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My Life As A Football Fan

Steven Taylor

Saturday, June 22nd, 2024

We used to sing that Charlton (Bobby) was better than Pele.

We knew he wasn’t, objectively, but we hoped the song
Would inspire him to play better. Also, it was a measure
Of our faith. In the team, in our players. The Red Devils. Their

Collective and individual qualities. An expression of solidarity
Our willingness to stand beside them, even as the firing squad

In Goya’s great painting, ‘Third of May 1808’
Took aim and waited the command to fire. Fearless.

We were inspired and defiant. Bobby was the man
In the white shirt with his arms spread. Christ-like.
Front and centre. More than eight feet by eleven feet.
Colossal. Taller than a goal post if not (quite) as wide.

When Goya began his masterpiece he was already
In poor health and profoundly deaf. Aged 68. Me.

He wouldn’t have heard our song even if he had been stood
With us in the middle of the Stretford End. It describes Pele,
A Brazilian (and Eusebio, who played for Benfica, Portugal)

As ‘no good bums’, which somewhat diminishes Charlton’s
Status. If they were so rubbish, what kind of achievement
Was it to be better? Surely it would have made more sense
For the song to have elevated them? His contemporaries.

Football fans are an irrational bunch.

Goya’s painting transformed war art, breaking with
The European tradition of depicting kings and generals
And showing us the greater (almost divine) heroism
Of the common man. As luck would have it, United

Had become the first English football team to win
The European Cup in May 1968, defeating Eusebio
And Benfica at Wembley by four goals to one. Bobby
Charlton scored twice. A glancing header followed
By a beautiful flick with his right foot. I can’t remember

If the song came before or after.

 

Bobby was diagnosed with Dementia and died  aged 86 after an accidental fall in Macclesfield General Hospital on 21 October 2023.

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Oh England, what happened there?

joe morris

Friday, June 21st, 2024

Oh, England,
So wretched, awful
Lifeless, listless
Lackadaisical, punch drunk
Sloppy and slovenly
A throwback to the
Bad, old days
Of World Cup 1986,
When dear Ray Wilkins
Once threw his toys
Out of his pram
And England laboured
To a goal-less draw
Against Morocco
Or similarly
When Wayne Rooney
Accused England fans
Of too many objections
After 0-0 against Algeria
Last night though
England lost their way
In World Cups from yesteryear
Against Denmark, though
Oh how we’ve been here
Before, have we not?
England, stuck in that
Now familiar rut
Where all the cogs and wheels
Are rusty and in desperate
Need of oiling
England, plodding through
A forest of divots
Reminding us of cabbage patches
Of 1970s England
Toiling grimly on German
Battlegrounds
Bellingham, Saka and Arnold
Careless and reckless
No bite or ambition
Total lack of co-ordination
Round pegs in square holes
England pre-occupied by
Big pay days just
Futile afternoons in Frankfurt
Handsome wage packets
How Gareth’s men are spoilt
For last night was simply
A disgraceful shambles
Criminal negligence
Rice and Foden
Strangers in paradise
No shame or remorse
But perhaps we’re being too
Harsh, a withering verdict
Surely though, utterly horrendous
And yet it could have been
So different
Harry Kane may have picked
A plum from a German orchard
With yet another goal
But Gareth this had to be
Seen through closed eyes
Turn our heads away, now
Farcically forgettable
Danes in tandem,
Singing from the same
Hymn sheet
Light years ahead of
England, in movement
Made to measure passing
All that remains
Is Slovenia by way
Of redemption
But then again
It could be too late
England home just in
Time for Glastonbury
On last night’s evidence
Lucky to be accepted onto
The main Sunday stage,
Headline act
At Sunday twilight
When nights are falling
And acres of summer darkness
Are surrounding English football
But hold on, let’s be upbeat,
It is coming home
Germany in Euro 2024 Final
If only it could happen
But after last night’s fiasco
We are, quite literally,
Coming home

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The Frankfurt Shuffle (How Low Can We Go)

Crispin Thomas

Friday, June 21st, 2024

a poet can’t find words sometimes
the words refuse to flow
like writer’s block where chances
no longer come or go
what is it with our country
are we surprised to see
so many fans to help us on
it sure ain’t new to me ?

