And here is my new one, 

Ode to Redcar Red

Here’s a callout for our Redcar Red

Who writes up match reports before bed

Any time of the year

If we lose, when we cheer

Harder done than is easier said

There are many who don’t get to see

At the ground, even not on TV

With his all-seeing eyes

The best view he supplies

Of the game and completely for free

Now he doesn’t just type kick by kick

His writing is analytic

Bringing sense to events

With a cool temperament

Even when what he sees makes him sick

Its clear Redcar writes with his heart

And can write op’ning pieces to start

In a new matchday thread

Or just posting instead

Its his thoughtfulness sets him apart

So thank you for keeping us straight

And for posting reports, never late

You deserve the acclaim

Many pin to your name

Rest assured we all appreciate

@powmillnaemore

Very humbling Powmill and appreciated!

OFB

Here’s a few lines about our Bob

Fat and old, not a crusty old cob

Helped to keep us afloat

With his contacts of note

Giving insight that is just the job

On his travels he learned to take fine

Bacchanalian, red Argentine

He has a big heart

Which despite a kick-start

Is one thing about him we define

We know about refs what is said

But I’m sure both his parents were wed 😉 

Now he shares with us all

On the laws of football

That he carries around in his head

Perish the thought I could lie

His predictions are hard to deny

When he foretells the score

Not just any old draw

It’s always the eyeballs in the sky

Recently we know that he lost weight

Which I have to say I think is great

It will keep him around

With his nose to the ground

Till the next time the Boro score eight!

@powmillnaemore

Very touched thank you it’s appreciated 

OFB

Word of Mouth

Its true that most of us wouldn’t be here

But for Werdermouth making it clear

We were welcome to post

Of the team we love most

When “Untypical” closed with a tear

With some technical nous and great prose

A wonderous platform arose

He should be so proud

Because pride is allowed

Just look at us now, how it shows

He thought it all through with a grin

Gave us forums in which to begin

Any sensible thread

Running loose in our head

Diasboro means all of us win

While setting this up all the while

He’s had projects to build and to tile

The demands on his time

It seems petty to rhyme

As he always went more than a mile

So, think of you Werder we do

And we hope you will soon find the cue

To join in once again

With us funny old men

Who appreciate your point of view

@powmillnaemore

Superb 👍👍

@andy-r

Agreed, Andy.  A lovely tribute and a credit to both its subject and its writer. Many thanks Powmill

Than you Andy and thank you Len. Most kind.

PN’s written some prose about Bob,       
And I must say he’s done a good job.     
The verses he’s written are fine,      
Far much better than mine,         
Though his thunder I don’t wish to Rob.

He’s also praised our Redcar Red,      
And I think it’s got to be said        
We all agree with him there      
That it’s obviously fair       
That without him who’d we have in his stead?

Werdermouth we have missed for some time,        
And it would be really a crime         
If he do’nt return soon.         
In fact we’d be over the moon       
If he’s able to read PN’s rhyme.

PN’s even written about me, Ken   
But why not about our Len?        
Whose really a sensible read        
And there must be a need,    
But the question is when, not now and then.

So now is the time to relate               
And I hope it isn’t too late        
To raise a glass to Powmill-Naemore;      
I’m sure it won’t be a chore        
As he’s now our Poet-Laureate.👋

And someone once said football fans are huligans, dear me. They are nothing but gentlemen and more. Unbelievable,. 

Up the Boro! 

@ken

Thank you Ken. My turn to be humbled and fair cop.

Masterful Masterton

Someone said why not write about Len

Who’s as worthy as most of your pen

I’ve ideas to write

About all (well not quite!)

So, keep checking again and again

Len’s wise voice of reason we hear

When things can get rowdy in here

He will cut to the quick

Erudite not just slick

When off-piste we occasionally steer

Its quite a big deal if his praise he affords

For you know you have hit the right chords

And it builds you up well

For the next things you’ll tell

Not forgetting the annual awards!

He’s of the old guard, from “Untypical” days

And we always take heed what he says

With his firm, gentle tone

Leaves no need to atone

Despite some of us stuck in our ways

Thanks for the calming sage words you have shared

Motivating so no one felt scared

To write what they think

About any old link

Always knowing there’s someone who cared

Powmill,

How typically kind and generous of you.  More than I deserve, as a rheumy-eyed old codger given to occasional outbursts of intemperate rage, but greatly appreciated nevertheless. Thanks, as ever, for all you do to make the blog such a hospitable, must-read place.

@jarkko 

There was an old saying in the 60s which went like this:- 

Football is a game for GENTLEMAN played by HOOLIGANS        
Rugby Union is a game for HOOLIGANS played by GENTLEMEN                But Rugby League is a game for HOOLIGANS played by HOOLIGANS  

@ken The weird thing is that that myth still exists. After the cyber bullying by RaRa fans at the weekend, I think it’s been safely dispelled. 

The quote has been attributed to Lord Tedder when he was Chancellor of Cambridge University, but I can’t find categoric proof of that. 

Martin Bellamy 

Has the kick and clap game of Rugby Union now become the kick and scrap game?

