Pompey V Bluebirds - FA Cup Final 2008

Not since world war two had they reached such a height
With Arry at the helm they’d played football to delight

The South Coast’s finest are the longest reigning ever
Seven years the holders without any actual endeavour

The team of Barlow Anderson, Parker, Dorsett
Battered Major Frank Buckley to cause an upset

Jack Tinn’s men tore the Wolves to a shred
The great Stan Cullis, his reputation was left for dead

As King George presented to the Scot Jimmy Guthrie
A looming World War ensured it was all over by tea

Fast forward and no hurrah for Kop king Fowler
As brave Cardiff and Enkleman served up pretty much a howler

Loovens did provide a worthy magic moment
But the use of his arm just added to the torment

Watched on by Sir Bobby, the grand sage
Sol lifted high on the majestic Wembley stage

As Distin, Krancjar, Kanu, all came of age
Europe gets ready for a Pompey rampage.

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

The green giant – Tommy Burns

Tam, the wee lad from Maryhill
Joined the Bhoys in 73
A gallant and true servant was he
Not many would disagree

A silky, accomplished schemer
A bridge in the Old Firm divide
Blue and green gathered in union
Last respects paid side by side

Out of a mere 51 years
20 served the club he adored
As player, coach and gaffer
Tam was loath to cut the Hoops cord

Said Lisbon Lion Gemmell
'I don't think you will find on this earth
Anyone who will say a bad word'
A comic full of laughter and mirth

His greatest moment in football
Mac the knife sealing a double at Hampden
All in the great centenary year
Upstaging Rangers was extra golden

352 league games for the Bhoys
8 golden national caps
53 potent strikes
For this affable, golden haired chap

Assistant to ‘Allsort’ Bertie
A refined coach with Smithy
Star youth development at Parkhead
Maloney, Mc Manus, McGeady

Completed a rare football hat trick
Returning home as coach and trainer
Mentor to the latest starlets
A stroll for the seasoned campaigner

Alas a fatal blow was struck
By an old lurking assassin
The aged adversary struck
Diagnosed cancer of the skin

A Requiem Mass at St Mary's
Evoke with the chime of the bell
A true ambassador for Scotland
For Bonnie Tam a final farewell

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

A tragic loss of a wonderful man.
Coming so soon after the death of Phil O’Donnell, who he signed for Celtic.
Respect to Tommy Burns – A true Celtic great.

Abseil king Misfah takes the plunge

Emdad Rahman

Community housing manager Fokrul Hoque Misfah is jubilant after completing his Canary Wharf abseil for charity. Misfah, 33 completed his abseil, despite having a fear of heights. “I do fear heights but have a ‘try anything once’ attitude. The abseil was for charity and having hit and surpassed my fundraising target I’m dead chuffed” Fokrul said. “The experience was very liberating and the goodwill of all my wellwishers and my happy thoughts ensured a very pleasurable experience.“ Misfah is raising funds Cancer Research UK, the world's leading independent organisation dedicated to cancer research. “Cancer is not something that just effects one group of people, but it effects us all, whether we are young, old, Black, Asian, white, male or female. I can bet that everyone knows at least one person that has been affected by cancer.” Misfah is still taking donations. Visit his fundraising page.

emdad@londonbangla.com

2 footballing haikus

transistor radio haiku

Hand held radios
Crackling on the terraces
Sorrow or delight






fm band

relegation looms
earpiece that could lift the gloom
or augment the doom

Number 7
© Emdad Rahman

A ticking timebomb

During a running session on sunny Bank Holiday today I witnessed a near motor collision as one car sharply braked behind another. The two morons involved started to scream and re enact their planet of the apes routine.

Things stepped up a gear when the driver (A) from the car in front came running out. He approached the driver behind (B) and screamed expletives whilst gesticulating like a madman. With his demonic rage and skin turning demon crimson I thought he would burst a vessel and bleed to death. I stopped and said; "come on guys, let's all calm down," to which driver A retorted; "f**k off." "Charming!", I thought and as he poked driver B in the face with his finger I tried to verbally intervene again. This time it was "f**k off you Paki c*&t!" As his passenger mate and fellow neanderthal sneered at me, driver A zoomed off.

The battery on my ipod went flat and naturally I spent the rest of my 8 miles thinking about this exchange.

You see the government has shafted the indigenous working class people. The government I believe, can still turn it around. It has to backtrack and like John Major said; "go back to basics."

Policies must ensure the rights of its citizens. Opportunities be it in education , the NHS or housing must be equal for everyone. The backbone of this country, pensioners and war heroes must be feted and afforded and extended every courtesy available. This is not charity, they have earned it. It is their God given right.

The Government must take responsibility for making it's citizens feel like foreigners and third rate citizens in their own back yards. My elderly neighbours confided to me that they would vote BNP simply for this reason alone; "BNP policies will never take off, nobody is daft enoughto actually believe that they will make shockwaves in the future", they said in unison. "It's easy, the government wakes up and starts to invest in their own and we stop voting for the BNP. Everyone is happy."

Schools must take responsibility to address issues. These are insitutions where a child spends 1/8 of their daily living. Apart from the curriculum it is the duty of the school (in tandem with the parents) to produce decent, law abiding, model citizens. Anything other should be a blight on the reputation of the school. The government in turn, especially in areas where racial tension is rife, allocate resources and funding to support such schemes that educate communities and younger people. After all education is the key to achieving tolerance.

By not supporting such fundamentals, the Government is guilty of stoking the flames of racism, breeding resentment and fanning the flames of hate, whilst destroying community cohestion.

The simple truth is I could have had my head kicked in for being a good samaritan - upon returning home my Sister said I was stupid to intervene, simply for this reason. I said I wasn't too sure - didn't think I could just walk away without placing a burden on my conscious. I have this recurring scene in my head; one of Sarah Connor fighting to prevent judgement day - that despite all that is happening a major event/occurence, one though of cultures is waiting to happen.

Should I have stopped? Or should I have walked? Your comments and opinions will be much appreciated. Anyone can comment. Please note that this is not a rant or complaint and advance apologies if anyone gets cheesed with me for tagging them.

emdad@londonbangla.com