The radio the news that broke
That turned me ashen, cold
With hushen tones the voice that spoke
Recalling days of old
When mighty whites were on the move
Accepting no defeat
The barmy army in the groove
To Sergeant Wilko's beat
Macca, Strachan, Speedo, Batts
The quartet pulling strings
Brains and brawn and class and brass
In centre stage and wings
Eric's collar then was white
With Chapman striker ace
And Sterland steaming down the right
Dorigo; vigour, pace
Whyte and Fairclough tracking back
Sinews strained to block
Wallace probing in attack
Defences run amok
In steel city victory won
The Blades put to the sword
And Man United lose again
As Leeds and Anfield roared
The top gun in a top man top
Eleven on his back
His runs from deep they couldn't stop
Defence into attack
From box to box with strength and stealth
Accomplished with both feet
"Go on Speed, get one yourself"
The ball was struck so sweet
Dependable and debonair
A broad grin cross his face
Soaring high into the air
And heading home with pace
The radio the news decreed
A sense of disbeliefThe football world lost Gary Speed
United in its grief
What can I say except it echoes the bonding of the team and crowd and pinpoints the brilliance of the star in the third stanza but just as we bask in the glorious memory the poem ends, abruptly without warning... as did the man. What a tragedy.
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