March 17, 2017

 

 

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

 

July 9, 2016

 

 

 

Close your eyes and ‘Listen To The Music’

by The Doobie Brothers, & you’re back in the Bar,

of Manchester’s hottest night club,

co – owned by the No 1 Footballing star.

 

‘Take Me In Your Arms’, another Doobies favourite,

then later, ‘What A Fool Believes’ coming in 79,

and with ‘Rock The Boat’ by The Hues Corporation.

Life was so happening and fantastically fine.

 

‘Long Tall Glasses’ supplied by Leo Sayer,

and ‘One Man Band, also in 74.

‘When I Need You’, his No 1 of 77;

a hit with couples, on every dance floor.

 

‘Sad Sweet Dreamer’ by Sweet Sensation

another brilliant 74, Number One.

And ‘Rock Your Baby’ at No.1 for George McCrae,

in this year when Slack Alice, second to none.

 

‘(Win Place Or Show) She’s A Winner’ –

in 74, gave The Intruders a top 20 fit.

when ‘Georgy Girl’, in Washway Road, Sale,

reminded us of The Seekers, much earlier hit.

 

‘Summer Breeze’ by The Isley Brothers,

their top 20 hit of the day.

then ‘Harvest For The World’ two years later,

when life still perfect, in every way.

 

‘Don’t Stay Away Too Long’, in 74,

had Peters & Lee fans tapping their feet.

And ‘All Of My Life’ by Diana Ross,

a fitting song, for this Manchester retreat.

 

Slack Alice will never be forgotten:

What joy, when to Bootle Street, we all strode.

And for those with a stronger constitution;

The Embassy Club, was just up the road!

 

 

 

 

‘Rubber Bullets’ and ‘Wall Street Shuffle’

came from Stockport Band – 10cc.

and ‘Giving It All Away’ was Roger Daltrey

without The Who, in 73.

 

Also in this year, ‘Walk On The Wild Side’

by the lovely, late Lou Reed.

And ‘Stop, Look, Listen (to your heart)’,

Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye did plead.

 

‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’ by The Stylistics,

and ‘Midnight At The Oasis’, from Maria Muldaur.

and ‘Albatross’ from Fleetwood Mac,

guaranteed a fab night, for sure.

 

‘When Will I See You Again’ sang The Three Degrees.

‘Ring Ring’ from Abba, came the reply.

‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’,

sang Elton John, as we waved our goodbye.

 

Whatever the era you lived through;

be it The Ritz or Mr Smiths, your feet found,

or the meeting place of the moment,

when none better, than Rowntrees Sound!

 

Or if Top Of The Town, your favoured venue,

and Takis along Oxford Road.

Or the infamous Oasis in Lloyd Street –

your much loved, borrowed abode.

 

The Swingin Sixties saw Manchester Buzzin

and through the 70’s, still heart and soul…..

And Slack Alice gained a welcome brother,

when Oscars, saw the dice roll.  

 

 

 

 

June 5, 2016

 

 

 ‘Ossie’s Dream’ sang Tottenham Hotspur

keeping ‘81’ FA Cup dreams alive.

‘Here We Go’ sang Everton FC

with Howard, back in 85.

 

Going it alone in song,

in 87 were Chris & Glenn.

Their ‘Diamond Lights’ at No.12,

just missing out on the top ten.

 

‘Glory, Glory Man United’

reached 13 in the charts in 83,

but with ‘Come on The Reds’, in 94

finally at No.1 was Manchester Utd FC.

 

In 72. came ‘Blue Is The Colour’

making it to No.5  for Chelsea FC

In the 90’s, ‘No one can stop us now’ & ‘Blue Day’

and then ‘Blue Tomorrow’, in 2000, finally.

 

In 78, ‘We’ve got the Whole World in our hands’

sang Nottingham Forest FC & Paper Lace.

In 70 ‘Back Home’ No.1 for the England World Cup Squad.

And in 90, ‘World in Motion’, again taking a No.1 place.

 

‘Anfield Rap (Red machine in full alert)

in 88  shot up to No. 3 in this chart mix,

then ‘Pass & Move (It’s The Liverpool Groove)

reached No.4  by The Boot Room Boys of 96.

 

So many more songs to choose from;

some more in tune than others.

But the sentiment always the same,

Footy folk, a solid band of sisters & brothers.

 

 

 

 

May 30, 2016

 

 

There’s The Shaymen and The Silkmen,

and many clubs called The U’s.

There’s The Shrimps and The Shrews,

and lots of clubs called The Blues.

 

There’s Railwaymen and Tractorboys,

and The Brewers and The Shots.

There’s The Cobblers and The Glovers,

and The Red Devils with the hots.

 

There’s The Spurs and The Gunners,

and The Toon Army and The Tykes,

and The Hammers and The Potters,

and The Pilgrims taking hikes.

 

There’s the Rams and The Wolves,

and The Eagles and The Seagulls.

There’s The Mariners and The Owls,

and The Saints and The Gulls.

 

There’s The Shakers and The Trotters,

and The Cherries and The Tangerines.

There’s Pompey and there’s Posh,

and Canaries in yellows and greens.

 

There’s The Black Cats and The Tigers

and The Hatters and The Dale.

There’s The Bluebirds and The Wanderers,

and The Terriers and The Vale.

