where are the men who would die for the cause?
The players with team tattooed on their heart
Who would climb from their deathbed if called to take part.

11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 The era is seems gone when we all had the chance
To end a long season in victorious dance
Can it really be right that play-off fights to get up
Have assumed more importance than the old FA Cup.

12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 Glorious uncertainty has gone by the by
You can’t blame the big boys for seeking to try
To hold their positions atop all our shoulders
Their forced to achieve to pay their shareholders.

© njb2001

Notes

A bleak vision but my own.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/its-not-like-it-was-in-the-old-days/