|

The Collector

mark merriman

Friday, December 30th, 2005

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Over three hundred programmes,
each telling its own story,
each extolling the virtues
and various merits of STFC.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 £2.50 will buy the current glossy brochure;
a world away from my first programme:
a thin affair for the visit of West Ham
in a cup replay in ’75. Cost? 10p!

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Yet this programme is special
as a reminder of Town’s heroics
in various cup competitions played before
packed crowds, on paddy field pitches.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 Two years later ( in ’77 ) 20p
will buy the “souvenir issue” so that you
can look back on the day when Town
drew with the mighty Everton.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 When Spurs drew in town in ’80
front cover shows artist’s
impression of two cartoon characters
in a race for the ball- only one winner.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 The ‘Town Crier’ of ’86 unveils a scroll
for a memorable promotion scrap:
Swindon v Chester;4-2 to the home side,
capacity crowd. All this for 50p!

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 Town record their first win in
the Premier league, 1-0 against
QPR in November ’93;
read all about it and remember for £1.50.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 So many Swindon legends haunt
the front covers down the years:
Ooh Shaun Taylor, the Don, Jan the Man,
Shearer, Chalkie, Super Sam.

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 Cliche-ridden notes abound
from managers of great reknown:
Hoddle, Ardiles, little Lou,
MacMahon, Trollope, Bob Smith too.

10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 Now Iffy Onuora is Swindon boss.
Resplendent in red on the cover
of the programme in ’99, top scorer’s boots
swapped for smart, sharp suit.

© mark merriman 18 sept 2004

Notes

When looking through my extensive collection of STFC programmes the other day – I know I need to get out more – I noticed how much they have changed over the years both in terms of quantity and price!!

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/the-collector/