Comrade Jim – The spy who played for Spartak

Greet the first Brit to play in the USSR
Alexei Smertin’s translator at Pompey
Learned Scholar who trained as a spy
Whilst sharing tea with high society

Strolled the road trodden by Bennett and Frayn
Stationed to Berlin for National Service
Eavesdropped communiqués now and then
And fraternised with local servicemen

Round leather bag again the common bridge
With a drunk centre back appearing grim
So a debut in front of a 50,000 mass
Lenin stadium stood to salute Communist Jim

Centre half a close "friend of the green snake"
Led to an opportunity almost 50 years ago
Therefore Jim donned the illustrious red and white
Running out to face Tashkent side Pakhtakor

It finished 2-2 for the Soviet juggernaut
"Chopper" aptly christened before the game
Though presented in public as Yakov Iordanov
Russian version of the lofty giants name

The Diplomat did enough to reappear
First Briton to play the Soviet league
Against Khairat Almaty in the next match
Denials simply add to the intrigue

Brush with national skipper Igor Netto
Authored the "Sport in Soviet Society"
Plenty for some, but not espionage Jim
Red exploits weave a quite brilliant story

Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
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