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Jack of all trades – Football’s unsung utility men

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 I like to refer to them as the “V” men
Humble, in the background types
Workhorses carrying out a range of roles
With double toil to earn their stripes

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Kenny Burns switched to centreback
Orchestrated by Old Big Head
The bedrock to become twice a Euro winner
Foreign strikeforces were ripped to a shred

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Peter (Schmeichel) the great was an extra centre back
Many times Sprinting up as third striker
Carlos Alberto, swapping roles with Jair
Just was he a full back or winger?

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 At Anfield the epitome of versatility
Accomplished even in baseball
Carra is one who never walks alone
Be it strike, mid, fullback, central

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 Chris Sutton of the SAS variety
Partnered ably with Dizzy Dion Dublin
Aided by the devastating pace of Warhurst
Performing artiste with a violin

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 The Germans are a nation of utility
There’s Der Kaiser Franz Beckenbauer
Then there’s Buchwald, Breitner, Basler
Commander Mathaus unleashing the power

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 Leeds Madeley served in all of ten roles
Even then outshone by a world champ
As Martin Peters starred in all the eleven
Gaining his mug on a first class stamp

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 There’s the Welsh dragon John Charles
Gentle giant standing tall
Rock at the back, rapier up front
Arguably the greatest in British football

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 You’d do a lot worse than Rene Higuita
A keeper to play the sweeper
Though eccentric the clown was brilliant
But look out for Mr Milla

10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 Total football led to Berry Van Aerle
Africa gave Essien and Geremi
Hargreaves, P Neville, Matt Elliott
With a Sombrero we’ve “Nacho” Ambriz

11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 Hence these are the folks that make it all happen
There’s no doubt regarding their esteem
Insurpassable, unflinching, invaluable
And very much the heartbeat of a team

12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 Number 7
© Emdad Rahman

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/jack-of-all-trades-footballs-unsung-utility-men/