When I Grow Up...

When I Grow Up

My sons inherent charm

Is a ball under his arm

He strikes it like a jet

Shouting “Back of the Net”

Energy we cannot shackle

He’s not afraid of a tackle

Like his dad it does enthral

Eats, sleeps and drinks football

He came up to me last week

With certainty did speak

“I know what I want to be

When I grow up you see”

I curiously inquired

At what the boy desired

"A football player" he said

Ball bouncing on his head

"Cos I’m very good you see

Although I’m only three"

My little lad bounded in from the back garden the other day and announced that when he grows up he would like to be a "football player" because "I'm very good at football"

My heart swelled with pride.

Desert Island Disciple

Desert Island Disciple

I heard about this chap last week

Got off his desert island

His fire spotted by a plane

He had started on the highland

 Joyous relief he did proclaim

Thankful but not withdrawn

When asked from whence he came

He simply uttered “Gurran”

Is there anyone you want to ring?

Asked those who had chanced upon

He inquired to just one thing

“How are City gettin’ on?”

Fifteen games without defeat

Promotion push on track

The lowly Blaahs came to compete

Took the monkey off our back

He smiled so awkward and clunky

Took a last look up at the dune

If I ever see another monkey

It’ll be a day too soon

All I've been listening to lately is Desert Island Disc podcasts from the BBC website
A fascinating show that gives an amazing insight into peoples lives.
People from every corner of every spectrum. Well worth a perusal.

Cork City had played the first 15 games of this season unbeaten until the visit of Waterford United last week when three defensive errors handed them a 3-2 victory.
To some supporters it's like the end of the world but imagine if you'd been on a desert island since the beginning of March and only just been discovered, things wouldn't look half as bad.

Gurran is short for Gurranabraher (pronounced Grawnabrawher) an area on the Northside of Cork City.

Glastonbury 2011- highlights

This was the song of the Glastonbury weekend for me.
Excellent set from The Horrors, this is the first single from their new album to be called Skying, the choon is Still Life.



The stand out performance has to be Janelle Monae, so much energy, twould give you the heart to go on.



And of course I couldn't let the weekend go by without his masters voice.

Weather Diversity

Cup Diversity

Gorgeous Friday night in June

Balmy evening, most opportune

Knockgriffin Park the scene is set

East Cork pining for Cup upset

Perfect football watching weather

The games fraternity drawn together

Jumper brought still waist entwined

Sixteen degrees at half past nine

Three days later more of the same

Another cup another game

Premier Dubs were coming down

A test to show how much we’d grown

The summer sun a distant friend

Showers, dark clouds, rain descends

Big coats and hats, umbrellas too

Fridays sun all gone, Atchoo!

We played Midleton FC below in Midleton last Friday night in the FAI Cup 3rd Round.
A glorious occassion for our East Cork neighbours and a glorious evening to boot.

We played St Patricks Athletic yesterday at Turners Cross in the League Cup Quarter Final, a mere 3 days later on what was a miserable day. Through the wind and rain.

We won both matches and progressed in both cups

Let there be light

Let there be light

FAI bulb went on

Coffers thin like chiffon

Stadium loan to pay

Tournament we’ll play

A frenzied build up

Carling Nations Cup

Decree from the powers

Back twenty four hours

Gates badly affected

Natives disaffected

MFA bulb went out

Can they make do without?

Floodlight replacement

Old bulb displacement

Long finger it stayed

Til last weeks charade

Gale force winds began

Contingency plan?

Now six thirty start

You’re breaking my heart

So the FAI make us move our home match with Mervue United from our regular Friday night slot back to Thursday because a couple of hundred miles away Northern Ireland are playing Wales.

On top of this the Munster Football Associations floodlight maintenance, the day before our match, hits a wall as gale force winds suspend work on safety grounds, meaning our 7.45pm Thursday evening kick off becomes a 6.30pm start.

Despite all these obstacles put in our way we still manage a crowd of over 1200 people but its still down on our season average of over 2000. Northern Ireland v Wales on the other hand had an attendance of 529.

The Visit

The Visit

Lilibet came to visit last week

To the capital city of Cork

Ground breaking whatever your clique

House of Lancaster, Fraser or York

               

English Market she’ll first navigate

Fresh produce of the highest repute

Founded seventeen eighty eight

Then off to Tyndall Institute

It’s a pity we weren’t at home.

You could have stayed to see City, Nil Satis.

Rejigged Donie Forde with a throne

Entry and Programme free gratis

A half time Corners Boys escort

To Horseshoe Bar could be tricky

Transporting you and your consort

For a Gin and Dubonnet with Ricky

Full time then you’d be airport bound

Our taxi man Bickle’s a surety

Be sure though and take off the crown

To get fast tracked through airport security

And as you return home with glee

Having made some new friends out of strangers

Pledge allegiance, Cork City F.C.

And leave off your promoted Park Rangers

A poem to mark the visit to Cork by Queen Elizabeth on May 20th 2011.

If only we'd been at home.

Howards Way

Howards Way

I think he knows I’m in the crowd

And not because I’ve screamed aloud

Most decisions seem bizarre

But he’s the shining star

I think he knows I’m in the crowd

Antagonistic and unbowed

Blame shouldered by Pienaar

But he’s the shining star

I think he knows I’m in the crowd

Maybe read my verse and vowed

My next foray he’d char

Cos he’s the shining star

I think he knows I’m in the crowd

My parade soaked by black rain cloud

Please take me to the bar

Cos he’s the shining star.

An excellent trip to Liverpool marred by 90 minutes of The Howard Webb Show.

A deflected Van der Vaart goal followed by an appalling penalty award did for Liverpool who didn't play particularly well, Dawson, King and Modric were excellent for Spurs.

However bad Liverpool were Mr Webb was worse. (See picture above)