POETRY FOR PEACE - WOMEN'S DAY

Offside
by Geri Andrews

Aah! The beautiful game, here we go again!
Any excuse to consider the national obsession.
Ooh! The glory, the fortune, the fame!
But really, it’s the joy of kicking a ball about purely for fun.
In the park, in the street,
Anytime is a good time for kids to play and run.

But it hasn’t always been like this, for sure, for sure!
It used to be so violent hundreds of years ago.
People were seriously injured and even died
As the mob rampaged around town: wise folk stayed inside.
These days the ball is made of polyurethane and glue,
A far cry from the pig’s bladder that still exists from 1542.
 
Since Victorian times rules were slowly introduced
Making the game more coherent: on-lookers were seduced.
Hacking was banned; tribal loyalties were fanned
By the sense of emotional belonging in cheering on your team from the stands.

The offside rule was one of those changes
That allowed the pace of the game to flow more freely.
As long as there is always at least one person and the ball
​between you and the goal
Then everyone has to play more as a team, as part of the whole.
It made the use of tactics and strategy more necessary
Lessening the mindset of ‘aggression is manly’. Got to be a good thing!
 
As the game of football continues to evolve,
Another good thing is beginning to unfold.
After a fifty year ban women are finally finding their feet
And showing that their style of football is a delight, an absolute treat.
More goals, shorter passes, a faster more flowing style
With a degree of technical and tactical play, some would say,
lacking amongst the gents.

Women’s football is on a very optimistic course
With its levels of camaraderie and intelligence.
 
Aah! The beautiful game……. the beautiful game.