A Welcome in September
In September 2008, we welcomed the following new contributors to this site :
H H Martinez
Graham Ashton
David Bentley
Click on the names above to see that person’s poem(s), or browse some selected first efforts below :
MY UNCLE DAVE
My Uncle Dave had one love in his life
Apart from Phyllis, my Auntie – his Wife
This was his love for ‘the beautiful game’
That he passed onto me, because I feel the same
My Uncle Dave bought my first leather ball
And for those who remember, dubbin ‘n all
He used to whisper – shall we go out
In-to the back yard and kick it about?
Then from the kitchen, my Dad would shout
What’s wrong with the park, you’ve worn the grass out!
Uncle yells ‘quick, stick one on me ‘ead’
Mum shouts out too – ‘that it’s now time for bed’
There’s a ball in my car he’d often say
We’ve even played football on Christmas day!
He taught me his tricks, how to tackle & slide
How to trap a ball, with my back-side!
An all-round sportsman – a true footie fan
Who’s favorite player was the wing-wizzard, Stan
It wasn’t just football, we played cricket too
Still wearing my kit, of Claret & Blue
We went to the Valley to see Charlton play
My Uncle would laugh at the things that I’d say
Like do the linesmen like wearing black?
Why does the goalie have a 1 on his back?
And how many fans are watching today?
Or why are they not, called ‘Sheffield Tues-day’?
If there was a question, I’d always ask it
Why did that man call the ref’ree a ‘basket’?
I returned the favour, long before he was ill
It was West Ham five and Charlton nil
But he wasn’t upset, that the Hammers had won
He just said David, ‘what a great game my son’
Full time is not up, for my Uncle Dave
There still be a free-kick he’ll have to save
Or an extra-time penalty for him to score
Alongside Matthews, Best, Ball and Moore
I know that our games were special to him
When we were playing 3-goals-and-in
So wherever we go, at the end of it all
My Uncle will be there – with a shiny new ball!
© David Bentley 08.09.08
Dedicated to my Uncle who sadly passed away on 23.08.08
Editor’s note :
our sympathies to you David on your loss.
I’m sure your uncle would have been proud of this great eulogy to him.
The Theatre Of Dreams
Old Trafford is our fortress,
The jewel within our crown
On entering our spirits fly,
And never come back down.
It’s the place we come to worship,
The theatre of our dreams.
Our red religion just goes on,
And falters not it seems.
The roars spark fear in many,
From the mighty Stretford End.
These songs we’ll sing forever,
On this you can depend.
We sing about King Eric,
The immortal George Best.
These legends that we worship,
All stand above the rest.
Our loyalty’s unquestionable,
And will never be divided.
So who’s this team that we adore,
It’s Manchester United.
© Graham Ashton
The Macks Versus the Mags
The distant thunder of the chant
From far outside the ground
Commences well before kick-off
Separated by a motorway
The two rivers battle
The Wear and the Tyne
A derby others teams can only dream of
A biannual spectacular
The roar of the crowd
Wear the badge and be proud
The red and the white
Plays the black and the white
An off-field war of words
Screams of foul, send him off
Surely a penalty ref
Constantly goading both players and rivals
The players emerge from the tunnel
To a onslaught of noise
Performing in their chosen colours
On an emerald well-groomed pitch
The absolute delight of the home crowd
As the first goal is scored
Silence from the away supports
But they will soon be back in tune
The final whistle blows its last
The fans continue their song
Well after 5.45pm
Into the pubs of the night
Telling their tales of heroics
Both on and off the playing field
Weeks after the event
Until the next encounter
Home or Away!
© HHMartinez 23/9/08
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
2nd October 2024
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Mike Bartram
30th September 2024
joe morris
26th September 2024
joe morris
19th September 2024
Clik The Mouse
18th September 2024
Clik The Mouse
18th September 2024
joe morris
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John Gilbert Ellis
12th September 2024
Beth Rogers
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Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
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!!!!
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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.
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25th April 2024 at 1:56 pm
Thanks Joe,
you might like to write a poem yourself on the same subject…
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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?
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