Old...and New...

Same old MUFC... 2 x 5-0 wins followed by an almighty Premiership-giving-away day against Blackburn...

However, what's new is Manchester United: poetry in Motion invading Youtube! Birth of a Legend - the first poem from Book 1 is featured above. Visit it on Youtube for 3 more including an interview with Stan Warburton.

How's the season gone so far...?

United's season could be entitled the 'year of unpredictability'... Doubt whether anyone predicted the blistering start to the year which included the savage nose-blooding given to Spurs and Arsenal... similarly there are millions of United fans trying to find drugs that will induce collective amnesia about the Derby day that will 'live in infamy' (Roosevelt about Pearl Harbour).

Since then MUFC have been rather unexceptional... team changes - voluntary and enforced - have not helped United mesh together to destroy teams and there always seems to be a bit of a mis-fire. Hernandez back and on-form will help...


With reference to Man Utd Poetry in Motion there's been some good news... first print run more or less SOLD OUT, a proper website in existence www.mupoetryinmotion.co.uk and the wicked rumour that Stan is writing poems for Book 2... some cracking material already from this season, never mind the n...n...n...n...19 2010/11 season.

Such timing! Season Starts...Book Launch...

So the 2011-2012 Season starts for real this weekend... tho' it was good to humble the rich but noisy - and absurdly defensive - neighbours last Sunday at Wembley. Some reputations have been enhanced, some are still under scrutiny... United starts favourites, probably more because of the ineptitude of others (does a repeat of 2010-11 beckon?)

Stan is launching the book THIS SUNDAY at Colwyn Bay Cricket Club, with a signing starting at 7.30pm. With such a limited initial print run of 250, I'm sure he'll be able to sign all of them personally and I hear tell he's practising his signature this week to make it truly footballer-esque!

If you can't be there, but would like to reserve a book, please contact him on stanwarby@gmail.com

Made this for Stan... do you want one?

We quickly put this together in an afternoon. Fruit of the Loom Heavy Cotton T-shirt, image of Scholes and a quote from the Scholes poem in Stan's book MU:Poetry in Motion. Simples...

Sizes from Small to XXL available. Register interest by commenting on the blog.

The Book...Published & Printed... and UK-Bound

Spoke to Stan yesterday and he's thrilled that what has been a very long road to publication is at an end. I think we'd call this is the end of the beginning... the first printing of about 280 books should be in the UK by the beginning of August. Our new website: www.mupoetryinmotion.co.uk will go live when the books are in the UK. 

Stan has set the price at £12.99 and already has a considerable number of pre-orders. A book launch is planned for August in Stan's home town (adopted) of Colwyn Bay at the Cricket Club, when he will be signing copies accompanied by an MUFC Special Guest (we hope). Plans are proceeding for the book to be stocked by a major high-street retailer in the Manchester area.... 

If you'd like to reserve a copy of the book, please email mupoetryinmotion@gmail.com

Book now Live!!!

Stan here, just heard today...the book 'Man United Potry in Motion' is now live. Watch this space for soon coming news re: First Book launch at Colwyn bay Cricket Club. It's going to be a massive event.

Stan is excited to tell you that W.H.Smith's (Ashton Branch) is the first shop to promise to sell Man United Poetry in Motion.....of course when it flies off their shelf other branches will be fighting to stock it!

Hello Again...Message from Stan

Hello again,
Stan here just blogging news of the soon coming book...Man United Poetry in Motion. I have seen the first proofs and am really excited at the designs of the Book cover and also the inside pages. Just three small punctuation corrections needed and then once finally approved it's full steam ahead on the printing....it will not be long now...I promise. The first Book Launch at Colwyn Bay Cricket Club could happen in just a few weeks time.....also excited to inform you of the first shop promising to be selling the book is W.H.Smiths (Ashton Branch). Of course, once it flies off the shelf there, then who knows how many other branches. More news as soon as I get it.
Share with you all again soon...
Bye for now, Stan.

In the spirit of MU... we're going commercial...

