May 1, 2020

 

 

 

 

1      U  ID   HE A NICE  R B     6  6     (A)

2      A BOND MAN DR     3  7     (A)

3      T ROAD BUSTAR     6  5     (E)

4      SO ME JOHN FFT     4  7     (A)

5      DIM CROC IN   OK     7  4     (E)

6      E MAIL   ME KLAS     6  5     (P)

7      LOOK  A STAR  I C   A     8  4     (E)

8      SW  UNDA  ARREST  S     6   7      (E)

9      AH  CHARM  GO GO     6  5     (E)

10    I AM G G KITTEN     4  7     (E)

11     HER FRANKIE GONE     6  8     (I)

12     HARK SAM PARK ARM     4  10     (E)

13     NESTS BE OK     3  6     (E)

14     HIS RR CAR HIS     5  6     (NZ)

15     SONG GARY  U A LUV     6  7     (I)

16     WALKER FOR LRN     5  7     (WI)

17     I SAW MARK MA     5  5     (P)

18     R  SWEET CAT  AL     4  7     (E)

19     MORE CRYSTAL U B     6  7     (WI)

20     AS COLIN R BE     5  5     (E)

21     SEND SANDY HOME     7  6     (WI)

22     I SAW QUAY RON     5  6     (P)

23     MICHAEL ARENA CR     6  8     (E) 

24     R SONIC CHARD IV     3  10     (A)

25     US SAVING A LARK     5  8     (I)

26     RASH AMAZED F R      7  5     (P)

27     A LIVE HENRY     4  6     (A)

28     CRY B F      1  1  3     (E)

29     BOSS BIN POM     3  7     (A)

30     C ROSIE AN JEN H     6  6     (SA)

31     OR TALK ARMY     4  6     (A)

32     PRC   PEACHY MAN     5  7     (E)

33     ID  BIL SEVERAL     2  2  8     (SA)

34     HE GETS U A VW     5  5     (A)

35     PLEAD  VIK     5  3     (I)

36     STAR CLAIM DIG H     4  9     (A)

37     OWT  BY  BAT     3  5     (E)

38     I NO KING CRYPT     5  7     (A)

39     E NOT BARRY LAND     7  6     (Z)

40     HE  MARK LA CECIL     7  6     (A)

41     SHALL WE     3  4     (WI)

42     THIS VEST  ME     5  5     (A)

43     H  B  A SHINING SIDE   B     6  5  4     (I)

44     DOING JUS REAL DA     7  7     (E)

45     SS SWELL KEEPER     6  7     (SA)

46     ME  EARLY BIKER     4  8     (E)

47     WHY ALL MAD ON M     5  7     (E)

48     ER  C U  TALKIN HANDS     6  9     (I)

49     B ANGELIC  B S     5  5     (WI)

50     U  THE TON  LN     3  6     (E)

51     AM BLUE LINK     4  6     (I)

52     I C  WONDER COLY     5  7     (E)

53     SIR B LEADER OF G S     8  6     (WI)

54     CAN PULL SHOOK     5  7     (SA)

55     EXETER  DTD     3  6     (E)

56     I C IN HER CHAIR RODS     6  10     (WI)

57     RE   J SOLO HAND     5  6     (WI)

58     E   DEE N KIM SS     4  6     (E)

59     HR MAIDEN HONING DASH     8  5  5     (I)

60     WY U R  TON CHASE L     8  5     (WI)

61     B  OUR MAKER  HC     4  7     (SA)

62     GO YET RING     4  5     (E)

63     I D  WAVER GOD     5  5     (E)

64     HI TALK  IVOR     5  5     (I)

65     O EARTH   MATCH LINE     7  8     (E)

66     HE COOL RAPR     4  6     (WI)

67     OH IN  K MAN     4  4     (P)

68     AM SAM  RIGHT H     6  5     SA

69     GERSY CHILA     5  5     (WI)

70     BARKER MUCH T     4  7     (E)

71     C  REAL STYLE  REVS K     9  6     (WI)

72     HI – AH LAMB – US  Q     6-2-3     (P)

73     AS IF DES IS UP F     3  2  7     (SA)

74     I D   HILL CHANGE  MO     7  7     (WI)

75     I SENT IN KEEPER  V     5  9     (E)

76     E   U R PAL   HAVIN AN NHS CIDER     10  11     (WI)

77     MY RADAR   S MEN     6  5     (WI)

78     HIS IV CARD  VR     3  8     (WI)

79     A HOBIT MAN     3  6     (E)

80     FT AND RW   OFF LINE     6  8     (E)

81     L A BALL MAN     5  4     (A)

82     LARGE HELP   CPG     4  8     (A)

83     E LARGER JON     4  6     (WI)

84     C WAGER G     1 1 5     (E)

85     BOY CRY   GOT TOFFEE     8  7     (E)

86     I BILL BOWS     3  6     (E)

87     ER NO BALLAD R     5  6     (A)

88     NOW DUKE ORDERED     5  9     (E)

89     MIKE L JAR     3  5     (E)

90     HARK MAN IN     5  4     (P)

91     RAIN AL   BAR     5  4     (WI)

92     O  EGG ORDER ENDING     6  9     (WI)

93     C LOVELY LID     5  5    (WI)

94     N LARK  LEADER D     5  7     (E)

95     CLEVER  ICI     5  4     (SA)

96     MY GREAT ONE  V     3  8     (E)

97     BEARD  N  STORY     4  7     (WI)

98     SHALL MAM  COLLAR M     7  8     (WI)

99     VIA DAD AND ME  J     5  7     (P)

100    TOE OR JO     3  4     (E)

 

The answers will appear on my website –

blackbury-poems.com

on 5th June 2020

 

Compiled by

Harriet Blackbury

May 2020

(usual copyright rules apply)

 

 

April 28, 2020

 

 

 

 

