Football Poetry - Paul's Poems

Paul Cookson has written a selection of poems about some of his favourite objects in the Everton Collection.  Here are a selection of these poems with photographs of the objects and players that inspired them.


THE GOODISON GODFATHERS

Gaberdine gangsters
Merseyside Mafia
Dressed to kill
The dirty dozen

Hit men and hired guns
Tough guys and target men
All of them - shooters
Goodison godfathers

Don't tread on their turf
Don't trespass their patch
Everton heavies
Untouchables 




BALLY'S BOOTS

I always wanted boots like yours,
White, distinctive, unique
One of a kind -
Or two of a kind to be exact

You were the first
The original
Stood out head and shoulders above the rest
Even though you weren't

A trademark, a brand
Not one of the crowd
A maverick approach
White - not for surrender

Yes, I really wanted boots like yours
But if the truth be known
What I really, really wanted
Was to be able to play football like you

And then wear white football boots



WHAT HISTORY THIS RATTLE KNOWS

If you could talk
What stories you could tell -
The millions of moments
The magic and the matches
The encouragement you gave
The celebrations you led
The noise you made
In the places you've been

The kick-offs you anticipated
The goals that brought you to life
The tackles you reacted to
The trophies you welcolmed home

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat
Machine gun rat-a-tat-tackle
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat
Everton supporter's rattle

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat
Round and round and round
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat
The sound that fills the ground





THE BARCELONA CUP

Before the world had heard of Barcelona F.C. - the brand
We were there

Before any of the reds dominated Europe
We were there

Before the Champions Leage was born
We were there

When history was made
We were there

First European trophy ever lifted by an English tean
There we were