Relegation

The team with no defence, midfield, attack
Failure resulting with the twenty million sack

Windfall to provide a very short term cure
Grand reward for tactics so immature

A matter of inches, dubious offside
A season saving pot-shot by the crossbar denied

Misery and woe, the sun begins to set
Out comes the white hankie, which many tears will wet

Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com

I can honestly say that relegation is the single most traumatic experience you can have in a football career. Every single psychological condition awaits you. A creeping feeling of worry sweeps through the club as players wonder how their future might be affected. Will they be forced to jump ship? Which club will have them?

David James
The Observer
Sunday April 20 2008

The colourful antics of Radhi

Beyond the wall he surveys the scene
“Hello there Mr opposition keeper
How’s the wife, the kids?” he asks
As offside he strays deeper

“I used to feature in the school play
“Pretended to be a windmill you know
“Arms outstretched is what I did best
“Gesticulating whilst leaping to and fro”

“I learnt from the wise Scouse Nolan
“During my Trotters stint at the Reebok
“Told me to distract the keeper at a set piece
“The stalemate my presence would unlock”

“Bobbing up and down, up and down
I perfected my silly star jump
I dreamt of the unlucky culprit
Who would be the ultimate prize chump

“With Kev being a Liverpudlian
“I used to listen to the Skip wide eyed
“The irony in this were the sorry victims
“Both halves of Merseyside

“Ungentlemanly conduct” screamed Howard
Rooted Reyna a grim onlooker
Gooooaaal!!!! Scream the Brummie faithful
See ya later sucker!

Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com

"I saw the keeper was a bit frustrated and so I thought I could maybe affect his concentration," Jaidi said. "It's something we used to do at Bolton; Kevin Nolan did it all the time. Yes, I learnt it from him, I suppose. Nolan did it a lot and we scored a lot of goals from free-kicks. It's not something I practise on the training ground, I just thought I'd give it a go."

The Independant - Monday 14th April 2008

Sonar Bangla

Amar Sonar Bangla by James - Wonderfully moving!

Mayor Ken in Stratford

After listening to Ken it's hard to see who will knock him off his perch. With Boris becoming the darling of the BNP, Ken it seems is definitely top dog in London. I believe thoough that with backup, the accomplished Brian Paddick would have pushed him.

After listening to Ken it's hard to see who will knock him off his perch. With Boris becoming the darling of the BNP, Ken it seems is definitely top dog in London, though with backup, the accomplished Brian Paddick would have pushed him.

Premiership trophy

Having missed out on a place in the London Marathon today (London's loss :)) Went down to Viccy park and was presented with the actual Premiership trophy. And no, it was the real thing, not a replica. Told Ismael to savour the moment, because it's a long way to 2020, when he lifts the trophy for his beloved Chelski at Anfield...

Next up tomorrow is the charity shield.

Poem - Hakeem & the Hafiz

Alright folks - this is from my favourite student, the cheeky, but delightful Hakeem. Man, I'm touched. Anyway I gave him a thumbs up for his very accurate description of me :)














There was a little boy, who was such a joy
He started at the weekend maktab,
where he met a teacher, who was fab

The little boy was called Hakeem
He had very high self asteem
Everybody called him cute,
Especially when he wore a suit

Most of all he loved Hafiz Emdad,
Who told Hakeem never to be sad
Every Sunday he gives Hakeem a bannana
And Hakeem cooks him some chana

So this is the story of Hakeem and Hafiz Emdad,
They ate,laughed and never were sad
Hakeem grew up, learnt the Quran
and became the best Hafiz in the land

Hakeem Khan, age 6, Redlands School

My trip to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium

Ismael Rahman, age 9

I visited the great Emirates stadium, home of Arsenal football club, with my dad, my little brother and my grandad (The arsenal fan).

We went to Barking station first and travelled to Whitechapel by the District line. We then took the Hammersmith line to Kings Cross, and from there we took the Piccadilly line to Arsenal. It didn’t take us one train or two but three. When we arrived we had to get the tickets from the all Arsenal shop.