 

There’s The Baggies and The Toffeemen,

and many called The Claret and Blues.

There’s Donny and there’s Palace,

and many more I could chose.

 

Whatever club our inclination:

Whichever club holds dear, our heart,

we’ll stick with through the ages,

til the day that we depart.

 

Whether riding high in the top flight,

or in the family leagues below,

Football is our Saviour,

and the game we all love so.

 

Written by Harriet Blackbury

 

 

December 26, 2015

 

 

Oh knee that will not bend.

Oh agony that will not end.

A high tackle to defend!

To the ground I now descend.

 

Oh whistle that should have blown.

Oh hope that now has flown.

No sign of sympathy shown,

as I lie here and groan.

 

Oh red card that never came.

Oh yellow card, the same.

He got off without blame,

and left me bloody lame!

 

 

September 6, 2015

 

 

Gerry and the Pacemakers, with this song,

never could have known,

how famous their anthem would become

with Liverpool’s – ‘You’ll never walk alone!

 

‘When The Saints go marching in’,

is Southampton’s trusted tune.

Whilst Man City supporters identified,

with their version of – ‘Blue Moon’.

 

I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles;

synonymous with West Ham & Bobby Moore.

Whilst ‘Z Cars’  -the theme of Everton,

and also Watford, but why – I’m not sure?

 

The Dave Clark Five’s ‘Glad All Over’,

brings out Crystal Palace smiles.

Whilst up at Tranmere Rovers,

they run out to – ‘The Rockford Files’.

 

The theme from 633 Squadron,

I hear, is Bolton Wanderers song,

and ‘Im A Believer’ by The Monkees,

is sung at Wigan, by their army strong.

 

‘Is this the way to Amarillo’

fills Chesterfield fans with fire,

and Stoke City’s anthem – ‘Delilah’,

from Tom Jones, confirms their desire.

 

Aston Villa I’m told, come out to,

– Black Sabbath’s ‘Paranoid’,

Whilst Arsenal prefer ‘The Clash’,

though if I’m wrong, they’ll be annoyed.

 

Club Anthems always touching,

sending arrows to the heart,

as generations come together;

a way of life, right from the start.

 

Whether playing in the Sunday Leagues,

with Dad stood on the touch-line,

or being the one in a million,

who for a top club, sign.

 

No difference, the commitment.

No less thrilling is the game.

Football is an institution,

loved by young and old the same.

 

Written by Harriet Blackbury

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 1, 2015

 

 

The glamorous Beverley Sisters
throughout the fifties had hits,
with ‘I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus’,
and ‘Willie Can’,  following in fifty six.

Joy, being the original Wag,
married to Billy Wright.
Always elegant and bubbly,
and a total delight.

Other hits being ‘Little Drummer Boy’,
and ‘Little Donkey’ in fifty nine,
Those 3 sisters of early television,
really were divine.

Once more the music industry,
has lost another celebrity, (celeb-rit-ee)
as sadness surrounds the ground,
of Wolverhampton F C. 

By Harriet Blackbury

for LDOK.net   Tony’s Time Machine.

 

 

June 24, 2015

 

 

Back in the 60’s

when Bob Lord was king,

and life at Burnley FC

went with a swing,

 

A young fan of the club

to Turf Moor would hurry.

He watched every home game,

and was known as Gerry.

 

He stayed loyal through grim times,

and many there were!

But success came as well

for supporters to share.

 

Gerry liked a good sing-song;

a laugh and a joke,

and like the Houghton Weavers,

preferred to sing mostly ‘Folk’.

 

At times when Burnley lost,

he’d sing a shanty or a dirge,

and take requests from Blackburn fans;

‘sing Wild Rover’,  they’d urge.

 

He saw many games abandoned,

due to a water-logged pitch,

or ten inches of snow,

sent by the Pendle witch.

 

But with dogged determination,

and a folk song in his head,

he’d go to most away games;

to which ever town that led.

 

And though he could have followed,

Preston, Wigan or Bury?

He stayed loyal to his team,

did dependable young Gerry.

 

He even shunned watching Bolton,

when at it’s height with Allardyce.

And saw Rochdale and Bury as non-starters,

though was dragged there once or twice,

 

always under much duress,

with some relative or friend.

whilst his heart would be with Burnley,

playing down in Brighton or Southend!

 

When his fave Manager – ‘Stan the man’,

Hip-hopped down to Gigg Lane,

Gerry did attend more games there,

once he’d recovered from the pain.

 

So Folk music and Football

sure have floated his boat,

since back in the sixties,

when he wore his duffel coat.

 

‘Those were the days’ sang Mary Hopkins,

and Roger Whittaker sang Durham Town.

Whilst Haslingden’s very own Gerry,

was the local folk hero, renown.

 

So whether it’s ‘Gerry – the singer’

or ‘Gerry – the Burnley fan’,

he’s stayed true to what he loves,

because he’s just that kind of man.

 

 

 

 

 

I will love you until

the pigeons stop cooing.

 

I will love you until,

all the cows stop mooing.

 

I will love you until

Carlsberg stop brewing.

 

I will love you until

the opposition stop booing.

 

I will love you until

I don’t know what I’m doing.

 

But at the football ground,

I will always be queuing.

 

 

 

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