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The Ballad of Richie Baker

Peter Goulding

Thursday, February 12th, 2004

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 The Stella Maris superstar,
We thought he would be great.
The most exciting youth by far
To play within the state.
Those deadly forays down the flanks,
Those crosses hard and low,
They made us voice our earnest thanks
And set our hearts aglow.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 No fullback stood an earthly chance
With Richie in full swing.
He led them all a merry dance
While flying down the wing.
And though he’s only three feet tall,
He excelled in the air,
Timed his leap to reach the ball
And won it fair and square.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Whispers scurried round the ground
Of transfer speculation.
English scouts were sniffing ‘round
To gauge the situation.
How much would we stand to get
If contracts should be proffered?
Should Shels hold out for more, or let
Him go for what was offered?

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 Sadly it was not to be.
No offer was forthcoming.
The English pagans could not see
This was the Second Coming.
And as the foreign interest waned,
So Richie seemed affected.
His fine form slipped, both unexplained
And greatly unexpected.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 The fullbacks gave him little space
And marked him very tightly.
Unable to employ his pace,
Poor Richie shone less brightly.
So bad it got, the home crowd turned,
And bayed for his exclusion.
Below-par efforts merely earned
Him heckles in profusion.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 No longer was he Spring-Heeled Jack,
Defenders were much wiser,
And every cynical left back
That faced him was a miser.
Whate’er he tried would not go right,
He couldn’t cross for tuppence,
But still he’d battle, chase and fight
Whilst getting a come-uppance.

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 But in his final season, his
Detractors saw their error,
For once again he was the biz,
Instilling backs with terror.
His form helped Shels to win the league,
But though so highly feted,
Despite the obvious fatigue,
He upped and emigrated.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 New England’s where he plies his trade,
Exhorted by Steve Nicholl.
Perhaps he’ll shine, perhaps he’ll fade,
For football can be fickle.
But dreams and hopes remain alive,
Though Richie may be gone.
His fighting spirit will survive,
For memories linger on.

© Peter Goulding 12th February 2004

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/the-ballad-of-richie-baker/