Football Poets

An early history of Honved in Rhyme

Now there’s a once famous team who wouldn’t spring to mind
Turn your gaze East and travel back in time
Once fixed upon Hungary seek the Red and Black
Once called Kispest, the great Honved stand out from the pack

Kispest, once merely a village, certainly birthed a great team
Encompassed by Budapest, in the ’50’s one of the best seen
On the auspicious 3rd of August 1909 they were formed
From humble village beginnings a legend was born

Success though had to be put on hold
A win in the Maygar cup 1926, many more myths would be told
That beautiful ground Bozsik must have erupted in exultation
Born proper a team that would capture a nation

Our next milestone is ’43
That shining star Puskas the fans would now see
’49 esteemed coach Seale arrives
Now the cups will come, the victories, the club thrives

But Communism came along coincidentally
Only giving a model for the league which was key
All clubs nationalised; Honved captured by the army
Seale had a plan in mind, he got it right down to a tee

Military conscription meant to Honved many players came
Now decked out with the best, awaiting fame
Seale had watched the continent’s front-runners
Italy, twice world cup winners in the ’30’s, only two clubs made up their numbers

Thus Honved would be the frame for the nation
Hungary, Olympic champions in ’52, they caused a sensation
England, considered the best, were put to the sword twice
All culminating in the ’54 world cup final, but alas loss had to suffice

Back locally Honved matched the national side
4 titles in the ’50’s, they were well in their stride
During that decade came a prestigious European exhibition
England’s finest Wolves, however, were firmer in their ambition

The political stage would provide an event unsurpassed
To crush revolution the Soviets invaded, for the club the dye was cast
In Bilbao for the European cup they were
A refusal to return home proved a downward spur

A tour of the Med quickly commenced
By now FIFA had declared them outlawed in status and sense
A draw with Madrid preceded a win over Barca’
But only some would return to the might Maygars

With FIFA’s declaration of illegality some returned
Yet for the very best Hungary was spurned
Puskas cemented his legend with Madrid’s famous Whites
He would go on to provide some sublime sights

And therefore our wee historical poem is complete
We have seen the great Honved on many stages compete
Perhaps the finest Hungarians ever seen
By this the legendary Red and Blacks we mean.

Be the first to leave a comment »