We weren’t going there to watch a match as we were going to get a tour. We had to wait a bit because we were late (It was the train). When we were in the stadium we had to give the tickets to the guide and we were given a sticker. The tour guide was a retired Arsenal player. We saw the changing room, the pitch, the toilets (I don’t think you want to know that), Thierry Henrys socks, trophies, some players boots and some pictures. We also took lots of pictures. All of us sat on Arsene Wenger’s lucky number 13 seat, and my Dad sat on the seat that David Beckham sat on when he visited the Emirates to watch a match, whilst training with Arsenal.

When the tour finished we went to the Arsenal museum were we saw some trophies. There where games to play as well. When we returned home my dad bought us chicken and chips, and a can of Pepsi.

It was a very nice day, even though it would have been better if we went to Stamford Bridge.

If you haven’t guessed, I’m a Chelsea fan, my dad’s a Liverpool fan, my grandad’s an arsenal fan, and my brother…. I DON’T HAVE A CLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ismael Rahman
Apex Primary School
www.freewebs.com/ismaelx5

Justice 4 Jamie campaign

Jamie Simpson, 33 was murdered on Saturday 22nd March at the Matalan store in the Kingsland shopping centre in Hackney. Jamie's best friend Faeem Ahmed has launched a Justice 4 Jamie campaign, aimed at catching the perpetrators of this gruesome murder to task.

“During an attempted robbery, my best friend was murdered on Saturday of the bank holiday weekend whilst at work,” Faeem told London Bangla. In an earlier interview with the Daily Mirror Faeem had said; "he was like my brother. I hope God has mercy on their souls."

“I have started a Justice4Jamie campaign and would greatly appreciate the word being spread through word of mouth, email and distribution of fliers to friends/family in order to help the Police find the killers.”

Faeem urges anyone who has the slightest information to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Visit to Emirates Stadium - Arsenal FC

Visited the Emirates Wednesday. What an awesome symbol of the best of British football. Later in the evening the Gunners (not at the Emirates) then went and lost their aristocracy to the kings of Europe - Rafa's mighty Reds. What a brilliant match! Thought I'd share some (Emirates) pics with the readers...

Mastermind

In Europe they seek the foe, infiltrate and eliminate
Non domestic urgency as the Reds exterminate
Year in and out the premiership by far is secondary
Destroy the foreign invader using any means necessary
Beat off Everton for the uncreditable fourth part
Whilst bestowing the faithful a habitual assault of the heart
As Monsieur Wenger’s aristocrats took a trip up north
For this season no more nomadic roving back and forth
But a shock lay await, one very expensive
As Rafa’s men unexpectedly decided to go offensive
Mesmerising move, Diaby applying the coup de grace
Bullet from Mount Hyppia was all it took to erase
Torres El Nino nimble as a silver fox
A magic moment as little Theo burned his cotton socks
And despite Toure’s inelegance adding to the strife
The end result was worse as Babel twisted the knife
Rafa, your specialist subject is the Champions league
The only confederacy where your boys get combat fatigue
Europa make note, take a respectful bow
You might as well hand over the silverware now

© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com

Acrophobic Fokrul abseils for cancer research

Community development manager Fokrul Hoque-Misfah has kept his fear of heights a secret, until now. The Tower Hamlets resident is joining a team of ten to take part in the Canary Wharf abseil challenge, to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Cancer Research UK is the world's leading independent organisation dedicated to cancer research. The charity supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of more than 4,250 scientists, doctors and nurses.

“Cancer is not something that just affects one group of people. It affects us all whether we are young or old, black or Asian, white, male or female” said Fokrul.

“Almost everyone knows someone who has been directly or indirectly been affected so please join in and help fund the research into finding a cure.

“As for me abseiling down anything let alone a tall building, well I've never really done something like this before. My legs turn to jelly when I’m up high and this isvery much new territory for me. I really hope that the community will all join in and contribute to this really worthy cause.”

Fokrul’s fundraising page is www.justgiving.com/fokrulhoque-misfah.