FOOTBALL IN POETRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20628, 29 July 1930, Page 12

FOOTBALL IN POETRY.

Sir,—Tho song "On tho Ball " war, composed by the late E. W. Seeker in 1887 or 1888. lie was accountant in my timber business in I'almerston North ot tho time, and read it to me lrom the original manuscript. Jfc was cosidered at the time to bo the best football sonjj and was sung on every suitable occasion. W. L. Luxfobd.

Sir, —I have been interested in tho discussion upon football poetry and was pleased to note William Trethewy's contribution of two verses from the grand old Harrow school song, "Forty Years On." This I consider to be tho greatest school song ever written and also the- best song I have yet come across in football. This song has been immortalised in "The Hill," probably the greatest of all school stories, written by Horace Anneslov Rachell, and also in Lord Frederic Hamilton's memoirs. I arn enclosing herewith tho other verses and trust you will find them of sufficient interest for publication. U. M. Thomson. 175, Grafton Road, July 27. P.S.—Tho sr.ng was sung by two mortally wounded ex-Harrovians on Spion Kop in South Africa.—R.M.T. FORTY YEARS OX. and discomfitures, rushes and rallies, _ Bases attempted and rescued and won: Strife without anscr and art without malice,

How v.-;il it seem to you fort;* years on? Then. you will say, not a feverish minuto. Hti-aiued the weak heart and the wavering knee; Never the battle raged hottest, bu 4 , ir. it Neither the last nor tho faintest were v/e! Follow up! Follow up! Oh, the grent days, in the distance enchanted. Days of fresh air. in the rnin and the : How we rejoiced as we struggled and panted Hardly believable forty y.-ars or! How we discoursed with them o;.e tvith another. Argniing triumph or balancing fate. Loved the ally with the hetrt of a brother, liated the foe with tb playing at hate. Follow up! Follow up! I'orty years on when afar and asunder. J> r ted are those who are Hinging to-day, when we look back and forgetfully wonder, what we were kke in ouv "ork ar.ti our iday; may be will r,fter> come o'er you Glimpses of notes like t'ac catch cf a song. Virions of boyhood will float then before you. Echoes of dreamland shall bear them along. CHOHITS. Forty years on. growing older r.nd older, Shorter in wind and in mem-iry Ion"?; feeble of foot and rheumatic of shoulder, How will it holp you that or.ee you were strong; God give us bases to guard or beleaguer. Gomes to play out whether earnest or fun: Fights for the fcarlefa and goals for the eager, • Twenty, ar.d thirty, and forty years on. Follow up! Follow up! Follow up! fill the field ring again and again. With the tramp of the twenty-two men. Follow up! Follow up!