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“WE WANT WHITTLE”

John J O’Connor

Thursday, April 19th, 2007

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 “WE WANT WHITTLE” came the cry,
from the fours sides of the ground,
and during that dismal season,
it was the loudest sound around

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 It was the season of 75,
that ran into 76,
and the crowd would scream for Whittle,
to come on and show his tricks.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 We were languishing in the Third that year,
and the fans all felt dejected,
especially when their favorite player,
wasn’t being selected.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 “WE WANT WHITTLE” would start off low,
and then reach a rousing din,
as everyone convinced themselves,
we needed Whittle there to win.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 Alan Whittle —- signed from Everton,
was a blond haired dynamo,
but according to Big Mal Allison,
was not always the perfect pro.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 He dropped him to the subs bench,
and sometimes to the stands,
but when Whittle waved up to the crowd,
thousands clapped their hands.

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 Liverpool had their super-sub,
and Villa — Brian Little,
but their fans never begged as much,
as we did, — for Alan Whittle.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 “WE WANT WHITTLE,” came the cry,
from all sides of the ground,
and at Selhurst Park that season,
it was the loudest sound around.

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 EvenThirty plus years on,
when old time fans get bored,
the ‘WE WANT WHITTLE,” chant goes up,
to show he’s still adored.

© April 19 2007

Notes

Alan Whittle was an idol of the Crystal Palace faithful. During that season he missed numerous games through injury and indifferent form.During every game he was missing the chant of ” WE WANT WHITTLE” would rise up. Years later friends of mine actually owned a race horse that they called ” we want whittle”.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/we-want-whittle/