A September Welcome
This September, we welcomed the following new contributors :
Willie McCloskey
George Stanworth
Ben McCaughtry
Caddy
Tom Pine
Ewan McGregor
Héber Bensi
Neal Zetter
Sandra Wallett
And a renewed welcome to Darren O’Keeffe – who posted just the once in Feb 2006, but has returned with his passionate poems about Cork City FC.
Some examples :
In the bleak mid-table (Feethams, 1999)
Four shining spades
shovel back the gloom:
the sometime sodden shroud
dusks the winter skyline
A huddle of stands
shirk the prying Skerne:
Quakers versus Stags,
in the bleak mid-table.
Gabbiadini glides and gleams
as an uninhibited stream
cuts across a misty moorland and
the ball simply follows
© Tom Pine, 2006
Feethams and its often-waterlogged pitch closed in 2003 and is now undergoing demolition, having been replaced by a new plastic stadium on the edge of town. Marco Gabbiadini became unhappy at the club and joined Northampton Town in 2001, but remains a Darlington legend. He scored a hat-trick against the Stags of Mansfield Town. For his third, he collected the ball out wide and beat two men before curling a shot just inside the far post from 20 yards. The match ended 5-1.
Football Fan
I’m a football fan
That’s what I am
A slave to the round ball
Been obsessed since I was at school
I’m in it for the long haul
I’m a football fan
It’s the game to excite
A flame that I ignite
It’s got body
It’s got bite
From August through to May
Every Saturday
I’m kicking every ball
Studying each replay
When June and July’s got the sun
My days are grey
They take my football away
I’m a football fan
The beautiful game
Keep it simple
Keep it plain
It stimulates my brain
It eases my pain
When I see the ball go in the net
I’m as happy as I get
It’s my drug
It’s my bug
I’ll never be a football thug
That game’s for mugs
That’s not my game
What’s my name?
Mr football fan
From 3 to 5
I’m on the edge of a knife
This is a marriage for life
I don’t need a wife
I don’t need a spouse
I ain’t even got room for God in my house
I’m already living with a giant
Not a mouse
With a capital F
I love it to death
Always welcome as a guest
It’s got me possessed
Gonna say it with my last breath
I’m a football fan
© neal zetter 2006
A rap poem about the obsessive football fan inside all of us!
Brazilian Soccer
The Brazilian Soccer has the energy…
Tostão, Pelé, Jairzinho, Ronaldinho,
All the glory in the players…
Immortal goals, gold past.
In 1958 the first World Cup,
In 1962…1970 the best team ever…
1994…2002, Five World Cups forever!
Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Kaká, Ronaldo…
The new times are comming…
The Brazilian Soccer continuous to show to the world,
The beautiful and glory of the soccer.
”E vai rolar a festa, vai rolar”
To the world Brazil will show,
The most beautifull soccer,
Played with energy, with love…
Brazil, Soccer, Samba…
Brazil, Soccer… Glory!
© Héber Bensi
Scotty`s Demise
His was the worst nightmare
To give his all for his club and his pride
To run all over the park
Tackle the opposition
Cajole the sleepy defenders
But above all never hide
What horror on his face
The tears in his eyes
What have I done
He looks down on his fallen foe
His leg no longer normal
His face full of surprise
The two managers agreed
No fault could be attributed
But the pain and the suffering
Had too much effect
On his sensitive soul
And he was substituted
© Ewan Macgregor
Our Busby Babe
From Malvern Crescent to Manchester
A Busby Babe ordained,
A future star in the making
Latent skills to be unchained.
Duncan Edwards was his name
Black Country born and bred,
No prima donna footballer
He just kept a level head.
On that fateful day in Munich
Just twenty-one years of age,
A performer with much talent
Departed from the stage.
Five thousand stood in silence
And lined the streets to mourn,
A local lad from Dudley
The town where he was born.
© Caddy 2006
I was only two years of age when Duncan died but by all acounts he was a great footballer.
