Could Have Beens + News+ KIO Workshops
Hi all -Mid August 2005
1 COULD HAVE BEENS & NEWS..
2 BLACK HISTORY MONTH & KICK IT OUT WORKSHOPS
NEWS
hi again from the over-stretched, under-funded , voluntary mad and oft -abused and ridiculed but un-deterred editorial staff, such as it is! We sometimes need to remind you,.we do this purely for fun .It was started for a laugh, after a poetry gig in a cafe in Stroud to provide a platform and voice for fans in verse and beyond. A place to wax lyrical on what we love and loathe in the game, without getting offensive or overtly political, sectarian, racist or abusive. We’ve struggled through somehow. It’s your site remember, so please keep it clean. Think of it as a last remaining environmental bastion of football to respect and enjoy – while airing your thoughts in a diverse and readable way .
Submitting New Poems….
Please don’t submit messages in the submit poems section. .If it continues we might be forced to close the site down, as we had to do with the guest book. Please contact us with any queries or requests by e-mails. Thank you.! Just e-mail us it’s easy and doesn’t clog up the site which then has to be constantly de-fragmented…Despite our limitations…the site has grown (though barely changed technologically!) out of all proportion. It needs to expand and adapt of course.Our goal and remit remains though to simply encourage and inspire writing, performing and reading through football..Of some 6750+ poems , there are another 4500+ unacceptable ones (often messages) that we have had to unfortunately delete . Some 11000 football poem/entries per se .. from all over the planet in five years !
We probably are the largest football poetry web-site in the world. We reguarly close our eyes to some of the abuse we have received of late towards poets or for our not being up to speed with the site etc; Until we either get some funding or can afford to get them done . I”m sorry but this is it. . Instead for now, let’s move forward together in the spirit of football….One day , but don’t get excited, we might even get the long-awaited book out!. We hope the silent and invisible minority who continue to hound us, will contribute in a creative way and be over-whelmed and inspred by the new poetry writers out there, both young and old who will visit us over the next months.. Have a great season whoever you support…but do go on supporting the site too..in a positive way .We know what we want to do…come with us. Take care out there and keep writing – Crispin.
a couple of poems here.. on things some of us could have been.. and things some become….and for rich substitutes everywhere currently warming benches..
I COULD HAVE BEEN
I could have been a keeper
protecting all I own
in every team I’ve always been
the one who stood alone
the needle in a haystack
with trusty hand and fist
I moved the goalposts to become
an acupuncturist
I could have been the linchpin
the prince of common sense
as steadfast as a rock in storms
for any world defence
but now I tend to flowerbeds
and fight off each attack
from slugs and snails a gardener now
I’m never going back
I could have been a winger
creating goals with style
I’d leave defenders stranded
and make supporters smile
from decorating games with flair
I roller as I roam
and now I rush with paint and brush
around your room and home
I could have been a striker
the predatory one
deliv’ring goals as if on cue
until each game was won
I’m still ahead of all the rest
I’m up from break of day
I’m still the cream of any team
a milkman I will stay
I could have been a manager
the one to rule and reign
a lion-taming mountaineer
but maybe then again
I’d rather be a humble fan
connected loyal and true
for bosses come and strikers go
but fans stay through and through
@Crispin Thomas 05..probably inspired by Nick Drake..