Stan and I had some fun last week creating a Scholesy T-shirt... look out for those pictures soon. 

In the meantime the Mupoetryinmotion ebay account has listed its first items for sale. Eventually this will be one of several channels for book sales, but we thought we put up framed versions of some of the 'one-page' poems eg on Cantona, Fergie, Scholesy, Robbo and a few others.

Stan has signed these prints and is interested to see if there is a demand for them. We are very much testing the water at present .... the business equivalent of a typical Wolves punt upfield...

Progress Today!

Stan here... spent today with Steve working on putting some poetry prints up on eBay and do a trial print of a Paul Scholes t-shirt with a verse on it! Even tried to get the book publishers to get a move on!

Scholesy Retires...

News today that few will be surprised by, but many will be disappointed with...

Paul Scholes' 'stellar' career on the pitch for United is at an end. With Sir Bobby even daring to mention Scholes in the same breath as Law, Best and Edwards, it's not surprising that many fans are already wondering how the Reds will cope without his imperious long-range passing, stunning close-control and astute space-finding.

Seems only right to mention that the eagerly-awaited 'Manchester United: Poetry in Motion' (author: Stan Warburton) devotes an entire poem to Scholes...finishing - prophetically - with

Already retired from England, his career is coming to its close,

But he’ll boss a few more midfields yet, before he finally goes.

A Man United Legend, midfield redhead who is Paul Scholes,

Sprayed forty five yard passes and scored wonder goals.

Meeting Demand...

There is a lot of interest among Stan's friends for one-off presentation gifts of individual poems on their specially-chosen image backgrounds. Another idea is to produce 'philosophy football' style t-shirts containing perhaps some of Stan's favourite rhyming couplets from the 30 poems in Man United: Poetry in Motion...

In the meantime what richness for future material in recent weeks' games... the loss to City, the stutter at Arsenal, the demolition of Schalke... refereeing conspiracies.... what next? we all know that football delights in the poignantly unbelievable... the two-goal recovery in 1999, the John Terry slip in 2008... at this rate wouldn't be surprised if Chelsea caught us in the League (Torres hand-balled winner in last game) and we beat Barcelona after a Messi own-goal at Wembley.... stranger things....

Publishing Frustrations

After several knock-backs from a range of UK publishers, Stan decided to self-publish his book. So many friends and colleagues are now eagerly awaiting the publication of 'Manchester United: Poetry in Motion', and Stan is very frustrated that the company he commissioned to publish the book - based in the States - have had to delay the publication date. 

In the meantime we will continue to release snippets of verse - and the occasional full poem - online. We've set up a Twitter account which will trail even shorter snippets - @MUpoetrymotion - 140 characters is not much space!

new verse for 'Poetry in Motion' :West Ham v. Man United, 2011.

West Ham v Man United, 2011


In April in the year 2011,
United played West Ham away.
Two nill down at half time,
West Ham were having their say.
All you could hear at the Boleyn Ground,
Was 'we're forever blowing bubbles'.
If the score stays the same til the end of the game,
United could be 'blowing doubles'.
A Rooney hat-trick, and one from 'Little Pea'.
Says the game's not over yet you see.
United's heads never go down for long,
And United's 'Poetry in Motion' will be 'our song'.

Stan wrote this verse to celebrate  United's recent comeback.

Another free poem: David Beckham

 

This is the story of a London boy,

Playing football was his only ploy.

Teachers asked him, “what do you want to be? ”

A professional footballer, answered he.

They smiled and said, “he’ll live and learn,”

But he was determined to be a star turn.

Tottenham Hotspur noticed his skills,

But it was Man United who gave him his thrills.

He went to a Bobby Charlton Soccer School week,

Bobby said to Fergie, “come and take a peek.”

So he signed on for his favourite team,

That’s how it happened, the start of his dream.

 

His first success, the F.A. Youth Cup  scene,

Scored in the final, against a ‘London’ team.

Then a league title for United Reserves,

This team of young stars only got their deserves.

Then he went on loan to Preston North End,

Scored direct from a corner, to set a trend.

