A Welcome in July
In July 2007, we welcomed the following new contributors to this site :
Lee Davies
Bryn Roberts
Jim Dolbear
Alastair Rae
Rik Manning
Ezra Jefferson Cope
From Darlington Family Learning, we welcome :
A blast from the past – a welcome return to
Phil Brennan , who last posted back in January 2006.
Click on the names above to see that person’s poem(s), or browse some selected first efforts below :
Ron Davies. Southampton F.C. 1966-73.
He could hang in the air
like a bird of prey,
and outjump anyone on a Saturday.
Sydenham or Paine crossed,
then big Ron would soar,
a header in the net
then came the crowds roar.
Bigger clubs wanted him
he stayed at the Dell
A legend he became,
gave defenders hell
The best nine in Europe,
his peers they all said.
For many a long year,
Southampton he led.
Now the bone hard pitches,
and the muddy heap
Have taken their toll,
it”s so hard to sleep.
With hip joints and knees,
he now feels the pain.
But Saints fans who saw him,
will not see his like again.
Fond memories never fade,
when others have gone.
We will never forget,
a Saint called big Ron.
© Jim Dolbear. 2006.
haikued off at chelsea.
Silence at the bridge
Calm before the storm.
Mime games,or is it mind games?
© Jim Dolbear. 27.07.2007.
How long will Jose keep a diplomatic silence?
I want to be Robin Friday
It was a cold Friday night at the ‘Vic’
Pools hoping to give Cardiff a bit of stick
But one man stood in their way
His silky skills made the oppostion click.
Robin Friday was his name
No one else could do the same
A true legend and sheer class
He knew how to play the game.
Cardiff fans adored Man Friday
And Poolies applauded him too
I went home that night
Wanting to be Robin Friday too.
© Alistair Rae / Kirsty 24
One night in May
Out of the darkness came passion and glory
Passion in red; glory in white.
Glory once; glory twice; glory thrice.
Glory thrice but thrice no more.
Passion waning but glory fading,
For glory does not last forever.
Passion once with leadership
“Still time for the impossible to happen maybe…”
Passion twice with a final farewell
“Miracles are possible…”
Passion thrice with skill
“And mission impossible is accomplished…”
And passion, with one final dive
Saves the day.
The Reds are Champions of Europe once again.
© Bryn Roberts
I wrote this poem after the final of 2005 in istanbul, one of the most memorable nights of my life.
Tottenham HotSpur
Lethal Ledley King,
Sneaky Steed Malbranque,
Hilarious Hossam Gholy,
Persisting Paul Robinson,
Aspiring Aaron Lenon,
Dramatic, daring Dimitar Berbatov,
Brilliant BenoitAssou-Ekotto,
Cautious Callum Davenport.
Righteous Robbie Keane,
Joyful Jermaine Jenas,
And lastly tiny Teemu Tainio!
© Ezra Jefferson Cope aged 9
crispin
i want to write a poem about the sainted game
its based on one cool guy and crispin is his name
he gives me inspiration coz he can feel my pain
and if he didnt cope with me I would go insane
amongst the madness in this world
there’s one thing we can say
that football gives us common ground
there seems no other way
we can talk about our club and the 4-3-3
and we voice our point of view
in true di-ver-sity!
cispin brings us all together
from all points of the earth
with music, words and jollity
he gave this website birth
so love this site and this game
which enthralls us all
and give a thought to crispin
who keeps us on the ball
this is leading to my point
’bout what i have to say
that crispin keeps it going
out of love not pay!
© rik manning
not much of a poet but you know it !! x for jenny
We are Manchester United
We’ve got Ronaldo, down the wing!
When he gets the ball the fans start to sing!
We’ve got Hargreaves, in midfield!
Hargreaves can also be a defensive shield!
We’ve got Rooney, to score the goals!
We’ve got Old Trafford, the pitch with no holes!
We’ve got Giggsy, down the left side!
When Nani gets the ball, defenders start to hide!
We are Man U!
And this is what we do…
We get the ball and pass it around!
Give it to Ronaldo and hear the cheering sound!
He gives it to Nani, who dribbles the ball!
Rooney, Rooney, Rooney the fans start to call!
So Nani passes to Rooney, and he scores!
We are Man U!
And winning is what we do!
© Lee Davies
I support Manchester United… So I just decided to write the poem!
John’s Chelsea Poem
Can score a goal from halfway mark.
He always passes to a different player.
Eating bad he will not score.
Love to have the ball on his foot.
Shout yes when they score.
Eats the air when they run.
Angry when they miss.
© John Wilson
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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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28th April 2024 at 5:59 pm
Thanks Denys. Yes your replay poem was superb.
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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.
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25th April 2024 at 7:33 pm
Hi Denys,
Thanks mate. I’ll do it now.
See in context