90 Minutes

From the first minute
creative words are bouncing around my head
as each player, deflects the ball to each other
in diagonal directions.

The chants and drones
as football fans moan
hooting and swearing
we're all human, despite what colour shirt you're wearing.

The spirit of the audience
is so pleasing to those who can
appreciate the talent of the players
but whoever invented that bag of wind
has given us a passion
worth anymore than a price
you can put on any of these
Young Men.

Applause! Applause!
but then, oh no
when the tables turn....
We wolf whistle, hoping to put them off
Crowd echoes,
"The Ref. is a Wanker!"

Later, 2 Goals. Taken in their stride.
Oh the joy, and pride but
a hefty burden on our boys
"Come On You Reds!"
...

The floodlights keep all the colours and motion vivid
into this sepia afternoon
I see a sea of
Red, Blue, and some horizontal stripes
Perhaps they're running so fast, it's only a trick to my brain
and here comes the rain.
I think I'm getting a migraine.

Then I realised, as painful and tiresome this game has become
Lee Camp is "England's Number One"
and they respire pure determination in order to carry on.
No loss of focus, even in half time.

Grotty ladies toilets, 3 lonely cubicles,
Looks as if people have taken heroine here
Taps touched by the 3,000 people probably carrying chlamydia,
"Toilet didn't flush, love"...
"Yeah I know, disgusting"

Stand up - Sit down - Stand up - Sit down...
I'm flustered now and I all I can see is the sound
crashing around and around and around.
The lines of faces, gleam with hope
squint arrogantly, then distraught.
What a thought, assumed too soon.
Sit down.

27,635 share.
Moments for a fall, exchanged for seconds of glory.
Tastes so sweet, like beer. Familiar but misunderstood.

Nottingham Forest ( 2 - 1 ) Reading