Loyal, Devoted And Proud Poem by Steve Nestor

The Beautiful Game stirs deep passions within,
That no true football fan can escape.
And the club that we follow holds the key to our heart,
Our hopes and our dreams only they can fulfil.

On the eve of the Premier League Season
All fans, young and old, wait to see,
If their team can deliver performances worthy
Of the love and devotion they show endlessly.

Last season the teeth of the Wolves were extracted,
The Rovers of Blackburn sent down.
Pig sick were the Trotters as they were demoted
From the league that they say is the best.

Replacing them, Hammers hoping to Iron out troubles
That previously caused their Bubbles to burst.
Whilst for Saints and The Royals, now joining the party,
Surely seventeenth or above would be a success.

Last season's new boys, avoided the abyss.
Welsh Swans played majestically,
The Norfolk Canaries sang so proud.
And the Hoops of Queen's Park escaped by a point.

But there are no guarantees in this wonderful game
And apart from the chosen elite
Almost all of the clubs from the twenty that start
Could dropp out of the league come next May.

Will the long shorted boys from the West of the Bromwich
Bag enough points to help them survive?
And will busying themselves aptly, in their sesquicentennial,
Be enough for the Potters this time?

The Cottagers will battle like Badgers when baited,
And Villans will sneak in to steal the odd win.
Could the Gunners be shot to the top of the table?
Or even the Kopites that play down the Left.

The Latics will probably leave it til late,
Whilst the Toffees play sweetly, getting stuck in
To the teeth of the Black Cats, who will be stalking
Magpies in their bid to be kings of the Tyne and the Wear.

Will the Crown be re-United with the Crimson Beelzebub
Or will Citizens singing Blue Moon reign again?
Not forgetting the challenge the Pensioners pose,
Or maybe Lilywhites can earn their Spurs with aplomb!

In ten months from now when the final whistle is blown.
We'll discover who's won and who's down.
But no matter what happens between now and that day,
To our team we'll stay Loyal, Devoted and Proud