1      NB LA LA LA     4  4

2      STEER AUDI NTN     6  6

3      TRT CUSHIONS     5   6

4      MINTLOK CRANK FC     5  9

5      WIN ROYALS     3  6

6      O SUCH A SPELL     4  7

7      VALERIE GETS CD     5  8 

8      IF MAMMY LIED JR     5  8

9      LUSH BRITTLE SET     6  8

10    I BALD MARY     4  5

11     BERT CURE THY R     5  7

12     MALL NEARLY U     4  7

13     STANLEY EX PE     4  7

14     E ROGER LEACH G I     7  6

15     RUBBER GOAL BRACE     5  10

16     AHA SIR MARK C     5  6

17     O BIRCH CURE     5  5

18     L R ROY GIFT CRAFT     5  9

19     VAN SIZED CANON S H     8  7

20     SO MISS USA SO OK     6  7

21     HI Y R THEY EN RR     7  5

22     RIDE O LAND MAJOR     8  6

23     AZ AKA ALGEBRA PAIR     4  12

24     I CAUSE CARPET LIZA     5  11

25     DO U GAIN TRAINER     7  7

26     NOT GOAL KEN’     5  5

27     WHY I SANK R R      5  5

28     TODAY WE DRILL BEER     4  12

29     I KIPPER TRAINER     6  8

30     A U A ZING ZAP GOAL     5  9

31     ROAR A LOT AMVA     6  6

32     LOOK WISE C     5  4

33     ROMANCI SNIFS     5  7

34     A MINKZ SAT AT A     7  5

35     HER AND ER ARE R     5  7

36     I D FLORENCI VOLT     6  8

37     INVITE A CUTE AG     7  6

38     I DREAM SHAKER     6  6

39     NOSE BARRY DONT     4  9

40     NO FRIED H NAN     11

41     VAN SOLD A BERRI     8  5

42     CEO JOHN SUN NAP     5  8

43     BILL COMES AREA     7  6

44     OASIS CHILD UP POLE     4 12

45     QUID MANGO SO IN     8  5

46     P TEA SCHOLAR     5  6

47     O NO REG WONDER     3  9

48     SKREEN GOAL JOURNALS     3  6  9

49     FOX US GENERAL     4  8

50     N CRU LABEL NAT     7  5

51     N HOUSING – MEN     3 5-3

52     BUT MARTY A GB     4  7

53     C Y MOIST CALL     4  7

54     YO YE TENDER     4  6

55     SINGER TONY M     6  5

56     RALLY WEEK K     4  6

57     E F DOLPHIN     4  5

58     DJ OIL ARAB     5  4

59     WALK STYLE KEEPER R     4  6 – 6

60     JLS ERASES PENCIL     6  9

61     HI DERRIQ SAXHN A     7  7

62     NB RED ORANGES DR     7  7

63     HE MADE MUSIC B     7  5

64     IN LEVEL DAY     6  4

65     JAK N VIVID GIRL     6  3  4

66     TYRE BRAND RAN     4  8

67     ORDER ONE RAM     6  5

68     I GULURU LTD     4  6

69     I ADDED A VEG     5  2  3

70     SO DEAR JOHNNY LB     7  7

71     LCC STATION SIR     5  8

72     C HE CREPT     4  4

73     CONTROL TAIL ACE     5  9

74     GEE ZOOM J     3  5

75     IF ME A NIKE OK     4  7

76     C JAR VIA GIA     4  6

