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FOOTBALL CULTURE
 by DAVE KIRBY

 Illustrations by Gerry Cosgrove

 A House of Scouse publication

A couple of years ago I co-wrote a book of terrace verse -
Kop Stories - with me arle Kirkby buddy and fellow scribbler Nicky Allt of Boys from the Mersey fame. Kop Stories was an easy read and sold out its print with all proceeds going to the HJC and Zoe’s Place.

Since then I’ve written more LFC verse – mainly due to my arrival on the after-dinner scene where I’ve had the pleasure of working with the ex players and performing my stuff to hundreds of nailed-on reds ...believe me there’s no better buzz.  

For me...one of the best parts of doing an LFC night is seeing the horrified expressions on the faces of a footy audience when the M.C. announces that there’s a poet coming on. Honest...it’s as though they’ve just been told that Gary Neville is the guest speaker.

I totally sympathise with them because in the environment that most of us grew up in, the word poetry is sacrilegious... provoking a reaction similar to a vampire after it’s just been shown a crucifix. That’s mainly because over the years academics have hijacked poetry and taken it over the hills and far away until eventually it disappeared up its own orifice. It’s a shame really...because like any other form of writing, poetry can work for anyone if it tells them about their own lives or gives them something that they can identify with or relate to.  

I use it solely as a means of communication...capturing an emotion, a moment in time or an observation and then sharing it in a voice that people can understand. I like to think that I’m doing my bit for Liverpool’s capital of culture status, introducing normal match-going lads to poetry, and at most LFC nights - people always ask me the same question... Where can we get  your stuff?.. That’s why I had to get this book sorted.

Dave Kirby   
March 2007

Read an interview with Dave in the  Liverpool Echo

                                            
                             
Index

Football Culture

The Old Boy's Pen

Platform 9

Jester's Hats

One Night In May

The Pilgrimage

The Storm

A Tale Of Two Kensingtons

Dispute That One Mourinho

A Lad From Huyton

The Justice Bell

Impunity For The Guilty

Beckham's Foot

An Innocent Lad

A Kopite's C.V