Football tops come in all sizes

Small, medium, large.

Custom orders with names on the back

via express delivery.

We got half-and-half ones.

Plenty to choose from online.

Celtic /

Rangers

City /

United

Barca /

Real Madrid.

Click.

Half-and-half tops

cos they were too young to tell us

which team they were going to support

for the rest of their lives.

Hers or mine.

I visit their graves in the off-season,

even when the World Cup is on.

No matter how I’m getting on

with their mum.

They are mine.

They were mine.

I am happy

cos even though we never got a chance

to kick a ball together,

chant on the terraces together,

complain about the ref together,

have light-hearted banter with the opposition together,

I remember the great moments we had,

the joy they brought and continue to bring.

I remember what I had,

not what I lost.

*

When me and the lads are in the ‘home-end’

of the football stadium,

pointing

and shouting,

punching the air cos we’ve scored a goal,

I lose my voice.

Football is a game of two halves.

There are tough teams in this division.

They always equalise,

get a goal back.

5

10

15

20,000 or more

chanting the question:

‘Who are ya? Who are ya? Who are ya?’

‘Who are ya? Who are ya? Who are ya?’

‘Who are ya? Who are ya? Who are ya?’

It takes me a little longer to get to my seat

cos my answer is drowned out.

My answer is, and will always be

‘Their dad.’