Forever And Ever
Forever and Ever,
we’ll follow the boys,
Of Manchester United,
the Busby Babes,
For we made a promise,
to defend our faith,
In Manchester United,
the Busby Babes,
We’ve all sworn allegiance,
to fight till we die,
To stand by United,
and the Red Flag we fly,
There’ll be no surrender,
we’ll fight to the last,
To defeat all before us,
as we did in the past,
For we’re Stretford Enders,
With United we grew,
To the Famous Red Devils,
we’re loyal and true,
To part-time supporters,
we’ll never decend,
We’ll never forsake you,
we’ll be here to the end,
For we all remember,
that ’58 day,
And the plane that once stood on,
The Munich runway,
As it tried to take off for the third fatal time,
The immortal young babes were,
Cut down in their prime,
In the cold snow of Munich,
They laid down their lives,
But they live on forever,
In our hearts and our minds,
Their names are now legend,
For the whole world to see,
Why this clubs a religion,
spelt M.U.F.C.,
So bow down before them,
and lift up your eyes,
For Old Traffords glory,
will always survive…
© benmccaughtry
inspiration i love my club with all my heart
Leeds, Leeds.
Leeds, Leeds,
Super Leeds.
Leeds, Leeds,
Revie’s league.
Leeds, Leeds,
Wilko’s steeds.
Leeds, Leeds,
Gary Speed.
Leeds, Leeds,
Debts indeed.
Leeds, Leeds,
Peter Reid.
Leeds, Leeds,
Blackwell leaves.
Leeds, Leeds.
They’re not very good anymore!
© George Stanworth
A LIVERPOOL DREAM
I HAD THIS DREAM THE OTHER NIGHT
OF A SPECIAL PLACE COVERED IN RED AND WHITE
THERE WERE LIVERPOOL BANNERS HANGING EVERYWHERE
A SWEET SILVER SONG OF THE LARK FILLED THE AIR
ALL OF THE ROAD SIGNS ALL OF THE KERBS
THEY WERE ALL ETCHED WITH THESE FAMOUS 4 WORDS
THESE 4 WORDS WERE “YOULL NEVER WALK ALONE”
I WAS DEFINATELY IN SOME LIVERPOOL ZONE
AT THE TOP OF EACH BUILDING A LIVERBIRD STOOD
I TRIED NOT TO BE NERVOUS AS MUCH AS I COULD
MY WHOLE BODY WAS SHAKING I WAS AS QUIET AS A MOUSE
EVERYONE HAD THE SAME ACCENT THEY ALL SPOKE SCOUSE
“WALK ON WALK ON” SAID THE LORD FROM ABOVE
YOU ARE NOW IN A LIVERPOOL LAND THAT YOU LOVE
DONT BE AFRAID OF THE DARK DONT SHAKE IN YOUR SHOES
JUST FOLLOW MY ANGEL HIS NAMES EMLYN HUGHES
CRAZY HORSE SAID TO ME “JUST JUMP ON MY WINGS”
IM TAKING YOU TO SEE 3 LIVERPOOL KINGS
HE DROPPED ME OFF SAYING “KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED”
AND LOOK FOR THE SIGN SAYING “HEAVENS ANFIELD”
INSIDE “HEAVENS ANFIELD” THERE WERE 96 SOULS
THEY WERE ALL CHEERING ON FAMOUS LIVERPOOL GOALS
EACH HAD ETERNAL FLAMES THEY WERE ALL GIVING THANKS
THERE STOOD THE 3 KINGS JOE FAGAN, BOB PAISLEY AND THE GREAT MAN “OLD SHANKS”
SUDDENLY I WOKE UP AND I STARTED TO CRY
AT THE THOUGHT OF HEAVENS ANFIELD WAY ABOVE THE SKY
IT WAS THEN THAT I REALISED IT WAS ONLY A DREAM
GOD WAS JUST TELLING ME LIVERPOOL’S THE BEST TEAM.