.Moral? Great players and managers come and go.but no-one stays loyal or faithful as true fans….it’s a life and death thing
—————————————————————————–
I PITY THE RICH SUBSTITUTE
I pity the rich substitute
the bench their season’s home
they remonstrate but relegate
their painful thoughts alone
the bank may smile and stay content
their partners understand
such fleeting talent sidelined
this flame all left un-fanned
how do they fight frustration
these Owens Coles and all
to train all week but come the day
they rarely touch the ball
that moment when the boss gets up
the clock on seventy
the warming up so oft in vain
that stressful choice of three
Diegó Forlan got it right
a star again in Spain
Scott Parker was a fan all year
through sun and wind and rain
and what will they look back upon
the day their legs grow weak
no countless caps or trophies
the future’s rich but bleak
what memories to savour
upon this ship of fools
the prime of life in shackles
in growing squads and pools
I pity the rich substitute
in pocket for a while
you rub your eyes it’s over
your youth your skill your style
@ Crispin Thomas August 2005
——————————————————————————–
2 BLACK HISTORY MONTH POETRY WORKSHOPS OCT 2005
” today we will find out how everyone is different
red black or blue
yet everyone is the same
don’t be a fool
can’t you see
all of us hate Racism
don’t give in ”
By Khwezi Newanyana and Anne Murphy – St Hughs’,Liverpool
BLACK HISTORY MONTH & ‘KICK IT OUT’
Education Through Football Poetry Workshops
with Crispin Thomas+Albert Nyathi & Imbongi (Zimbabwe)***
OCTOBER 2005
THU 8 MORPERTH School
SAT 15 PADDINGTON Library 10.30-1pm *** Chelsea FC E.T.F
WED 19 FULHAM FC Study Centre
THU 20 WEST HAM Learning Zone
FRI 21 WEST HAM Learning Zone
SAT 22 BARON’S COURT Library*** Chelsea FC E.T.F
DATE TBC NORTHAMPTON TOWN Cobblers Study Centre
DATE TBC BROCKWORTH School .Glos
To find out more about Workshops please contact Crispin Thomas:
crispin@ctmuk.freeserve.co.uk or editors@footbalLpoets.org
or by phone on 01453 757376
With Black History Month fast approaching….time to reflect and think upon the thoughts that children put on paper when tackling racism through poetry in our workshops.This October I will be working with West Ham and Chelsea (at the WHU Study Cente and in libraries) plus Northampton Town TBC (home of Walter Tull the first professional black outfield player – *allegedly!) . Also at a school in Morperth , Northumberland. When we are in libraries the public often wander in bemused …so do drop by if you’re around.!.
Paddington is a great case in mind. For the Chelea workshops I will be working alongside the wonderful Albert Nyathi, the premier dub-performance poet of Zimbabwe, who has appeared before Nelson Mandela. He is touring here with his stunning Hi Life band IMBONGI (means “praise poets”).They played to a great crowd at the National Theatre in London the other night.The band are also gonna show up in full tribal dress and stuff ! It would be great also to run another Kick It Out competition on the site..we’ll see..so many
things… maybe ..stay tuned C.
***For more info on IMBONGI & ALBERT NYATHI + dates go to
www.ctmuk.com/imbongi
SOME MORE POIGNANT KIDS POEMS FROM THE WORKSHOPS
AT LIVERPOOL(at Everton Study Centre!) January 05…
SHOWING RACISM THE RED CARD IN POETRY…..
.
POEMS from St HUGH’S CATHOLIC Primary School, Liverpool.
MY WORLD IS DIFFERENT
My world is different yes it’s true
You are a colour and I’m one too
Why do people shout and fight?
Only because it’s not right
Racism must be stopped
If its not we’ll all be lost
Don’t be mean or act all hard
Because we’re trying to show racism the red card.
Aaliyah McGuinness – St Hughs’
——————————————
RACISM IS NOT SO COOL
Racism is so not cool
At the ground or at your school
Colour doesn’t mean a thing
If you’re poor or covered in bling
Stop racism today –
Make it happen today.
#Aimen Maksoud and Jamie McLoughlin – St Hughs’,Liverpool
——————————————————-
WE’RE ALL THE SAME
My world is like a football game,
You may be different but we’re all the same,
Why do people die and cry?
Over colour tell me why?
Racism is quite sad,
I feel that it is really bad
Don’t call people black or white.
Amina Abdullah – St Hughs’,Liverpool
—————————————————————-
FOOTBALL IS A GAME
Football is a game we play
Scoring goals everyday
Some people say things that are bad
It makes me really sad
On the pitch they kick and run
When most of us want to have fun.
Jessica Kunz – St Hughs’,Liverpool
——————————————————————
RACISM’S NOT WELCOME HERE – Acrostic
Racism’s not welcome here
At your school or anywhere
Cause we are so very cool
In this place in Liverpool
Some people come from different lands
Make this WHOLE WORLD understand!