77     RADIO N FRIEND     3  9

78     I D VIMTO AT BARBER     7  8

79     U MY ERNIE A      4  5

80     Y ALARM SCALED     3  9

81     Y IN MY EAR R     5  4

82     I AM SIR RAZOR I U     8  5

83     SAGE SCARF C B E     4  8

84     E CALLED U UP      6  4

85     RATHER RAY R     5  5

86     ALARM BELT UP      4  7

87     AH ANA KENT     6  3

88     REAL AS HE RAN     4  7

89     E YR REAL KING      4  7

90    WITH A GRIN     3  6

91     HELD N GOLDEN     5  6

92     A ROCK GHOST R     5  6

93     LAUGH N RATTLE HSH     5  10

94     O LITZ MUSE     5  4

95     E DANCE SHY     4  5

96     E WAX I BOIL     4  5

97     I J COOL WHAM     7  3

98     Y I DO HARDY BOOT     4  9

99     I AKA BAZARAG PEARL     4  12

100   I DON I DOES     5  4

 

The answers will appear on my website –

blackbury-poems.com

on 1st June 2020

 

Compiled by Harriet Blackbury

April 2020

(usual copyright rules apply) 

 

 

 

 

August 29, 2019

 

 

The Club we’ve supported

since a child at the knee,

of fathers and grand-dads,

who were so thrilled to be

 

taking us to our first game,

complete with scarf and bob hat.

‘Up The Shakers’, they chanted,

and we were hooked after that.

 

A Club to be proud of,

with a pitch like no other –

once likened to the old Wembley,

and Family Stand loved by, each sister & brother.

 

And the best pies in Lancashire,

sold at Half -Time.

Please God, help save the Club –

to lose it, would be a crime.

 

The unfairness, the injustice,

that has brought the Club down,

just after promotion – our big chance,

to win more support in the town.

 

The irony, the sadness,

felt by players, staff and fans,

as a new horizon appeared,

but was snatched from our hands.

 

Not for the first time,

were our highs met by lows,

and resilience tested,

by the cruelest of blows.

 

A heart-breaking situation –

please don’t let our Club die?

and become another statistic,

leaving us high and dry.

 

Another uphill battle,

to now seize control,

doesn’t help our heroes,

who now face the dole.

 

Our support for Bury Football Club,

can’t be in vain .

After the best season in ages,

Dear Lord – please save Gigg Lane.

 

written by

Harriet Blackbury.

June 9, 2019

 

 

In 80, ‘Running Free’, peaked at No.34.

and in 82, ‘Run To The Hills’, made a Top 7 sigh.

Both these songs coming from Iron Maiden,

and both recorded on EMI.

 

In 89, ‘Runnin Down A Dream,’ was at No.55,

for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, on MCA.