They loved him there, recognised his potential,

But young Becks, only saw United,  essential.

Came back to Old Trafford, played against Port Vale,

His first League Cup debut, to start the tale.

He was on his way, to prove those teachers wrong,

Going to be a star, and it would not be long.

Made his Premier League Debut in April 95,

A nil-nil draw that didn’t come alive.

But the story really starts in the new season,

No new signings, for some strange reason.

Big names had left that Fergie didn’t replace,

Cos he had good youngsters in whom he had faith,

But they lost the first game at the ‘Villa’, 3-1,

Critics and fans thought Fergie had ‘gone.’

“You’ll never win anything with kids in the side,”

Said Alan Hansen with his usual pride.

But Beckham and co. made him ‘eat his words.’

Won the League and Cup Double, just for a first.

 

 

On the very first day of the following season,

Beckham received instant fame, for this reason.

He spotted Neil Sullivan way off his line,

And thought he’ll never, ever, get back in time.

So from inside his own half, he fired in a shot,

The keeper, left stranded and stumbling a lot,

Could only watch as, in the net the ball whizzed,

Like Pele’s world cup shot, ‘except  Pele missed.’

It was voted by some as the best goal ever.

But Beckham wasn’t afraid to try something clever.

United won the Premier League twice in two years,

And Becks voted Young Player of the Year, by his peers.

 

In the 98-99 season David Beckham won the treble,

With his mates, Giggsy, Scholsey and Gary Neville.

Premier League, Champions League, F.A. Cup too,

Wonder if those teachers now accept it as true.

He really has become that star turn,

With a pop-star wife and ‘money to burn.’

A celebrity lifestyle that’s all very nice,

Lives in a mansion after marrying Posh Spice.

T.V commitments, adverts and interviews too,

Each year that passes, more ‘celeb’ stuff to do.

On these other commitments, Fergie’s not keen,

Should be football foremost, not the glamour scene.

 

United won the Premier League three years on the trot,

They were successful, the team was so hot.

Now United fans adored David Becks.

And it’s true that Beckham loved the Reds.

But ‘Team Beckham’ had become bigger than the club,

That’s why Fergie had to sell him, that was the rub.

So reluctantly Becks signed for Real Madrid,

Never wanted to leave, he was a United kid.

Thought he’d be at United for his football life,

Probably would have been except for his ‘trouble & strife'.

But United fans put all the ‘celeb’ stuff to bed,

To them David Beckham will always be a Red.

New Poems...

When I spoke to Stan recently he felt that United's significant comeback at West Ham would be worthy of a poem, just like today's long-awaited win at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League. Is Sir Alex about to become the only manager to win the European Cup in 3 different decades? (forgetting the potential obstacles of Barcelona/Real Madrid still in the way!)

A look back... The Race for the Premiership 2010...taster

A rather prophetic last few lines from the last poem in the history given the current state of the 2011 Title Race on 02/04/2011 with United winning and the rest drawing....

Final Table…..Chelsea 86 pts  United 85  Arsenal 75

          One thing is clear, Sir Alex won’t get the ‘sack,

          One thing is certain, Man United will be back.

Man. United - Poetry in Motion

Man. United - Poetry in Motion is different to any other Sports History book that you have ever read before.

It is a potted history of Manchester United but all written in rhyme. It is ‘unique,’ it is ‘quirky,’ easily readable, fully illustrated and a book that you are able to pick-up, put down and not miss out by doing so.

Author Stan Warburton has been a Manchester United fan ever since his dad first took him as a young boy. Even when his family moved to live in Colwyn Bay with Stan as a twelve year old, he never lost his love or support for the Reds, travelling to Old Trafford as often as he could.

‘Poetry in Motion’ is the Title poem and tells of some of Man United’s greatest matches, the times when they have really been ‘on song’.

‘Why is it that Poets are mean, when it comes to writing of the football scene,’ is the first line of his poem ’My Football Team’ which combines Stan’s love of Man. United and poetry.

These are just two of thirty widely differing poems about all things Man United. 

