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TACTICAL ERROR

John J O’Connor

Tuesday, November 4th, 2003

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Pep talk from the Captain,
who’s from the playing fields of Eton,
he drills into his players,
that they never will be beaten.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 “Chaps —- don’t worry about the Arsenal,
just stick to our formation,
and once we have them beaten,
we’ll have a celebration.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 A brandy ration is distributed,
to counter pre-match tension,
as the players line up to go on the pitch,
full of apprehension.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 Some are praying quietly,
while others struggle with their kit,
some can’t wait for action,
they’re chomping at the bit.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 ATTACK– ATTACK — ATTACK,
is the order of the day,
which seems a little odd,
as the lads are playing away.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 They’re frightened and bewildered,
when they hear the whistle blow,
as up the ladder and on the pitch,
they are told to go.

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 Once out on the grassy pitch,
they’re greeted by a cauldron of sound,
but unfortunately for them,
this is not a football ground.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 This isn’t Windsor Park,
or the Hawthorns at West Brom,
it’s the final game they’ll ever play,
on a green field called THE SOMME.

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 June the first, the year of sixteen,
a day of death and terror,
a generation lost by breakfast,
cos the tacticians made an error.

10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 So when Remembrance day comes around,
remember them with pride,
cos if you were ever in the trenches,
you’d want them by your side.

© J J O Nov O3

Notes

20,000 dead, 57,000 wounded on the first day on the Somme.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/tactical-error/