FRIENDS FOR LIFE

We played the auld game together,

'twas a thing we loved always to do,

We played it hard and in earnest,

Yet between us friendships grew.

We had great days and won great games

though many times we lost,

But we never lost the friendship

and now that's what matters most.

As we look back again on our footballing days,

that we've left such a long way behind

The old faces and places, the sport and craic

are still precious, like jewels in our mind.

Shur the highlight of our youth was to play on the team

with the lads you grew up alongside

to be in that jersey for a final; to be part of a win;

they were days to remember with pride.

Few country clubs then had grounds of their own,

so most of our football was played

in some field near a crossroad, near a pub or a shop

where sheep and where cattle were grazed.

We togged ourselves out at the lee of a hedge,

and it never was nice in the rain.

We came home with our bruises, and with the clay on our knees,

As if all that was part of the game.

Indeed ! at times we returned so bewildered and 'bet',

that we felt our careers at their end.

We could blame neither weather, the field or the ref.

and yet ! we'd rise and come back again.

There was nothing to beat a good championship match

long ago, and it still is the same,

with each point an achievement; but the ball in the net

was a monument raised to a name.

For me football was gaelic; the bounce of that ball,

was music and song to my ear,

and the racing boots straining, gripping onto the sod

is still something I love to be near;

Like the tackle, the clash of young muscular frames;

streaming sweat on a hot torrid brow;

leaping hands in the air, rising on to a catch

bring cheers of delight from the crowd;

A good save from the goalie; a long drive out from a back;

the break of a forward away;

the pounding excitement when the tussle was tight,

and the scores that were missed made fans shiver and pray

just like hail in their face on a fine Summer's day

and the ones that were got, brought hopes back to life

while the victory swayed either way.

Till the long whistle blew, and perhaps you lost and were down,

or you've won and you jump with delight

But a lad shook your hand you wished each other luck

and you're friends for the rest of your life

because you've played the auld game together.

                                           Paddy Meegan.