Linda Kunz & Julie Kavanagh – St Hughs’,Liverpool
——————————————————-
RACISM IS NOT THE SOLUTION
scared and frightened
How would you feel if other people bullied you
whether you are black or white
Racism is not the solution
as you see they will never win
can we show racism the door?
It’s time for us to say no more
Some people need to learn more
about what racism can do –
today we will find out how everyone is different
red black or blue
yet everyone is the same
don’t be a fool – cant you see
all of us hate Racism
don’t give in
By Khwezi Newanyana and Anne Murphy – St Hughs’,Liverpool
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
Denys E. W. Jones
30th January 2023
joe morris
29th January 2023
Crispin Thomas
25th January 2023
joe morris
23rd January 2023
Denys E. W. Jones
23rd January 2023
joe morris
14th January 2023
joe morris
8th January 2023
kevin raymond
7th January 2023
joe morris
6th January 2023
Crispin Thomas
6th January 2023
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
5th December 2022 at 8:11 pm
Stuart, you are not alone, in your dichotomy of doubt
but without dissention
you stand alone
in hogging our attention!
See in context
16th November 2022 at 11:04 am
[Football on soiled turf]
This is a wonderful phrase which I shall be using from now on!
See in context
15th November 2022 at 3:54 pm
Well said Crispin. One of the reasons for The Ball 2022/23 is exactly this – that FIFA need to know. The Ball is essentially a petition to FIFA to honour their commitments to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework. They signed up; they should act. The Qatar tournament takes the World Cup in the opposite direction to that commitment. And 2026 looks like it’ll be even worse.
See in context
8th November 2022 at 2:06 pm
Hi Guys
Re ‘Lets Boycott Qatar ‘ poem
You probably hate me banging on..and problably know (like me) that my/your not watching the World Cup in Qatar will make no difference.
Of course it won’t. That’s not the point.
OK someone might possibly eventually publish a minimal drop in terrestrial TV viewer numbers, but I fear that is unlikely.
But please above all, do go on writing poems about the World Cup, as/you we have always done. I hate to think a poem or two of mine might l make you feel bad about comenting on a game or country …or that I’ve put you all off about wanting to contribute.
So we’d love to hear from you and read your thoughts and observations, as ever on what’s going on.
Some of us have been here since Football Poets website birth/inception for the Euros 2000 ….
All my best wishes
Crispin
See in context
18th October 2022 at 10:06 am
Shoot! (Something we’ve also been screaming in vain at our team all season !)
Great memories Joe . Before Shoot, it was Roy of the Rovers comic too, dropping through my letterbox.
Anxiously waiting each week to see if they survived in the mexcian jungle after an ambush..or a pre-season earthquake!
See in context
3rd October 2022 at 8:32 pm
Thanks for the kind words Sharon. Yes, it was a shame with Billy Shako, but with five subs now being allowed, he might yet make it off the bench. Even if it’s just a cameo to close out a poem.
See in context
2nd October 2022 at 1:49 pm
John, your new book is an absolute delight and more please. It’s a shame ‘Swapping Shirts With Shakespeare’ never made it off the bench, but quality football poets light up the writing fields like Roman candles. Go well.
See in context
4th September 2022 at 12:42 pm
Great memories Greg. Took me right back.
Today I stand on a small terrace in the hills where I live watching Forest Green Rovers in L1, and keep up with Chelsea on highlights. It’s a far cry and a world away from those times when I lived as a child within walking distance of ‘The Bridge’ – just off the Ifield Road, which led to Fulham Road. The Blues were rubbish for so long, but we loved them and somehow we stayed in the old First Division for so many seasons. And of course we got to see Greavesie at his impudent best, scoring goals for fun. Mad unpredictable games where we’d score 4 and let in five.
The looming floodlights in the dark and mist on magic night games. The big games when the ground heaved.
I don’t think we ever realized how magical and incredible it was back then. The atmosphere and arriving there so early – like you said.. just to make sure you got in. Back when Bovril, tea and cake and roasted peanuts for sixpence a back were just about all on offer.
Good times.
See in context
4th September 2022 at 12:37 pm
see above
See in context
18th August 2022 at 10:20 am
To put it politely!
See in context