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Voles Galore..They Think It’s All Clover!

Crispin Thomas

Saturday, April 1st, 2006

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 They’re always there before the rest
And often with a towel
They dig in quick with spade or pick
And sometimes use a trowel
They like to make their presence known
As footie fans all do
And nine of them have made the trip
And got in first – it’s true!

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 The closest World Cup ticket
How much would that be worth?
Some fans are there already
But just below the earth
But in that great arena
Where Munich games will play
A family are ready
And longing for the day

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Adjacent to the corner flag
And way before the time
All nesting in a sprinkler valve
Beside that old touchline
They come from old Bavaria
They’re camped quite neaer the goals
The ground staff can’t evict them ’cause
They’re well-protected VOLES!

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 When questioned Rudi Voller
The former midfield man
Whose name translates as “vole hunter”
Declined to lend a hand
And while we wait with baited breath
For World Cup thrills galore
Those voles think it’s all clover
And they’re digging in for sure!

© CT06

Notes

1st April 2006 – It’s true! (Allegedly!)
WORLD CUP THREATENED BY VOLES!
(c) Empics 2006
Plans for this summer’s World Cup are at risk after a family of nine rare Bavarian voles were found at one of the tournament venues. Ground staff at the Allianz Arena, Munich, discovered the voles nesting in a sprinkler valve near a corner flag, just a yard from the touchline last weekend.

Strict conservation laws mean that the tiny mammals – an endangered species – cannot be moved until the young are fully weaned and ready to leave the nest in 10-12 weeks’ time. The voles are being closely monitored by local conservation groups, who have insisted they must remain undisturbed. A stadium spokesman said: “This is an unusual and rather inconvenient situation, but these creatures are protected by strict laws by which we must abide. It appears they will remain there for the remainder of the Bundesliga [league] season and possibly into the World Cup”.

The 59,416-seater stadium, home of Bayern Munich, is due to host six matches including the tournament’s opening game on Friday 9 June.
Organisers hope the voles will have moved on by then, but provisions are being put in place to protect them with a plastic shield should they still be nesting.

In the meantime, players are being asked to take care not to disturb the nest when warming up along the touchline and taking corner kicks.
Former German midfielder and manager Rudi Völler, whose Bavarian family name translates as “vole hunter”, has declined to comment.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/voles-galore-they-think-its-all-clover/