WE HAVE A GREAT WELSH INTERNATIONAL
We have a great Welsh international
Known affectionately as Griff
Well when I say he’s Welsh
His parents once went to Cardiff
BERNHARD CARL "BERT" TRAUTMANN, OBE
(22 OCTOBER 1923 – 19 JULY 2013)
We have just seen the passing of a true sporting legend.
Bert Trautmann was born and bred during the toughest of times to be a german, during the inter-war years.
During the second world war he fought for three years as a paratrooper on the Eastern Front, where he was awarded five medals one of which being the Iron Cross.
But it was towards the end of the war that he was transferred to the Western Front where he was captured by the British.
He spent his captivity in a prisoner-of-war camp in Lancashire at Ashton-in-Makerfield, where he worked on the land until his release date in 1948.
At that point Trautmann refused repatriation, and chose instead to settle in Lancashire continuing to work on the land as a farm labourer.
In his spare time he played as a goalkeeper for his local football team St Helens Town. Where his performances brought him to the attention of First Division side Manchester City for whom he signed in October 1949.
However in a City that suffered terribly at the hands of the Luftwaffe the club's decision to sign a former German paratrooper sparked huge protests.
But through his performances he won over all but the hardest hearts and was accepted,
It was in 1956 that Bert Trautmann entered football folklore when he played for Man City in the FA Cup Final against Birmingham City and played the last 17 minutes of the match with a broken neck on the way to winning the cup.
He continued to play for Manchester City until his retirement in 1964 after making 545 appearances for the club.
In 2004 he was honoured with the Order of the British Empire (OBE),
WE HAVE A MIDFIELD GENERAL # 1
We have a midfield General
Who’s really completive and hard
But everyone that we play
Just think he’s a dirty bastard
IN THE PROGRAM THEY SAY
In the program they say
He’s a real seasoned player
But what they really mean
Is he’s past it the poor geezer
IN THE PROGRAM THEY SAY OF HIM
In the program they say of him
That he is a loyal player to the team
But in truth no other club
Will have him it would seem
VERY ECONOMICAL WITH THE BALL
Very economical with the ball
That is a quality worth merit
Our captain is only economical
As he’s too slow to get near it
WE HAVE A GREAT IRISH INTERNATIONAL
We have a great Irish international
By the name of Kevin O’Rourke
Well when I say he’s Irish
His parents once went to Cork
OUR TEAM PLAY AT AN HISTORIC GROUND
Our team play at an historic ground
We on the terraces all proudly roar
All the visiting fans shout in reply
That it’s an old run down eye sore
WE HAVE A MIDFIELD GENERAL # 2
We have a midfield General
Highly talented but temperamental
A hard working terrier
But on a bad day he’s just mental
IF YOUR TEAM IS DOING WELL
If your team is doing well
You can carry a player with flare
But if they’re doing badly
He’s no more than a waste of air
IF NANI WAS IN YOUR TEAM
If Nani was in your team
Would you enjoy his flare?
Well I can tell it has its place
But he just shows off to be fair
I WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER THE MATCH
I was driving home after the match
Listening to the report on the BBC
It was described as a fascinating contest
Which surprised the hell out of me
Far from being an interesting match
It was the most boring thing you could see
HE’S AN INSTINCTIVE PLAYER
He’s an instinctive player
A natural and prodigious talent
Or so they say, I think its
More by luck than judgment
BERT TRAUTMANN
Goalkeeper Bert Trautmann
Was from a different age
When top flight players
Were not spoilt and pampered
He didn’t live in a mansion
Or have a selection of sports cars
To get to work on match days
From his home in Stockport
To Maine road in Manchester
He had to catch two buses.
WE HAVE A GREAT SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL
We have a great Scottish international
By the name of Jim McKee
Well when I say he’s a Scottish
His parents once went to Dundee
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