ODE TO SUPER BILLY KEE

I AM delighted to be sponsoring Super Billy Kee (home shirt) once again this coming season, and as the world’s finest Football Poet Laureate I attach a new poem in honour of Stanley’s #29. Sharon Wilkie-Jones Poet in Residence Bolton Sixth Form College

Stryker, Stryker burning bright

Upon the pitch beneath floodlight

What immortal football boot

Dare frame thy fearful aim to shoot

In what jinking runs aspired

And scorched the wings from side to side

Would tremble those with boots of clay

And turned to dust amidst decay

When the Sky dropped down to sea

The grace and beauty that is he

What the soul of youth that fired

The blazing heart transfixed desire

What the draw the win the loss

What the match of

human cost

That twist the sinews of each heart

The alchemy of football art

And when the game is all but done

The players walk off one by one

What then the child within the soul

That dreams to score the winning goal

Stryker, Stryker burning bright

Upon the pitch beneath floodlight

What immortal football boot

Dare frame thy fearful aim to shoot.