© willie mccloskey23rd may2006
I SAT UP TO 3 IN THE MORNING WRITING THIS..EVERY TIME I READ IT I CRY…IT WAS MADE UP FOR MY LOCAL COLERAINE LIVERPOOL SUPPORTERS CLUB DINNER DANCE AND IM VERY PROUD OF IT…JUST TELLS A DREAM OF MY BELOVED LIVERPOOL F C
Editor’s note : As a general rule, we prefer if poems are posted up in lowercase please.
Capitals rarely flatter a poem.
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
John Gilbert Ellis
28th November 2024
joe morris
26th November 2024
Denys E. W. Jones
26th November 2024
Gacina Bozidar
26th November 2024
Wynn Wheldon
26th November 2024
joe morris
17th November 2024
Crispin Thomas
17th November 2024
kevin halls
10th November 2024
joe morris
10th November 2024
Clik The Mouse
10th November 2024
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
27th November 2024 at 5:55 am
‘You’re Supposed To Be At Home’ is an excellent and moving poem Denys.
You start off thinking it’s just about another oft-sung chant, one we personally heard a lot last season throughout our second relegation in a row here at Forest Green(FGR) ! I always love poems where you think they are saying one thing and then they suddenly pull you deeper to somewhere or something else else.
I’m currently helping in a local school for FGR in a voluntary capacity using football to help young students with reading. At an upcoming session we will tackle racism, just like we did in workshops at football schools and grounds when we first started this site 24 years ago. I’m gonna try and weave your poem into a session.
We’ve added it to the Anti- Racism/Kick It Out section under Crispin’s Corner.
Best C
See in context
26th November 2024 at 1:59 pm
Great poem and great to see you back Wyn.
Don’t leave it so long next time my friend!
More please.
See in context
13th September 2024 at 6:14 pm
Welcome to Football Poets Beth
Great evocative poem Beth….
More please !
Haiku always welcome.
Hope we (FGR) get to play you again soon
Best
Crispin
See in context
26th July 2024 at 6:25 pm
Great poem Mike Bartram. Eddie was a legend, affectionately known in Liverpool as, “the first hooligan.” Even the hoolies were well dressed in those days. The amazing thing was he was only 26 when that picture was taken. He’d played for Everton youth team and was well known to the players. He never got arrested. They threw him out and he climbed back in, just in time for Derek Temples winner.
I used the picture of him being tackled to the ground on the front cover of my book, “Once Upon a rhyme in Football.” It’s worth looking on youtube and finding the re-enactment of the Wembley scene. Frank Skinner and Baddiel went around to Eddies home in the 1990’s and acted it out on the green outside. It’s hilarious, especially all the effort they put in to get Eddie sober enough to shoot the scene.
See in context
10th July 2024 at 6:07 pm
Hi Crispin,
I don’t know if you’ve see the picture in social media today…
a picture of a teenage Lionel Messi cradling a baby in Africa as part of a photoshoot…. the family had won a lottery to have their baby pictured with him….
the photographer has just revealed that the baby is actually in fact Lamine Yamal!!!!
See in context
26th May 2024 at 2:30 pm
Hi Denys…
Re Man City:
OK it was 20 years ago but Criag Wilson did write this and a few others on them back in 04/05.
BTW I’m more Forest Green Rover since 2014 (and Chelsea) these days . I drum and am a standing season ticket holder .
Best
Crispin
See in context
29th April 2024 at 2:47 pm
Hi Denys,
Yes Richard Williams you’re a brilliant wordsmith, my friend. When I first saw your football poetry I thought it was the superb Guardian sports and music writer. I once had the honour of sitting next to Richard Williams while at the Independent on the sports desk. He writes about music and sport with immense knowledge and authority. I’ve read a couple of Richard’s books recently. Great writer rather like you Richard Williams the Pompey fan. Congratulations on promotion.
See in context
28th April 2024 at 5:59 pm
Thanks Denys. Yes your replay poem was superb.
See in context
26th April 2024 at 4:46 pm
Nice work, Joe. You were quick off the mark with that! Good one from Richard Williams too I see.
See in context
25th April 2024 at 7:33 pm
Hi Denys,
Thanks mate. I’ll do it now.
See in context