the weight of expectation
the anthems and the chants
the upbeat vibe that falls to flat
as we refuse to dance
a band without a frontman
the cautiousness we see
so swiftly can erase the hope
that we tune in to see

where games can be like songs sometimes
we sing through sun and rain
and some can be a mighty voice
running through your brain
while some are like a drum-beat
that rises now and then
or some a moving ballad…
but this was none of them

and quite unlike the anthem
un-freed from desire*
our defence looked terrified
and no-one was on fire
for this one begged the question
just how low can we go
a limbo with no dancers
a team that doesn’t show

you move it to the left a bit
you move it to the right,
you hide within yourself again
and just do that all night…
with no more than a shuffle*
when fans expect the earth
we rue another wasted night
on Frankfurt’s lifting turf

we used to compare England
to watching fresh paint dry
but that was more exciting
than watching this go by
when something isn’t working
it’s time for something new
there’s so much talent on the bench
let’s see what they can do

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Euro 1984

Gacina Bozidar

Thursday, June 20th, 2024

40 years ago
I saw Euro
Patience
Platini
Patience
Platini

Arconada
unlucky

Denmark classy
Preben Larsen Master

Portugal with Shalana

Beatiful France
The glorious Parc des Princes

Yugoslavia the losers
conceded 5 to Denmark

Platini took the free kicks
with Robin Hood’s precision

All this Euro was just that

Platini Platini Platini

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Turkey, Georgia, Portugal and Czech Republic

joe morris

Wednesday, June 19th, 2024

Sheer Turkish delight
With Georgia on our minds
A hat-trick of goals
Turkey devour
Early Christmas feast
In lively German markets

Portugal deservedly through
But only just
Ageless veteran
Ronaldo handsome
Of face and build
Matinee idol
Czech mate
A final throw of the dice
Last minute winner

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There’s no easy games here…

Phil Brennan

Wednesday, June 19th, 2024

In the Euros’ first week, the tension was tight,
No easy games, every team had to fight.
Portugal edged the Czech’s, just by a hair,
A 2-1 victory, nerves in the air.

Denmark and Slovenia, an entertaining draw,
One goal each, leaving fans wanting more.
England met Serbia, a 1-0 affair,
The Three Lions squeaked by, after a scare.

Italy faced Albania, a game tight as can be,
A 2-1 result, but no room for glee.
Holland met Poland in a thrilling affair,
Another 2-1, both teams did their share.

France nudged past Austria, a 1-0 feat,
An own goal gave them victory, barely tasted sweet.
Belgium faltered, Slovakia took pride,
A shocking 1-0, with the Belgians denied.

So in the first week of action, the drama’s begun,
There’s no easy games here, well, maybe just one.
Germany beat Scotland, five-one, with ease,
Leaving the tartan army down on their knees.

The next round of games are now underway,
Every team will be hopeful of extending their stay.
Fans will enjoy more bratwurst and beer,
But let’s not forget, there’s no easy games here.

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Euro 2024: Round 1: Mbappé bopped

U Rowe

Wednesday, June 19th, 2024

“There is little difference
between obstacle and opportunity.
The wise are able to turn both
to their advantage”. Machiavelli

We just need Foden
to turn both defenders
slide an inch perfect pass
into the onrushing Kane…..
and all will be right, in our world again

Failing that
it’ll be back to our bed-time reading
about Reacher
or some obscure teacher
and their sour-puss side-notes
designed more to get up-votes
rather than really delve
into the intricacies
of Proust or Beaudelaire

My take is
as I carry on my everlasting love affair
that no-one can finish
as well as Giroud the grandee:
for opportunity knocks
while Mbappé recuperates
sipping brandy

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Netherlands, Poland, Denmark and Slovenia, England and Serbia

joe morris

Monday, June 17th, 2024

Dutch courage
Orange blossom
Poles far from greasy
And slippery
Total football
Reincarnated

Danish bacon
Save the best to last
Pastries all around
Slovenia draw level
Honours even

England oh England
Warm beers and red post boxes
Vicars and cycles too
Bellingham of mighty Madrid
Sends a bullet of header
The net bulges
Once again but only
Once

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England & Netherlands Win E24#3

Crispin Thomas

Sunday, June 16th, 2024

in the late late show
Poland shine but just fall short
Oranje wall stands firm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eriksen strikes first
Danes hed by Slovenia
stalemate helps us loads

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

difficult again
Bellingham the diff’rence here
one goal is enough

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Switzerland, Spain and Italy

joe morris

Sunday, June 16th, 2024

Bouncing Albanians
Arms linked in show
Of solidarity
Yet Italian stallions
Like stately galleons
Just kept passing
Never fasting
Goals galore
Swiss never miss
To gobble up Hungarian
Goulash for lunch
Spanish armadas
Strike with pretty panache
Bull fighters in perfect disguise
Croatia never in the same ball park

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Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/page/10/