Captain Marvel - Bryan Robson

Up north where strangers are readily met with a greet
From the heart and the terraces of Chester le Street

Industrially produced from girders and an Irn Bru can
Make way, make way for the bionic man

Young Bryan held little appeal for Lawton or Greaves
No Milburn, Charlton or Gallacher, always Wyn Davies

Energy of an ox that could sprint full pelt for miles
Fashioned into a tower block by the fabled Johnny Giles

So Gilbert’s best accepted a too good offer from Don Howe
Fiver increasing to eight a week if he put in a good plough

Sheer strength of a bull, the speed and poise of a gazelle
At the tip of the sword New Balance, many a foe fell

With a purring Rolls Royce engine leaving many in his wake
To prise this young stallion a British record it would take

And so it was with Big Ron that Robbo took the red pill
To the steady tune of an awesome one and a half mil

A centre circle contract at the theatre of dreams
To revive a sleeping giant and to rule supreme

To rule the engine room was the task of this nipper
Thus Britley boy led United as longest serving skipper

Many memories including the Barca demo job
Skewered and braised El Diego, just like corn on the cob

Ninety caps for country, twenty six in the bag
Facing Marvel meant time to hoist the white flag

French humbled in Bilbao by Lord Lawson’s footballing lord
Twenty seven seconds in Bilbao to grab the world record

Throughout a splendid era pitch knocks cast a small dark shadow
Two world cup injury pullouts proved an all time career low

Things could have been very different for the Red Express
Could have formed a magnificent pairing with Graham Souness

But rejected the overtures of the legend Bob Paisley
Missed out as swashbuckling hero of the Mersey


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