Excerpts of poems will continue appear until the book is published...

Namibia...!

The global reach of MUFC... this blog has been read by someone in Namibia! and someone in Hungary!

The World's Greatest Keeper... a whole poem free!

United fans will be forever grateful to whoever suggested that Ferguson should sign Schmeichel. In teams through the Nineties that were packed with characters and leaders... (author's question... anyone know for how long - if ever - Robson, Keane and Ince played together and whether the opposition survived?), Schmeichel's almost-demented lordship of his penalty area was a class apart. Here's how Stan Warburton shares his appreciation...

The World’s Best Goalkeeper

I wonder if Fergie really knew what he had found,

When he signed a keeper for half a million pounds.

Peter Boleslaw Schmeichel was the keeper’s name,

And United’s defence would never again be the same.

At Six feet Four inches an absolute giant of a man,

Would ‘bawl’ at his defenders to keep them on plan.

Played for Brondby, a Danish first division side,

Had won the Danish League, four seasons out of five.

Had already played for the Danish National team,

And a U.E.F.A Cup semi final with Brondby, it seems.

But no fan had heard of him when he signed for the Reds,

Well Fergie had, but would he stand the test?

In Schmeichel’s first season United finished runners up,

But for the first time ever, won the Football League Cup.

The fans all loved him, right from the start,

They knew in the team’s success, he’d play a big part.

With Denmark he won the Euro tournament that year,

And was voted the World’s Best Goalkeeper, he had no peer.

And so The Great Dane became United’s number one,

He stood the test all right, all doubting was gone.

Won Premier League, with Schmeichel’s 22 clean sheets,

First league title for 26 years, so no mean feat.

Once again named World’s Best Keeper in 1993,

Fergie knew what he’d done when he signed him you see.

Schmeichel started attacks with his famous long throw,

He’d kick the ball into opponent’s penalty area you know.

Even scored a goal against Rotor Volgograd,

Went up for a corner, ………they say goalkeepers are mad!

Saved a Bergkamp penalty in the last minute of time,

Won the Cup and League with European still on line.

So United won the Treble in Nineteen Ninety Nine,

With a Peter Schmeichel cartwheel in celebration time.

The “Bargain of the Century,” said Fergie that year,

And after eight years at the top, Schmeichel said “cheers.”

At age of thirty five, the Great Dane moved on with a tear,

But Red fans know, the Best Keeper in the World, was here!

Another Poem Taster... this time the Ginger Ninja - Paul Scholes

A local boy from Middleton, at United since fourteen,

A member of United’s successful youth team scene.

Scored both goals on his first team debut match,

A 2-1 win against Port Vale, ‘the door was now unlatched.’

In 95-96 United won the double and Paul played in 36,

He scored fourteen goals, and a first team place is fixed.

Now firmly a fan’s favourite, but still the quiet type.

He’s now worshipped by thousands, but doesn’t like the hype.

One of his attributes is that he hardly ever ‘gifts the ball,’

Always ‘shows’ in midfield, ready to heed the call.

Not the best ‘tackler,’ of that you can be sure,

Except for mis-timed tackles, he’d have played in many more.

from 'Scholsey' - a poem from 'Manchester United: Poetry in Motion'

Contents Listing of Manchester United: Poetry in Motion

Full Contents of Manchester United: Poetry in Motion

1                      Poetry in Motion

2                      The Birth of a Legend

3                      Sir Matt Busby

4                      United Fever

5                      February 6^th 1958

6                      Sir Bobby Charlton

7                      Georgie Best

8                      The King of the Stretford End

9                      Brian Robson

10                    Mickey Thomas

11                    Sir Alex………The Best of all Time

12                    My Football Team

13                    Ryan Giggs

14                    David Beckham

15                    King Eric the Red

16                    The World’s Best Goalkeeper

17                    Judgement Day   2008

18                    Champions League Final    2008

19                    Scholesy

20                    F.I.F.A.  World Club Cup

21                    The Race for the Premiership 2008/09

22                    Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiras

23                    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

24                    We’re going to Italy

25                    Champions League Final    2009

26                    Wayne Rooney

27                    Michael Owen

28                    The Best Derby Match Ever?

29                    Carling Cup Final    2010

and last - for the time being.... 