And in 93, ‘Runaway Train’, on Columbia,

saw Soul Asylum, land a No.7 stay.

 

In 79, ‘Bat Out Of Hell’, on Epic,

for Meat Loaf, peaked at No.15.

And in 93 – a hit again for Meat Loaf,

this time at No.8, also on Epic, was seen.

 

In 94, ‘Let’s Face The Music & Dance’ –

a Top 30, on EMI, for Nat King Cole.

And in 98, ‘Runaground’, a Top 30 for James, on Fontana,

followed his No.38 hit of 90 -‘Lose Control’.

 

In 65, ‘Keep On Running’, on Fontana,

took The Spencer Davis Group to the No.1 spot.

And in 67, ‘You Keep Running Away’, on Tamla Motown,

reached No.26 for The Four Tops.

 

In 65, ‘Hang On Snoopy, on Immediate,

was a US. No.1 and UK No.5, for The McCoys.

And in 80, The Stray Cats, on Arista,

had a No.9 with ‘Runaway Boys.’

 

In 60, ‘Running Bear’, on Mercury,

gave Johnny Preston a US & UK No.1.

And in 85, ‘Running Up The Hill’, on EMI,

for Kate Bush, made sure a Top 3 was won.

 

In 80, ‘Runnin With The Devil’, on Warner Brothers,

found Van Halen at No.52.

And in 83, ‘Running With The Night’, on Motown –

a No.9, for Lionel Richie, was to be.

 

In 71, ‘Run Baby Run’, on London,

for The Newbeats, made the Top 10 scene.

And in 99, ‘Run For Your Life’, on Global Talent,

by Northern Line, peaked at No.18.

 

In 78, ‘Run For Home’, on Mercury,

found Lindisfarne in The Top 10.

And in 65 & 69, ‘Nowhere To Run’ on Tamla Motown, a hit

for Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, and in 88, on A & M.

 

by Harriet Blackbury

November 21, 2018

 

From Room Number 1 rang out

Roxy Music’s ‘Dance Away’

for the umpteenth time

on that very first day.

 

And then from Ultravox

along with Midge Ure –

‘Sleepwalk’ and ‘Passing Strangers’

the neighbourhood had to endure.

 

The Box Room by the front door

was a Boomtown Rat zone,

and also heard was Blondie

‘Hanging on the telephone’.

 

And just as one’s sanity –

it was simply impossible to recall,

came, full blast along the corridor

Pink Floyd’s ‘Another brick in the wall’.

 

Meanwhile, across the landing,

as the windows shook, came Queen,

and also the dulcet tones

of U.S. soul singer, Al Green. 

 

And Ian Dury’s Rhythm Stick’

and Herbie Hancock’s ‘I Thought It Was You’,

had the whole place rocking,

as another gasket blew.

 

Then the Manager paid a visit,

humming Roger Whittaker’s ‘Durham Town’,

which definitely for a minute or two

calmed the household down.

 

And the bathroom always in use,

as an occupant soaked up Billy Paul,

whilst Eagle-loving ‘Desperado’s’

queued impatiently down the hall.

 

And Marvin Gaye – in all his brilliance,

didn’t stand a chance,

with Billy Joel’s ‘My Life’ on repeat –

causing a frenzied trance.

 

Then Carole Bayer Sager from the kitchen

announced, ‘You’re moving out today’,

as some demanded squatters rights,

with Odyssey paving the way.

 

Then suddenly came silence,

and normality was restored –

A whole new world beckoned,

and had to be explored.

 

as some contracts not renewed,

whilst other players were transferred,

and from rooms once filled with vinyl,

now only silence could be heard.

 

And as the keys turned in the locks,

after everyone said goodbyes,

quite fittingly on their car radios, 

Art Garfunkel sang ‘Bright Eyes’.

 

written by  Harriet Blackbury.

and can be read in Issue 63  (page 46) of

backpass – The Retro Football Magazine.

September 26, 2018

 

 

Backpass 61 will be available from October 2018 (£4.70),

on the shelf or to order from all good newsagents,

and can also be bought on line at

www.backpassmagazine.co.uk

( A perfect Christmas present for Dad or Grandad)

and features:

Alan Hudson on Chelsea’s 1970 FA Cup winners.

