"Sticking The Football Boot In"

Was you doing lip service
Supporting 'Rainbow Laces' Day?
How tolerant would you really be
If footballers turned gay?
The game turns a blind eye
To managers and agents taking bungs
Can you imagine the uproar
Of centre-forwards doing tongues?
It's alright for you to go "Phwoar!
That Physio she's really fit"
Or calling for the female linesman
To give us a flash of her tit.
But dare say on the terrace
It's your star midfielder I fancy
That's just too much information
We don't want football turning nancy.
Can you remember that player
The one who came out first
Completely ostracised by the game
His manager doing his worst.
Brian Clough might've been a national treasure
But he acted like a beast
When Justin Fashanu topped himself
He didn't care in the least.
Is it any wonder
No-one else comes out
Such a tragedy they're all scared
To become a gay icon with clout.
Those that say it doesn't matter
Why do we need to know
It's to show being gay is normal
Not the lowest of the low.
All the time you question rainbow laces
As players tie up their boots
Well tell me if I snogged another bloke
You wouldn't give two hoots.
Saying you're not homophobic
But being uncomfortable with a kiss
Really proves that you are...
Offended and taking the piss.
So to see my Dulwich Hamlet heroes
Wearing rainbow laces with pride
You really can't imagine
How it makes this gay fan feel inside.

Dulwich Poet 13th September 2014

(Today was 'Rainbow Laces' Day, where professional footballers were asked to lace up in rainbow laces, to show a message of support for saying no to homophobia in football. Some of our fans asked our players to lace up too, unusual in non-league football, and half of the squad did.)