Football and the World Cup
Frank's part of the Ashen family were football supporters. Our team will invite no inter-tribal rivalry now, as it no longer exists, at least not at a high level. Walthamstow Avenue FC was a leading amateur club in mid last century. Some of its playing highlights were drawing with Manchester United at Old Trafford in the FA Cup in 1953 (the replay was lost at Highbury), and winning the FA Amateur Cup at Wembley in 1961, beating West Auckland Town 2-1. Both Frank and myself were present at the match.
This poem was written around the turn of the 21st century. Frank appears to be somewhat disillusioned with the way the game was going at that time!
With thanks again to Cousin Gillian for a copy of this poem.
FOOTBALL AND
THE WORLD CUP
Some views
of a nonagenarian
Oh! What has
happened to football,
that grand
old British game?
So many
signs suggest it has been hijacked,
for it’s
really no longer the same.
Money, and
the glamour of internationalism
have introduced
contentious factors;
where
matches have to be dramatised,
by players
who are grossly overpaid actors.
Where once
men tussled to be clever with the ball
the game has
become a free-for-all.
It is now an
amalgam of football per se,
with
wrestling; All-in and Sumo, let’s say.
Outside the
grounds, enjoying the sun,
ticket touts
and larger louts had their fun.
Inside,
around the pitches, colourful sights.
Costumes and
face paint that would put Dracula to flight.
On the field
there is little or no love.
It’s such a
matter of push and shove.
If shirt
tugging is allowed, it seems to me,
they might
introduce proper handholds, for all to see!
When a
player reluctantly scores a goal
feel compassion
for the unfortunate soul
who is
submerged ‘neath a mass of writhing flanks.
What a
generous way of saying “Thanks”.
on comes a
stretcher; first check he’s alive!
Once off the
field of play; in seconds he is quite O.K.
Don’t let
the N.H.S. hear word of this.
They may try
it to shorten their waiting lists!
Too many
talkers got into the act.
T.V.
presenters, commentators with too much yap yap.
Friends of
friends and has-beens as well
we're hard
put to find something to tell.
Rivalry
between Channels, they must fill all the gaps.
Fortunately
with telly, you could turn off the tap.
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