SPORTS NEWS

A very long time ago

Stephen Fry’s godfather, the
Justice, Sir Oliver Popplewell
Who chaired the inquiry
Into the Bradford City
Stadium fire that killed
56 football watchers, contrasted

The quiet dignity of those relatives
With the behaviour of the relatives
Of the Hillsborough victims, who
Were forever blaming other people

Instead of accepting
It is the lot of the working class
To suffer in all divisions

They should be grateful

For whatever leisure
They are granted
By their masters, betters

Sir Oliver was a cricketer
Wicket keeper batsman
16 stumpings 60-something catches

After Charterhouse
He went to Cambridge, studied

Steven Taylor was born and raised in Hyde, near Manchester.  He now lives in Kilburn, London. Steven’s poems have been widely published in journals including Acumen, Magma, Poetry Business Coal anthology, Stand, The North and The Wallace Stevens Journal. He can be found on Facebook @steventaylorpoetry