Football Poets

The romance of the FA Cup again

Yesterday the romance of the FA Cup
Blew its softest kisses
To the tender and idealistic
At Turfmoor, the Etihad, Villa Park,
Carrow Road and Anfield
It was always thus
While across Britain
They pledge affectionate
Thoughts and sentiments
Across oceans, seas and continents
Sweethearts and lovers
Stare across candle lit tables
Through adoring Valentine days
Chocolates and flowers to
The Stags of Mansfield Town
For it was they who clutched
Themselves warmly to the spirit,
History and tradition
Of the FA Cup
Rather like brothers in arms
Now who would have thought this
A player named Lofthouse?
Startled the FA Cup fourth round
For a moment some of us
Remember that name from the dusty
Scrolls of football’s
Never fading past
For Nat Lofthouse was
The FA Cup’s towering giant
Bolton’s bravest,
The gleaming gem who
Shook up defenders and
Commanded the respect
Of his peers and the
Teeming terraces of 70,000
Bulging at the seams
Of the Valley
When Bolton came calling
How long ago was that?
Still the Cup was doing it again
Mansfield were the back page
Knights and gallants
Giant killers but not really
Since Burnley are once again
In decline and fall
For the Clarets are still
Hung over and intoxicated
After briefly taking the lead
Mansfield smash down
The portcullis and drawbridge
Of Turfmoor’s toughest
But then there was
Manchester City who are
Gilded with trophies galore
Champions League, and Premier League
This time take pity on Salford
Following hard on the heels
Of last year’s 8-0 battering
A local derby perhaps
This time it’s only two
But Premier League voices
Can still be heard from
The highest plateau
In Norfolk, the arable
Farmlands are still yearning,
Struggling and striving
To recapture their top flight idyll
Norwich see off the Baggies
Who also engaged in playtime
Yoyos between the first
And second tier
West Brom well beaten
At Carrow Road
Not a single bead of sweat
Southampton’s Saints
Now 50 years ago they were
The kings of the South Coast
The late and much missed
Bobby Stokes raced through
A static Man United back four
And driving home the winner
Southampton win the FA Cup
How they partied at the old Dell
Yesterday the Foxes could only
Sit stealthily in the undergrowth
Watching and hoping
That the Premier League
Open welcoming arms
Leicester over and out
Saints go marching in
And then there was the
All Premier League argument
Good natured, you understand
The Geordies of Newcastle
Begin to sniff the scent
Of Wembley
After Carabao Cup medals
At Wembley
Finally could this be
Their year to stop the rot?
Of that 71 year hiatus
Villa blasted into orbit
By Eddie Howe’s Toon army
Meanwhile at Anfield
Liverpool with only Wembley
On their minds
The FA Cup remains their
Safety net, their solitary salvation
Since the Premier League
Will certainly not be theirs
Yesterday the Seagulls came
To Merseyside swooping and
Then devouring scraps at Anfield
Liverpool down Brighton
And the FA Cup emerges through
The dark tunnel of Liverpool’s
Crowning glory of last season
Meanwhile close to the Peak District
At the Pirelli in deepest
Derbyshire, Burton Albion
Give themselves a muffled shout
And cheer from the highest steeple
Knocked out by
Scuffling, scrapping Hammers
It’s so painful and laborious
West Ham into round five of
The jug eared Cup they
All crave and covet
You’d rather they make a
Quiet, dignified exit now
Since emergency measures
Are required in
Premier League pastures
Still, they’re not complaining
Since East Enders never complain
And finally
The Blues tame the Tigers of Hull
Chelsea, still contenders
At the top table of
Domestic and Euro honours
Never discount Liam Rosenior
For Chelsea will always
Be there or thereabouts
The FA Cup and Wembley
Yesterday the perfect couple
Visit St Valentine’s day who
Make that yearly pilgrimage
It’s a marriage made in heaven

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