“Football? I don’t get it”

Our talk turned to football

As it would sat at “The Cricketers”

In Small Heath on the hill

On a February afternoon

Carrying snow in the air

Close to frost on the ground

“I follow The Blues. Ever since my father took me along.

I was twelve then, in 1954

But I like football generally

You know?”

‘I do’ I said

And our match was made

For 90 minutes

With time added on

For good company

.

n.b. Either you get it, or you don’t. Danny, aged 77 is still 12 years old when he talks football. “Owh! Just look at his face! Look at his face!” as Barry Davies re-marked during a BBC Match of the Day commentary many years ago. You can see the light in the eyes.

I only met Danny yesterday and probably won’t ever see him again, but what a great conversationalist.

CLP 12/02/2020