Liverpool from 1945 – 1970.

Paul Heaton’s (of The Housemartins and Beautiful South)

Sheffield United Dream Team.

Top ten bosses of the 1960s and  1970s.

plus  Interviews with 

Archie Gemmill, Dennis Mortimer, Steve Melledew, and Dick Edwards.

and also

Programme Plus, Classic Kits, Bookshelf, Obituaries,

and much more.  

Also in Issue 61 – the poem – ‘Football Club Nicknames’

written by Harriet Blackbury

 

 

July 6, 2018

 

 

and there he was, threading his way

through Saturday morning shoppers –

his gait recognizable, so handsome,

so utterly masculine, and yet so lost.

Could he find me in a crowd? 

absolutely not!

So I stand on a discarded bus ticket 

to make myself taller, and wave 

my hand frantically to attract his

attention. Eventually he spots me

and moves to cross over the road.

He smiles as he mounts the pavement.

I return his smile and ask him if he

remembered to get some onions, and he

says I never mentioned any onions to him,

so we cross back over the road, and

go into the greengrocers, and buy

some onions and cherry tomatoes,

and then continue on home to

watch Footy on TV.

What Bliss ! 

 

 

May 22, 2017

 

 

‘Bat Out Of Hell’ by Meatloaf

in 79 arrived with drive.

and ‘Running Up The Hill’ at No.3

was Kate Bush in 85.

 

‘It’s A Shame’ made the Top 20 in 70,

for America’s Motown Spinners,

and at No.1 in 78 was ‘Dreadlock Holiday’

making Stockport’s 10cc winners.

 

‘Stuck In The Middle With You’,

in 73 a Top 10 for Stealers Wheel,

and in 96 – Orbital,

gave ‘The Box’ a Top 20 feel.

 

At No.7 in 92 came ‘The Bouncer’

by UK duo – Kick Like A Mule,

after Dire Straits in 79

gave us ‘Sultans Of Swing’, so cool.

 

‘Ball Of Confusion’ in the charts at No7,

in 70, for The Temptations.

Also in 70 ‘It’s All In The Game’ sang The Four Tops,

2 years after Cliff’s No 1  – ‘Congratulations’.

 

March 17, 2017

 

 

At No.1 in 61 singing ‘Runaway’,

Del Shannon took to the floor.

‘Run To The Sun’ sang Erasure

decades later – reaching No.6 in 94.

 

‘Keep On Running’, a No.1,

for The Spencer Davis Group in 65,

and ‘Keep Moving’ in 99 also,

a No.1 for the UK male group – Five.

 

At No.4 in 71, Tami Lynn sang

‘I’m Gonna Run Away From You’,

and ‘Run To Me’ by The Bee Gees,

their 7^th Top Ten, coming in 72.

 

‘Run Baby Run’ by The Newbeats,

a hit of 71, making No.10.

In 95 Sheryl Crow’s hit ‘Run Baby Run’

a different song she helped to pen.

 

At No.34 with ‘Running Free’ in 80,

Iron Maiden hit the scene,

& ‘Running Free (Live)’ saw Iron Maiden

in 85 reaching No.19

 

Their ‘Run To The Hills’, in the Top 10,

in both 82 and 2002,

and ‘Run To The Hills (Live)’ in 85

also giving Iron Maiden a Top 30 pew.

 

In 80 ‘Running With The Devil’ by Van Halen

followed by ‘Jump’ in 84 – their first Top 10,

also ‘Running With The Night’ in 84,

saw Lionel Richie with his 4^th Top 10.

 

In the charts of 61, Roy Orbison,

at No.9 with ‘Running Scared’.

The year after ‘Only The Lonely’ –

his first No.1, some fans preferred.

 

‘Running Up The Hill’, in 85,

got Kate Bush to No.3,

and ‘Run To You’ found Bryan Adams

at No.11, as fans screamed gleefully.