Flying Finn

Many Finns are renowned cos they flew

From Nurmi to Verén to Salo to name but a few

But there’s one that flies in

Who is our kith and kin

Our own Flying Finn, Jarkko you

How on earth could it be people say

Someone chose our team from far away

Jarkko’s told us before

When he came to our shore

Boro folk, well they blew him away

He’s made many friends he holds dear

And likes to come by every year

To take in a match

Two or three in a batch

Well, as many he can while he’s here

And its not just the football he’s found

But the beauty that is all around

In the Vale of the Tees

Where there’s so much to please

For those willing to let it be found

So Jarkko, I think you should know

While your snug in your home in the snow

We just love that you share

In our passion, our care

Even when it is 50 below

@lenmasterman   

Don’t undersell yourself Len. Your contributions to Diasboro are always well worth reading.

Ken

Home Thoughts from Cumbria

If in England and then if in Cumbria
Is a close as it comes to utopia
David still can come down
Into Middlesbrough town
To watch Boro play live, not on media

He travels by train I've heard tell
And will stay overnight in hotel
So he sees all the game
Good or bad, just the same
There are some that would say "He's not well!"

But we share the disease in his head
For the love of that team all in red
Which for better or worse
Is not really a curse
But a passion it has to be said

These days we must all stay at home
Lock down rules that will not let us roam
And makes games to be played
With no atmosphere made
Hard on us all with the Boro syndrome

So for David in Cumbria soon
And us all, so we can sing in tune
Back in our home town patch
As we go to the match
See us win, and be over the moon

Well done Powmill

@powmillnaemore

Sorry, I have missed your post on me earlier. Now read it and I am feeling good. Accepted as a Boro fan. A bit Teessider in heart or Yorkshire man. Thank you, mate. Love this blog. Up the Boro! 

You are very welcome Jarkko. I'm pleased you appreciated it.

AndyR

AndyR, AndyR, is a Boro fan

AndyR, AndyR, a Diasboro man

Posts thoughts that make sense, never sitting on the fence

AndyR, AndyR, AndyR

He joined the greatest writers on the internet to share

And vowed to help the good folk write this blog

He’s written sev’ral starting posts in time that he had spare

To become another most important cog

AndyR, AndyR, is a Boro fan

AndyR, AndyR, a Diasboro man

Posts thoughts that make sense, never sitting on the fence

AndyR, AndyR, AndyR

He came to Diasboro with a feather in his pen

A writer never looking for a fight

His ink was always ready, and he kept his pen nibs sharp.

Always posting using words that are polite

AndyR, AndyR, is a Boro fan

AndyR AndyR, a Diasboro man

Posts thoughts that make sense, never sitting on the fence

AndyR, AndyR, AndyR

The cheating and corruption in the game did not appeal

His words would wish integrity hold sway

And of certain costly figures wasting space out on the field

Hoping Warnock would just make them go away

AndyR, AndyR, is a Boro fan

AndyR AndyR, a Diasboro man

Posts thoughts that make sense, never sitting on the fence

AndyR, AndyR, AndyR

@powmillnaemore

Thanks mate! Honoured to be recognised among the real greats of the blog who have been honoured in previous poems.

@powmillnaemore

Thanks for your verse which must have been written on one of the few days when I hadn't looked at Diasboro. If I survive another year I will have spent half my life in Cumbria but Boro will be the only team I really care about. Having lived alone for over 45 years I am not that talkative but the odd time I do get into a conversation over here it is inevitable that I mention my support for the Boro and when asked why I put it down to an incurable mental illness suffered by people around my age. It used to take most of my pocket money to get into the Boys End and (as my grown up height is 5' 5") I used to need help to get over the wall to run down to the front of the stand to get a good view though someone would often stand in my way. Entry prices are now so high that, unless their parents take them, most kids would find it beyond their pocket money so the loyalty of youngsters nowadays is limited. 

When I see the posts from supporters around the world who also haven't escaped from their love for the Boro I think about the plan I had to emigrate to a quiet life in New Zealand when I won the Lottery but it hasn't yet worked out for me. I would of course have used some of my millions to pop over to the UK to use my Boro season card. Not a great game against Sheffield Wednesday but a 3 - 1 win is welcome to brighten up my life at any time rather than the low days following a defeat. 

PLATO – A philosopher’s verse

I’ve not done a rhyme here of late so

Its time to write one for our Plato

With his heart on his sleeve

And no plan to deceive

There is never a need to call Nato

Posts strong views, but there’s no need to ban

He’s as forthright as any good man

It’s a trait to admire

Never scared of the fire

He is just a most passionate fan

There is an occasional hook

Of a theme where he likes to get stuck

Remember Traore ?

Caused quite a furore

Did we really lose more than a buck?

But he’s straight to the point with his words

Happy, aloof from the herd

Gives us all pause to think

No, I didn’t say drink

Keeps debate in this forum well stirred

It takes all sorts to philosophise

Sharing thoughts, sometimes really quite wise

Plato’s one of our team

All of whom we esteem

Hoping Boro are soon to arise