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A bit of poetry from 2004 - a memorable moment!

“Samantha Coopey Scores a Goal”


“Samantha Coopey scores a Goal”
The paper’s headline tells
This was the one and only time
She scored for Brayton Belles.

She’d played for several seasons
A pillar of defence
Specifically she played right back
It seemed to make most sense.

Since when the others showed their tricks
The skills they’d learned at footy
Sam would show her party piece
A single keepy-uppy.

Her only piece of artistry
Not a skill as such
She’d bang away a clearance
Miles into touch.

Not just once but every time
She’d smack it out of habit
And so became the ritual
The crowd would then shout “Have it!”

(There were not many touchline fans
Who’d paid with turnstile pennies,
So when I talk about The Crowd
I’m meaning me and Denis).

Despite the coach’s urging
To help out when in need
If Sam went past the half-way line
Her nose would start to bleed.

But those that played against her
Not me, (and God be thankit!)
Found out that she would stick to them
Like dog do’s to a blanket.

Her ball skills were atrocious
She would simply clout it-
Not up to much with the ball,
But pretty good without it.

And woe betide the winger
Who tried a fancy cut-in
They’d have some bruises to display
Where Sammy put her foot in.

And when a shot came in on goal
Never would she flinch
But the block she made was often
Short by just an inch.

And so instead of contact
Clean enough to kick
The ball would cruelly deflect
From Sam’s unlucky nick.

She underwent a period
When she went on a roll
And was the leading scorer
With 5 or 6 own goals.

Consider then the only time
That Sammy scored one proper
She’d run up for a corner
No-one tried to stop her.

To mark this great occasion
She pulled up both her socks
And took up her position
Just outside the box.

Pickering then cleared the ball
With their defensive play
Sam very nearly blobbed herself
When it came her way.

The crowd they shouted “Crack it”
As Sammy closed her eyes
And aiming for the touchline
Let the bugger fly.

For less than a split second
Bullet-like it flew
And in a crowd of players
It disappeared from view.

Then the net was seen to bulge
Me and Denis roared
I heard Sam say to team mates
“Bloody hell, I’ve scored!”.

She spurned the celebrations
Embarrassed by the credit
It meant that Sam was only then
Four goals still in debit.

Luke saves another shot during the Belles sponsored penalty shootout

Come back girls it's not a real Panda!

The Belles in action