 

In 79, Meatloaf meant business,

singing like a ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ – I’ll be gone.

And with ‘Running In The Family’, in 87,

at No.6, Level 42 shone.

 

In 80, along came ‘Runaway Boys’,

getting The Stray Cats to No.9.

and ‘Run For Home’ by Lindisfarne in 78,

their 3^rd hit to cross the Top 10 line.

 

 

Whether running away or towards something –

be it up hills or running down dales.

Or round in circles, never getting anywhere,

and feeling like a ship without sails.

 

No matter how tiresome your journey,

or how heavy your old knapsack,

just point your head towards the future,

and keep on running and don’t look back.

 

 

 

Saturday was a day to remember.

The Leader showed them the cultural scene,

Passing Bram Stoker’s home

and then onto St. Stephens Green.

 

They stopped for a pint in the Shelbourne,

then into Dublin’s smallest drinking den.

Before finding a bar with a telly,

to watch the footy – well, men will be men!

 

The girls went off to do some shopping,

saying ‘Can we stay out ‘till three?’

‘Oh, yes,’ cried the men with one voice,

while rubbing their hands with glee.

 

At last they could get down to business.

‘Another six pints of Guinness, good man’,

they shouted to the barman in eagerness.

‘This draught sure beats that in a can!’

 

The girls arrived back at three twenty,

thinking that they were so late.

But another game of footy had started,

so back out they went thinking, ‘Great!’

 

At teatime they walked along Grafton Street,

and stopped at Bewleys Tea Place.

Where they ordered sandwiches and coffee;

the day was still picking up pace.

 

In the evening they went to the Guinea Pig,

though they lost a ‘big brother’ on the way.

As one guy was still feeling very sick

and decided to call it a day.

 

The men soon got talking politics

and the world’s problems they did debate.

and decided to have some brandy,

when told that the taxi would be late.

 

Not realising they’d lose an hour

next day, as the clocks were put on.

They headed to a bar for a nightcap,

but one jumped in the lift, and was gone.

 

The Leader had been promised tickets

from a guy, who’d never let him down.

They were to meet him in the second carriage

of the next train heading for town.

 

This soon proved a journey to remember.

The passengers were crushed to bits,

One woman yelled: ‘You’re breaking my ribs!’

another screamed: ‘You’re squashing my tits!’

 

Each time they pulled into a station

the doors slid open and still more got on.

One of the girls nearly burst into tears,

as sadly, her bottle had gone.

 

The Leader came good with the tickets,

well, he got an all important two!

And with hindsight, for him and his best friend

it’d be a match they wouldn’t want to view.

 

They’d probably have developed heart failure,

or at least sunk in utter despair.

Because the game wasn’t so much a ‘walkover’,

as it was embarrassing beyond compare.

 

Two of them stood at the back of the Stand

to avoid the inevitable squeeze.

Whilst others headed towards The Herbert Park,

for stew and Guinness to at least appease.

 

Some headed into the city,

to find a livelier spot.

And stumbled up the stairs to O’Neills,

into a room that was hotter than hot.

 

One poor guy was still feeling dodgy

and needed a place that was cool.

‘I could give all this lot twenty years!’

He thought, as he stood on a stool.

 

But age, in the end, didn’t matter.

as England won by a margin so clear.

And gave all the much travelled supporters

an excuse to down yet even more beer.

 

They then headed back to Mulligans

and ordered more beers and coke.

Where they met the Leader’s older brother,

who turned out to be one hell of a bloke.

 

He was just back from touring Australia

and he had an amazing grin,

due to a plate of teeth made from titanium

that he said was almost ‘paper thin’.

 

The rest came in celebrating,

the unbelievable England win.

And ribbed the Irish unmercifully

but they took it well, on the chin.

 

Then they caught the train back to the hotel,

including the brother and the best friend.

At least they could commiserate together,

a sorrow shared, by good pals til the end.

 

The group then collected their cases.

Their adventure was over and done.

They agreed the weekend had been terrific,

and best of all – England had won!

 

England v Ireland  – The Big One

 

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