A great, poignant poem by our new writer - The Spurs Poet
Walter Tull
Date of birth 28 April 1888
Place of birth Folkestone, Kent, England
Date of death 25 March 1918 (aged 29)
Place of death Pas-de-Calais, France
...
If I said Walter Daniel John Tull
Who played for the super Spurs
Would you even bat an eyelid
At this ex football player of ours
He joined in and around 1909
And stayed for about 3 years
He was brought up in an orphanage
Parents died …terrible fears
He also served in the First World War
And fought in the Battle of the Somme
He was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant
He gained praise and awards with aplomb
But fate was not kind for Walter
As on a mission somewhere in France
He was killed in the line of duty
Body never found ...well that was the stance
So what makes Walter so special
Well the reason is so topical you see
first outfield Afro-Caribbean player
To play in the top league did he
He was also the first to be an officer
In a force that excluding Negroes and Mulattos
This is why he was so special
he stood side by side to fight off foes
He only played 10 times for Tottenham
And scoring 2 goals in his time
His confidence shook as he was dropped
As racist abuse hit its prime
He had agreed to sign for Rangers
When he was meant to come back from the war
Few years ago we played the Scots
And for Walter the game it was for
In a way I could have just done a poem
And not mentioned the colour of his skin
But respect to the man for not hiding
In this hate driven world we live in
So no matter what colour or nation
Or if my beliefs are different than yours
You wear the shirt of Tottenham
You will always be known as one of ours
More importantly he was a human being
Doesn't matter what colour of your skin
Treat others the way you would like to be treated
The real person comes from within
Coys …..respect …..
© Thespurspoet 2013 All rights reserved no part of this document may be reproduced without consent of author
Date of birth 28 April 1888
Place of birth Folkestone, Kent, England
Date of death 25 March 1918 (aged 29)
Place of death Pas-de-Calais, France
...
If I said Walter Daniel John Tull
Who played for the super Spurs
Would you even bat an eyelid
At this ex football player of ours
He joined in and around 1909
And stayed for about 3 years
He was brought up in an orphanage
Parents died …terrible fears
He also served in the First World War
And fought in the Battle of the Somme
He was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant
He gained praise and awards with aplomb
But fate was not kind for Walter
As on a mission somewhere in France
He was killed in the line of duty
Body never found ...well that was the stance
So what makes Walter so special
Well the reason is so topical you see
first outfield Afro-Caribbean player
To play in the top league did he
He was also the first to be an officer
In a force that excluding Negroes and Mulattos
This is why he was so special
he stood side by side to fight off foes
He only played 10 times for Tottenham
And scoring 2 goals in his time
His confidence shook as he was dropped
As racist abuse hit its prime
He had agreed to sign for Rangers
When he was meant to come back from the war
Few years ago we played the Scots
And for Walter the game it was for
In a way I could have just done a poem
And not mentioned the colour of his skin
But respect to the man for not hiding
In this hate driven world we live in
So no matter what colour or nation
Or if my beliefs are different than yours
You wear the shirt of Tottenham
You will always be known as one of ours
More importantly he was a human being
Doesn't matter what colour of your skin
Treat others the way you would like to be treated
The real person comes from within
Coys …..respect …..
© Thespurspoet 2013 All rights reserved no part of this document may be reproduced without consent of author
Walter Tull was the Spurs first black player,
ReplyDeletePre-Lennon and so many more,
He went off to fight for his country,
And died in the first great World War.
They never did find Walter's body,
But we're sure that his ending was brave,
And that if he had read that limp "tribute"
He have turned in his lonely, lost grave
Another great poem by the Spurs poet!!
ReplyDeleteGreat tribute to a great man ... Well done the spurs poet
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic pice, by a truely talented poet. A credit to the Spurs community
ReplyDeletesuperb, yet again, your work comes up trumps.....COYS
ReplyDeleteI love the passion and character of the Spurs Poet - top man. Can't wait for the next one!
ReplyDeleteTop Fella The Spurs Poet. Puts a lot of effort in and always comes up with quality. Hes got some brilliant admin on his page too ;) COYS
ReplyDeletekeep the good work up mate,great reading,COYS!!!
ReplyDelete