Becoming a Pro footballer with Saints

[woksaintly]

Now for something completely different. A poem I wrote on being signed on by Saints when I was sixteen

Enjoy

Becoming a Professional Footballer

 

Like most schoolboys I was sport mad
and imagined one day to play for my team
a fantasy, an unrealistic hope, a false dream
but I was good and not just keen

So I wtote to my club and asked for a trial
and surprisingly I was asked to come next Tuesday eve
There were 40 of us desperate to impress
the watching scouts, the manager, in me to believe

We returned to the Dell
The home of the "Saints" and four names were called
of the 40 that played that night.
I was one of them to my disbelieve and utter delight

I got a letter signed by the Manager, Ted Bates
that I had become an Amateur with no pay
but told to make myself available to play.
Training Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Southampton way

In those days there were no academy suits
no sponsored kits. no manicured pitches
instead the concrete and tarmnac carpark and gym
where we sweated and stretched every muscle and limb

Grace and elegance was not the art of the pro
well for most it was tenacity and will
to withstand the mental and physical
speed of thought against your opponent's skill

Confronted one evening in training in the car park
when tackled by a hardened pro called Huxford
who flattened me to the ground, face first
dazed and bloodied he stood over me unmoved

He was looking for a response, a reaction
would I run away or confront him
Had I got what it took to become a pro
there would be no apology, no retraction

It was not just me but everone that night
floored, bloodied, bruised and sore
discovered what it was to become a pro
If that was sport then for me a no

Only one amateur signed pro forms that year
a lad, ironically from Portsmouth, our fiercest foe
Diminuitive but quick, fearless, but no tricks
went on the score the winner in the cup Final of '76

Edited 6 June, 2023 by woksaintly

[bangkoksaint]

Fantastic. Thanks 

[spyinthesky]

23 hours ago, woksaintly said:

Now for something completely different. A poem I wrote on being signed on by Saints when I was sixteen

Enjoy

Becoming a Professional Footballer

 

Like most schoolboys I was sport mad
and imagined one day to play for my team
a fantasy, an unrealistic hope, a false dream
but I was good and not just keen

So I wtote to my club and asked for a trial
and surprisingly I was asked to come next Tuesday eve
There were 40 of us desperate to impress
the watching scouts, the manager, in me to believe

We returned to the Dell
The home of the "Saints" and four names were called
of the 40 that played that night.
I was one of them to my disbelieve and utter delight

I got a letter signed by the Manager, Ted Bates
that I had become an Amateur with no pay
but told to make myself available to play.
Training Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Southampton way

In those days there were no academy suits
no sponsored kits. no manicured pitches
instead the concrete and tarmnac carpark and gym
where we sweated and stretched every muscle and limb

Grace and elegance was not the art of the pro
well for most it was tenacity and will
to withstand the mental and physical
speed of thought against your opponent's skill

Confronted one evening in training in the car park
when tackled by a hardened pro called Huxford
who flattened me to the ground, face first
dazed and bloodied he stood over me unmoved

He was looking for a response, a reaction
would I run away or confront him
Had I got what it took to become a pro
there would be no apology, no retraction

It was not just me but everone that night
floored, bloodied, bruised and sore
discovered what it was to become a pro
If that was sport then for me a no

Only one amateur signed pro forms that year
a lad, ironically from Portsmouth, our fiercest foe
Diminuitive but quick, fearless, but no tricks
went on the score the winner in the cup Final of '76

What year was this?
In the 1960's the Saints used to hold public trials which anyone could attend.
The one I went to was held at the Victory Transport ground at Rownhams where the Saints Nursery team CPC? used to play.
We all got 15-30mins to display our 'talents' and a few of us got signed up to play in the Saints 'A' team (Hampshire One League at the time) or Saints 'B' (Hants League 3)
Home games were played at the BTC ground in Stoneham Lane.
I also played with Bobby Stokes, Roy Hambly, George Rodgers and a couple of other lads from Pompey.

[Colinjb]

Here's a poem...... (Oh no)

Now i've read the poem. Bl**dy brilliant!

[woksaintly]

!966

[spyinthesky]

20 hours ago, woksaintly said:

!966

Year before me.