Pitches From My Past

 

 

Pitches From My Past

by Paul McCann

 

On all weather pitches

our legs we were getting hacked,

there was no time to think

and no time to react ,

you had to play on

and as a matter of fact .

You went in boots and all

there was no pulling back .

There were games on the street

there were games on spare  ground ,

there were so many games in Ardoyne going round
.

On top of Milley after they filled it in ,

on the taramac at St Gabes

or  in the gym ,

We played 5 a side where you couldn’t swing a
cat .

The  whole of St Gabes

played together out the back .

We passed the ball fast with

everyone on attack .

If you held on too long

you get crushed by the pack .

There were no sliding tackles ,

and no fancy tricks ,

none of those  flying headers

or over head kicks .

We played on the cinders pitch

there by Kingston Street ,

where an underground spring run

underneath your feet .

Heading bladder balls in winter

was dangerous ,  but football was

a way of life  for all of us .

We rarely played on grass ,

but whenever we did ,

it was like being at Wembley

for every kid .

All the people I once played with

have now grown old ,

and of the places where

we played have been bought and sold .

 

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