Tommy the Footballer [An Original Poem]

A poem of youth, innocence, friendship, and stereotypes.

A.N. This is a bit different to my usual stuff. But hope you enjoy.

Tommy was a happy boy, a young boy so it’s said,

He’d scamp around the footie field, and was always late to bed,

Caked in mud and soaked with sweat he’d never seemed to stop

West Ham was his favourite team, his idols at the top

In little school he always smiled and waved all his ‘hellos’

All students and teachers loved him, he never was alone

So Tommy had his dreams, his aspirations and his goals,

To run his little boots into the mud and play for pros

He joined the local footie team around the age of 8

His feet were quick as lightning, his blades more built for skates

Running round in rings he’d dominate the match

As each ball smacked into the net with a whoosh and with a crack

Though just when all with Tom seemed well he received a mighty shock

The family had to move away, with his father’s brand new job

So Tommy started secondary school, but nothing put him off

He may have been real nervous, but you’d never know to watch

Approaching every kid with an extension of his hand

Though the air seemed rather colder in schools in this new land

With a sharp turn of a shoulder, the boy’s would turn away

Giggling and pointing when his back was turned, not a word they’d say

Every table that he sat at when it came to eating lunch

The kids would pull their trays away and find somewhere else to munch

Though when food was gone and time was left he’d run out to the pitch

But when he asked to join the games, no one moved an inch

He huddled on the grass and drew his legs up to his tum

And watched the kids until the buzzer buzzed and they bell would end their fun

In class he sat alone on a table built for four

For no one liked the new kid and he didn’t know why for

He never told his parents about the crumby day he had

Putting on a brave face so he won’t disappoint his dad

When the sun rose high and his alarm went off, his stomach tied in knots

He prepared himself some breakfast, and readied for more shots

As he walked into the class and sat down at his seat

A young girl sat across from him and offered him some sweets

He’d never seen the girl before, but took the sweets grace

She shuffled right up next to him and kissed him on the face

The lesson seemed to fly right by as Tommy turned bright red

And when it came to lunchtime he sat with the girl who said

‘Tommy I can’t see why the others treat you mean,

You’ve got a cute round nose, dazzling eyes that are brighter than I’ve ever seen’

He blushed and turned away then he took her hand in his

And they ran on to the field and shared another kiss

A ball bounced off Tommy’s shin, popping their little bubble

He volleyed the ball with three quick kicks and got himself in trouble

For his aim was next to none, and he knew his target was

The big old kid who said he shouldn’t play with no ‘because’

The big kid ran right over and laughed in Tommy’s face

Shouting ‘Brownie’s got a girlfriend, who loves his dirty dirty face.

What’s that then little brown boy? You got something to say?

A brown boy and a white girl? You’re like the milky way!’

That was when he saw why the others were so mean

He had moved to middle England, where Asian boys were rarely seen

But he didn’t let it phase him, his daddy taught him better

He was proud that she had like him, and blessed the day he met her

With a puff of chest, and a straightening back he issued forth a challenge

‘Beat me in a one-on-one, try to beat my talent,

And if you win I’ll give you my football signed by Roony’

‘And if you win?’ the large boy said. ‘I just want to play some footie’.

So in one-on-one the whistle blew and all their friends began to cheer

Never had so much excitement been drawn in an academic year

Tom swerved and kicked and zipped and zapped right past with every strike

His foot were such a blur you couldn’t keep them in sight

When the end drew near and the scores were tallied the large boy shook his hand

‘I didn’t think Asian boys could play, I just understand’

Tom said ‘I may look slightly different, and our colours aren’t the same

But I was born in England when I found footie I fell in love with the game.

It can be played in any country, and by anyone it’s true’

The crowd slapped Tommy on the back as their sights were set anew.

I hope you enjoyed that. If you've got anything you'd like to share, let me know :)