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I’m really pleased that this position is to carry on this year. It’s been a good first year working with the museum and we’ve seen lots of kids and sold lots of books. Also, I’ve written several poems about
footballers who have sadly passed away. This last one turned out to be particularly special and poignant. Brian Labone was the first Everton captain that I remember when I started supporting them. Consequently, I have very fond memories of him and was shocked and moved by his untimely death. As a result of this, I wrote the poem and tried to capture some of the aspects of the man, not only from my own memories but also other people’s recollections, obituaries etc. Thus was the poem conceived. I sent copies to the museum and also to a contact I had at Everton ( I’d had a three page article in The Evertonian October 05 edition ). I then received a copy of the match day programme for 7.5.06 and the latest Evertonian. Both featured the poem as part of the tributes for the great Brian Labone. It was a real privilege to have a poem in the match day programme – as good a feeling, if not better than when poems have been used ( and paid for! ) in an anthology. If that wasn’t enough I then found out that the poem had been read out at his funeral by none other than the great Ian Callaghan. I don’t know the chain of events that lead to this but it was extremely moving for me to think that something I had written was deemed appropriate for such an occasion. As a writer you strive to touch a nerve, capture a moment or emotion. I was – and still am – very proud (in the best possible way ) that the poem did that. One of my proudest moments as a poet. This partnership is being supported by Macmillan Children’s Books.
For more information on the museum : www.nationalfootballmuseum.com The National Football Museum, Sir Tom Finney Way, Deepdale, Preston, PR1 6RU Tel : 01772 908426
To see a selection of the football poems click here Nineteen Sixty Six The Wembley Way The Museum Poems
I know it’s not football, but it is sport related. I wrote a few cricket poems as result of the wonderful Ashes series. To view them click here
The Summer Of The Ashes |
I did have an idea to celebrate 40 years since 1966. I wanted to get 11 poets to write 11 poems about the team of 66. However, I couldn’t get a publisher or sponsor interested, so in the end I wrote a series of poems myself. They are everyman recollections that try and capture something of the men, the magnitude, the mood and the memories. These are part of a bigger selection that hopefully will one day see the light of day.
I did write a response to our World Cup efforts …
WE ARE ENGLAND As Poet In Residence I will be working at the museum for a number of days during the year as well as writing material for display, use by teachers etc. I’m really excited about this next year and if you haven’t yet been to the museum, take my word for it, if you like football, you’ll love it.
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