Well, here we are again.

Straight away, thanks to everyone who bought my book of last season’s poems. As of writing I’ve sold 29 copies, which is 28 more than I was hoping for!

Available on Amazon in e-Book or paperback here.

There’s been a lot of change. Gary O’Neil takes over from Kieran McKenna, there’s a raft of new players, a new kit, new digital tickets, new safe standing… and a new and novel idea: win the first game!

It was tough, and a draw was looking to be the (fair) result before Jack Clarke came on to hit a typical Jack Clarke goal - against his old club. Norwich and West Ham lost as well. Couldn’t have asked for more, really.

Ipswich Town 2:1 Sunderland, 22/08/2026

Basking In The Glow (Of Gary’s Teeth)

A star shines brightly or is it merely just a beacon?
No, it’s Gary O’Neil’s teeth and a brand-spanking new season.
Players new, too, with little time for cohesion.
And new lines of mine for some rhyme with no reason.

Spread the news, it’s early queues and Blues that stretch for miles.
Faces lit like Gary’s teeth when they make it through the turnstiles.
Digital ticket rickets spread from fear to relief.
The same pain again with a big blockage from Leif.

New safe standing bars snaking through the rows.
New heroes, and Enciso shows returning twinkle toes.
Gazillions spent, a Brazilian sent a scuff-in to score.
A new keeper shovels out and our throats are newly sore.

A free-kick slick, unstoppable, in-off the bar.
A feels-like-new Núñez fun-running near and very far.
The glue-on-the-pitch, Lukić, pouncing, the crowd bouncing, and surely that’s
the perfect space for Jack to race and place it past his old Black Cats.

Hats off to our battling boys then, a rattle saying we can cope.
Basking in the glow of Gary’s teeth gives us new hope.
Prem again, the perfect start, the Town back with a win.
And I’m glad I kept my eclipse glasses for viewing Gary’s grin.

armchaircritic59 added 18:01 - Aug 24 Good start to the new season, glad to see you found something to get your teeth into :)
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SpiritOfJohn added 10:05 - Aug 25 The Flashing Smile and Gary's teeth - it was meant to be. Summed up a brilliant opening day win - shame about the turnstiles. Good job everyone was in the ground before we scored the first goal, but no sympathy for those who nipped off to beat the traffic before we got the winner.
2

leagueonescum added 12:09 - Aug 26 Excellent. Love this and equally humorous.
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StowTractor added 12:54 - Sep 4 Yes you're back for the new season!!! Perfect lunch time tonic for my first day back at work after a couple of weeks away.
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