Author Topic: The Shirt  (Read 4335 times)

Offline nige

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The Shirt
« on: May 17, 2004, 06:02:39 pm »
Worn the last 4 years by the mighty stalwart Finn
As he frowns in concentration, smiles when he heads one in.
Worn for a just a year by the dreadlocked Rigo Song
Often under-rated, though he never did much wrong.

Worn, unbelievably,  for 4 doldrum years
By the at first over-rated, then  berated, McAteer.
Worn so dependably for 8 seasons by Steve Nicol,
Such a tireless runner, so strong in the tackle.

Worn with a ’tache, for 4 years by Lawrenson,
Partnered with panache by the peerless Alan Hansen,
Who wore it just 8 times, before 6 became his place
And wearing it just 5 times - Jimmy, Jimmy - Jimmy Case !

For 10 whole seasons it was Phil Thompson’s jersey,
As he held the cups aloft,  for the boys from the Mersey.
Yes for a whole decade it was our Thommo’s jersey!!
(though he lost the odd shirt when the cups went back to Kirkby).

Worn for just a few games, in his final season of thirteen ,
By undersung Chris Lawler,  “quiet man” of  Shankly’s team.
In 1972 a personal hero, Trevor Storton, gets a mention,
Wearing it 4 times, when Shanks signed him from Prenton.

But perhaps its greatest wearer, for 7 glorious years,
Was Anfield’s mighty “Iron”, who every forward feared.
He came back to wear it with all his pride and soul
To replace Phil in Rome, and head that mighty goal!
The goal that the ‘Anfield Iron’ changed our history with!
A goal from Heighway’s corner by the ‘iron man’,  Smith!

Worn by the solid Gordon Milne, as vital as Ron Yeats
5 seasons (and three titles) powering the Shankly greats.
When Smith or Milne got injured, it was worn by Geoff Strong
Who in 6 years at Anfield put 10 different numbers on!

Phil Taylor wore it in '50, skippering the Reds at Wembley
And then for three seasons became manager before Shankly.
It is the same number shirt that was worn by Shankly too.
In white for Proud Preston and the Pride of Scotland’s blue.

The first Liverpool player to wear it was a mystery.
So I had to do a bit of research, back into league history.
And what a worthy man to be this shirt’s first wearer,
One of football’s great statesmen was its standard bearer. 
Because, when numbered shirts came in, back in ’thirty-nine,
Matt Busby was the right-half in Liverpool’s middle line.

Well after 4 months waiting, I’m wearing it in just 4 days,
After 4 months kind of "training", I’m wearing it on Friday.
After 4 months saving, I can afford the big donation
To some brilliant charities who help our football nation.

I’ll wear it with such pride, I’ll wear it with such feeling,
I’ll wear it right alongside my captain Ronnie Whelan *!
Cally will be manager and give us a "Shankly team talk"!
Out of the dressing room, and down the tunnel we’ll walk.

I’ll be behind Ronnie and Barney Rubble in the line,
I’ll reach up and touch the ‘This is Anfield’ sign,
And I’ll run out onto Anfield, like each of those greats,
Wearing number 4, but getting skitted by me mates !

It’s live the dream! It’s seize the day !
It’s the brilliant Football-Aid-dot-com !
It’s all my boyhood dreams true …
At the age of  forty-one!!

© nige 2004

*as it turned out, Phil Neal took Ronnie's place.

Football Aid is a charity which raises funds in collaboration with the majority of major clubs, including Liverpool. Fans have the chance to bid for a place on a team to play alongside their heros, and to step out on the Anfield turf wearing the famous Red shirt.

The funds are distributed in three ways:

Nominated Charities of Participating Clubs
Voluntary and charitable organisations, named by their participating Football Club, which want to improve services and facilities to people.

Nominated Charities of the Football Leagues
Charitable organisations, named by the Football Leagues as their nominated charities, which are seeking to develop services into new areas of need.

Diabetes Related Projects
A primary aim is to support research directed towards finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. Support will also be considered for research into the strategies for the prevention of Type 1 Diabetes and its complications, and for improving the lifestyles of children and young people with diabetes on a day-to-day basis.

For more information visit the Football Aid website:

http://www.footballaid.com/
« Last Edit: September 8, 2004, 04:19:26 pm by nige »

Offline Tom iGor

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Re: The Genealogy of a Numbered Shirt
« Reply #1 on: May 17, 2004, 07:01:19 pm »
Shuperb, Nige - while you're there - what's the craic with ARWC this year?

