I am a teacher and writer. From an early age I loved writing stories and imaginary football reports, such as when our local park team, King’s Own, in The Wimbledon and District Football League, supposedly held Don Revie’s Leeds United, in their considerable pomp, to a 0-0 draw at the Recreation Ground down the road. I also loved reading about football in Charles Buchan’s Football Monthly. But the main thing was the weekly journey to Craven Cottage or Plough Lane, depending on who was home. Fulham were in Division One then, and Wimbledon were in the Southern League. There didn’t seem to be any conflict of interest back then. I suppose my No. 1 team then were Fulham, because they had Johnny Haynes, and all the great teams of the day came to play: Man United (NOT Man U then!) with Denis Law, George Best and Bobby Charlton; Liverpool, with Ian St John and Ian Callaghan; Leeds Utd with Jack Charlton and Peter Lorimer. And some great victories: Beating Newcastle Utd 5-1; Man City 4-1. But Fulham, as a selling club, would always replace great stars with has-beens and there was never enough ambition: too much emphasis on show business and funny players like Tosh Chamberlain who supposedly took a drag of a fan’s cigarette before taking a corner. I always felt they were on their way down. Yet Wimbledon, then semi-professional, had their own distinguished history, were demonstrably on their way up. And what a journey it was at that homely, ramshackle ground that was not seen as fit to grace the Premier League, where the fans used to change ends at half time with the players. Imperceptibly Wimbledon became my No 1 team. After all, they were a 15 minute walk away, not 3 tube stops and a long walk away.
As a writer I began with painstakingly researched historical plays about the Second World War, before branching out into monologues and audio plays. And then, about 6 months ago, I went on a performance poetry course and that really fired my imagination. I write poems inspired by football, history, nature, human relationships, cooking and technology.
About This Site
Welcome to Football Poets -- a club for all football poets, lovers of football and lovers of (alternative) poetry. Discover poets in every league from respected internationals at the top of their game to young hopefuls in the school playground.
Publish your football poems here and then discuss them with your team mates and fans. We're archived by The British Library, so your masterpieces are in the safe hands of a world-class keeper. What a result!
My Account
Latest Poems
joe morris
25th April 2024
Denys E. W. Jones
25th April 2024
kevin halls
23rd April 2024
Alex Saynor
23rd April 2024
joe morris
23rd April 2024
Crispin Thomas
22nd April 2024
Denys E. W. Jones
21st April 2024
joe morris
20th April 2024
Clik The Mouse
15th April 2024
Mike Bartram
15th April 2024
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
25th April 2024 at 7:33 pm
Hi Denys,
Thanks mate. I’ll do it now.
See in context
25th April 2024 at 1:56 pm
Thanks Joe,
you might like to write a poem yourself on the same subject…
See in context
23rd April 2024 at 4:03 pm
Hi Denys
With you all the way on the abolition of FA Cup replays. What are they doing to the game?
See in context
23rd April 2024 at 3:59 pm
Hi Crispin,
Yes sorry mate. Villa are still in Europe. Mistake rectified.
Cheers
Joe
See in context
20th April 2024 at 12:04 pm
Hi Joe
Shouldn’t your title read your poem Farewell Europe England to everyone exccept Aston Villa ?
I know you mention them in your poem , but I do feel sorry for Villa re the national press .
Largely ignored. the hype was was all about Man City & Arsenal with a bit of a nod to the Hammers..but hardly a mention of Villa..
So well done to them
C
.
See in context
19th March 2024 at 8:00 am
Hi Crispin. Chris Sutton on the radio has gone for a Chelsea v Coventry final. As we know anything can happen in the Cup, and I reckon we can go to the final.
We’re still in with a chance of the play offs too, so lots to go for.
See in context
19th March 2024 at 7:41 am
Hey Kev
Let the masses drool over their odds on City v Unted Final, but who knows how pressure can hit.
Cov and Chels will be rightly labelled as having no chance..but hey …stranger things have happened..
so Chelsea v Coventry…that’s the Final for us!
Best
C
See in context
29th January 2024 at 10:03 pm
Hi Crispin,
How are you doing mate? Yes, you’re probably right but hey football is all about emotion and passion and I just love writing about the game. I try to keep my poetry to a reasonable length but there’s so much to write about the game and its literature just lends itself naturally to poetry. Sometimes I just get completely carried and I do apologise for the length of my poetry but it’s a great thrill to be associated with Football Poets.
Cheers mate
Joe
See in context
10th January 2024 at 7:52 pm
You’re right of course Joe but…..it’s actually more of a big welcome break for everyone who is not into Premier League ..I’m talking fans of EFL National League and below…..
Btw …is this actually your longest poem ever !?
Best
Crispin
See in context
8th January 2024 at 4:45 pm
Thanks!
See in context