Football Poets

THE GREATEST KEEPER OF THEM ALL

¶ 1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 This poem’s my opinion,
their’s no scientific proof,
some readers they will disagree,
and say it’s not the truth.

¶ 2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 It’s about the greatest keeper,
who I have ever seen,
a giant of an Ulster man,
with the padded shirt of green.

¶ 3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 They talk of Banks and Yashin,
Tomaszewski the Polish clown,
but the finest stopper of them all,
hailed from the County Down.

¶ 4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 His name was Patrick Jennings,
he was agile, tall and brave,
and the sporting headlines of the day,
of his performances would rave.

¶ 5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 He started out at Watford,
joining Spurs for a minor fee,
and he collected a cup winners medal,
in a win against Chel – sea.

¶ 6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 They said his hands were shovels,
but they were more like J.C.B ‘s ,
as he plucked the ball out of the air,
one handed with such ease.

¶ 7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 He scored against United,
in the F.A Charity Shield,
beating Alex Stepney,
with a punt right up the field.

¶ 8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 They said he was uncoachable,
cos his style was so unique,
he’d save the ball, with elbows,
with knee caps and his feet.

¶ 9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 A quiet and unassuming man,
who was rarely interviewed,
even at away grounds,
you’d never hear him booed.

¶ 10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 He saved two pens at Anfield once,
in a stunning one man show,
and the Spion Kop sang out his name,
even though he was the foe.

¶ 11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 After twelve great years at Tottenham,
he moved two miles, cross town,
to sign for rivals Arsenal,
did ‘Big Pat’ from the County Down.

¶ 12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 85 at Wembley,
he emerged his countries hero,
as England bombarded the Irish goal,
but the result was zero – zero.

¶ 13 Leave a comment on verse 13 0 The North required a draw that night,
for World cup qualifying,
and Jennings made some stunning saves,
that were gravity defying.

¶ 14 Leave a comment on verse 14 0 He starred in two World Cups,
in Mexico and Spain,
when Northern Ireland’s spirit,
won them world acclaim.

¶ 15 Leave a comment on verse 15 0 His hundred and nineteenth and final cap,
was against the legendary Brazil,
who won in Guadalajara,
by a score of four to nil.

¶ 16 Leave a comment on verse 16 0 He had great times with Arsenal,
gathering up more silverware,
but the creaking body told him,
’twas time for the rocking chair.

¶ 17 Leave a comment on verse 17 0 So the arguments will rage on,
was the greatest Zoff or Zenga?
And you’ll hear the name Dave Seaman,
mentioned by Arsene Wenger.

¶ 18 Leave a comment on verse 18 0 Some will say Sepp Maier,
but they have to be taking the Michael,
and of course the Man United fans,
will bring up Peter Schmeichel.

¶ 19 Leave a comment on verse 19 0 Old timers, they will throw in names,
Frank Swift — Elijah Scott,
but I know that Big Pat Jennings,
was the finest of the lot.

¶ 20 Leave a comment on verse 20 0 The youngsters too will have their views,
and mention Cech and Kahn,
but as they say in Ulster,
” big Patrick, he’s yer marn.”

¶ 21 Leave a comment on verse 21 0 Now gather all your evidence,
and put it to the jury,
and when the verdict is announced,
they’ll pick the man from Newry.

¶ 22 Leave a comment on verse 22 0 So put him in the Hall of Fame,
and place upon his head a crown,
cos the greatest keeper of them all,
was ‘ BIG PAT FROM THE COUNTY DOWN ‘.