Offline Brick Tamland

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Re: The Genealogy of a Numbered Shirt
« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2004, 07:28:05 pm »
Well played. Enjoy your time on the hallowed turf :)
"I'm Brick Tamland. People seem to like me because I am polite and I am rarely late. I like to eat ice cream and I really enjoy a nice pair of slacks."

Offline nige

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Re: The Genealogy of a Numbered Shirt
« Reply #3 on: May 17, 2004, 07:56:23 pm »
Shuperb, Nige - while you're there - what's the craic with Anti-Racist World Cupthis year?

The anti-racist world Cup, a brilliant festival of 7-a-side football, music, beer, pizza and anti-racist solidarity,  takes place again  the 2nd weekend of July, from the Thursday night the 7th  till the Sunday in Montecchio near Parma, and Ryanair from Stansted to Bergamo is currently just about £7 return !  I haven't entered a (totally imaginary) Stanley Park team this year, just havent' had / won't have time to organise it, but  I'll be there with 2 Leeds -based teams as ever.

For more details message me on here.

"Stanley park ! we're Stanley park !
We're the totally imaginary  team from Stanley Park !"

« Last Edit: May 18, 2004, 12:09:14 am by nige »

Offline cyn

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Re: The Shirt
« Reply #4 on: May 19, 2004, 01:34:16 pm »
Excellent stuff, nige.

Hope you'll have a great time (I am sure you will) and look forward to reading a long account about it when you've come down to earth!

Offline zowie

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Re: The Shirt
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2004, 02:51:58 am »
  :wave Congrats well done and enjoy!!! ;D


ps don't forget to get lots of pics for us to look at please!
"SHANKS"THE FATHER"LIVERPOOL" THE TEAM "YNWA" THE REALITY NEVER THE DREAM!

Offline nige

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Re: The Shirt
« Reply #6 on: May 27, 2004, 04:17:23 pm »
I had the best day of my life on Friday at Anfield, and I will write properly  about it very soon, though I have been distracted on a massive scale by
(i) the managerial situation, which has preoccupied me ever since Friday made it obvious that M. Houllier was to all intents and purposes gone.
(ii) various birthdays of people close to me, and going to see birthday boy Morrissey in Manchester last Saturday.
(iii) spending most of my spare time at the moment leafletting against the racist BNP filth.
(iv) lots of work !!!!
Should be able to write something on Bank Holiday Monday.
What a day, though  : using the  players' entrance, the same changing room, the same loos even,  as  all  our Red stars, hearing the referees' bell,  touching the sign, running out of the tunnel (several times), getting wisecracks from Brian Hall & the opposition's captain Alan Kennedy about  constantly video-ing everything, even while I  was jumping around in the warm-up,  playing alongside Phil Neal, defending well  for 90 mins, getting half-time praise for him and Davey Fairclough, tackling Alan Kennedy as he ran down the left, a surging run and a shot just over the bar into the Kop in the first half, giving away a penalty  at the Kop end with what should have been my last kick of the game, but winning 5-3, getting all the autographs, having the photos and video  and signed shirt & ball to keep for  ever, having beautiful Anfield grass stains that I will never wash off, drinking at the players' bar with the ex pros, spending 5 ½ hours altogether inside Anfield, soaking it all in. Memories to last a lifetime !

Offline AnnieRoad(Un)Faithful

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Re: The Shirt
« Reply #7 on: May 28, 2004, 01:42:29 am »
Great.

What a wonderful way to spend your time.
"It's there to remind our lads who they're playing for, and to remind the opposition who they're playing against."

Offline cyn

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Re: The Shirt
« Reply #8 on: May 28, 2004, 05:18:56 pm »
Great stuff, nige. As your "editor" (retired  ;D) I hope to read a much longer post from you after Bank Holiday Monday.

Offline worthers

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Re: The Shirt
« Reply #9 on: June 2, 2004, 09:19:23 pm »
Very much enjoyed listening Morrissey through yr fone calls.  :)

Post a few of the leaflets for me mate.

See you v.soon will giv u a shout.......
"We can not walk alone" Martin Luther King 1963

In nine years, Paisley won three European Cups, a Uefa Cup, six League titles and three League Cups. He won three European Cups in nine years, while Mr Ferguson has managed two in 24.