Between The Lines, The Irreverent Poetry Of ITFC. No.47 - We’re Going Up Again!
Blog written by The_Flashing_Smile
Published: 3rd May 2026 13:57
When we look back on this game dispassionately, we’ll probably see it as comfortable. It didn’t feel it at the time, even with the two early goals. There was always a nagging doubt that if QPR somehow pulled one back, things would get nervy.
Thankfully they didn’t, the third released the tension and the party started.
That’s it! Back in the Prem… and also my final poem (for this season at least). All 46 league games turned into verse, plus a bonus one for the abandoned game at Blackburn.
Thank you all for reading and for drifting over onto my socials as I started recording them as well (details below). It’s been a fun little project and I’m now hoping to release the full set as a promotion poetry book! Keep an eye on TWTD for details.
If anyone wants to submit a quote that might go on the cover, feel free to leave one in the comments. Real names or TWTD names, either are fine!
https://x.com/TheLinesmanPoet
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https://www.instagram.com/thel
Ipswich Town 3:0 QPR, 02/05/2026
<b>We’re Going Up Again! </b>
Anxiety, like grief,
comes in waves.
And on days like this day’s day
it gets frayed,
and afraid,
despite the goal in sight
and the right plans laid.
The plight is that the Rs might like
to gatecrash this bash
with their own smash and grab lowlight,
right?
’No pain, no gain’ has a grain of truth
and is proof that football’s
a funny old game.
But then we came -
out of the traps like a freight train on oiled tracks.
Spoiled. A quick one-two, no chance to relax.
Off-the-cuff-scruffy, but enough,
and like excited puppies,
we’re too chuffed to complain.
Pain eased,
but then seventy minutes teased, like a mistress.
And this is
meant to be a breeze!
A hot day seemed to freeze, wheezed along, squeezed.
Stomach knots, soft shots and hard cheese.
A pay-day yet to be seized.
A swingers party swinging,
but you’ve forgotten your keys.
It’s a disease,
being compelled to second guess
and count the seconds in threes.
Hands in the air, reaching for redemption,
breaching the gap on a one-chance-act
trapeze.
Close to a tear.
And who thought McAteer would pop up here,
his personal story arc not crappy
but the bees’ knees?
Is it possible to overdose on happy?
Dreams skirting the seams of the pitch
were suddenly released like a hard-to-reach itch.
Running to Dara and McKenna’s men.
Job done.
We’re going up again.
More blogs by The_Flashing_Smile:
Between The Lines, The Irreverent Poetry Of Ipswich Town. No.34 - A Variety Of JamsI think you, the reader of these poems, needs to feel my pain. This weekend it wasn’t with the football, which was excellent. Instead it was a traffic jam on the A12 heading back to my mum’s in Essex, which I was in, and not moving, for three hours. I managed to weave that into this poem, so it wasn’t a total waste.
Published: 2nd March 2026 12:48
Between The Lines, The Irreverent Poetry Of Ipswich Town. No.18 - Some WordsFootball can be a frustrating game. And this one was so typical of Ipswich. Nearly 80% possession in the first half. By the end, 17 shots, seven on target, two one-on-ones, one rattled post. And yet we come away with nothing but Leif’s lovely whack. So here’s some words to sum it up.
Published: 30th November 2025 10:32
Between The Lines, The Irreverent Poetry Of Ipswich Town. No.17 - Patience For The PatientsAnother six changes, more lack of cohesion, and the less said about the first half the better. But we upped the tempo, brought on the subs, and it was comfortable in the end. Good for Akpom to get off the mark, even if it was a very-close-to-offside tap-in my mum could’ve got. McKenna, like a skilled surgeon, knows what he’s doing. Pass the scalpel, let's dissect this one.
Published: 28th November 2025 9:53
Between The Lines no.12 - Jack In The SocksAnother bloody 12.30 kick-off, and a subsequently flat atmosphere and flat game. Insomnia by Faithless played out over the Tannoy before kick-off, and the game itself was almost the cure. Only lit up by Jack Clarke’s late twinkle toes.
Published: 29th October 2025 9:59
Between The Lines - The Poetry Of Ipswich Town, No.6It seems last week I was a bit premature with the nautical theme.
In this week’s there’s also a bonus ex-player reference, for those of you older than 25 to spot. There’s even a Greek god reference.
Published: 25th September 2025 9:05
Between The Lines - The Poetry Of Ipswich Town, No.5So you may have noticed, I've changed the name from Flowing Moves to Between The Lines. I just think it's a better title. Because obviously football is played 'between the lines' on the pitch. And also, with any kind of literary work (and especially mine) one should always read between the lines!
Published: 20th September 2025 11:50
Between the Lines - The Poetry Of Ipswich Town, No.4I'm not sure why this one came out like this. I think some of you calling for a different rhyme scheme got into my brain, but this stream of consciousness came to me upon waking this morning. Sometimes I just tune in, and it all drops out. It's best not to ask questions.
Published: 5th September 2025 15:37