30                    The Race for the Premiership  2010

Taster from the poem 'The Birth of a Legend'

In a city in England in Eighteen Seventy Eight,

The start of a story, I would love to relate.

It’s the birth of a team who play fantastic football,

But when it all started, its beginnings were small.

A few lads got together in the locomotive sheds,

They said, “lets start a team“, hence the birth of the reds.

Newton Heath L &Y Railway, the football teams name,

And so it began, the long road to fame.

Playing in green and yellow, the “Heathens” were born,

And from the beginning took Manchester by storm.

Newton Heath “Loco” went surging ahead,

Got best players around by giving them jobs at the sheds.

In 1885 the Manchester Cup beckoned,

They were finalists in’t first year and won it in’t second.

In fact they got to the final, the first 8 years out of 9,

You could say the train was running on time.

unique...quirky... not quite Nobel prize material.... but great!

Man. United - Poetry in Motion is different to any other Sports History book that you have ever read before.It is a potted history of Manchester United but all written in rhyme. 

It is ‘unique,’ it is ‘quirky,’ easily readable, fully illustrated and a book that you are able to pick-up, put down and not miss out by doing so. 

Author Stan Warburton has been a Manchester United fan ever since his dad first took him as a young boy. Even when his family moved to live in Colwyn Bay with Stan as a twelve year old, he never lost his love or support for the Reds, travelling to Old Trafford as often as he could. 

‘Poetry in Motion’ is the Title poem and tells of some of Man United’s greatest matches, the times when they have really been ‘on song’.

‘Why is it that Poets are mean, when it comes to writing of the football scene,’ is the first line of his poem ’My Football Team’ which combines Stan’s love of Man. United and poetry. 

These are just two of thirty widely differing poems about all things Man United. It will never take the Nobel Prize for Literature, but it is a true labour of love, written in spare moments snatched out of a busy life filled with work, family and friends... and following United.

A taster from the Title Poem 'Poetry in Motion'

In a Premier League game in 98,

United played Forest away,

At 4--1 up and in control,

Fergie thought he would ‘call it a day.’

Brought Yorky off and put Solskjaer on,

‘just for the last quarter,’

Ole scored 4 and at 8--1 down,

Forest were lambs to the slaughter.

They said United were brilliant and asked,

“could they use their magic potion?”

It’s just Man United on song, Fergie said “it’s

…Poetry in Motion.”

Expect regular updates and 'tasters' of different poems, including Stan's take on Sir Matt and Sir Alex. 

Different to all the rest...

‘Manchester United...Poetry in motion’ is the author’s first football history book. It tells the story of many of the incidents surrounding Manchester United, the birth of the club, Matt Busby’s great teams and innovations, the Munich story, and the story of many of the great games that you will remember,  from ‘Best, Law and Charlton, to Giggs, Scholes and Beckham, and on to Ronaldo and Rooney. 

Stan Warburton says "But the difference is....it’s all written in rhyme which makes it as easy to read as ‘Rupert the Bear’, and so appeals to United fans of all ages. It is a book that you will love to read over and over again."

What Sir Alex Ferguson thinks of Stan's book Man Utd: Poetry in Motion

Stan……thank you for your poems and I just thought I would drop you a wee line…to say…the poems are excellent and I very much enjoyed reading them, recounting some wonderful memories……

Manchester United Poetry in Motion Intro

Fellow Utd Fans

Initially just 200 copies of 'Manchester United - Poetry in Motion' will be published and made available by the author. Register your interest by emailing him on stanwarburton@hotmail.co.uk. In the run-up to publication short sections from each poem will be published each week on this blog, plus progress reports on publication, background notes about the author and information about Volume Two.

Secure yourself a copy of a book written by a mad-keen United supporter for those who share his passion and enthusiasm.