My sister taught Peter Beardsley
to look after himself in Longbenton,
to lisp in and out of bother,
to twinkle his feet between desks,
to think with his toes,
to take a pass and craft a cross,
to develop a football brain.
My sister taught Peter Beardsley
to read a ball like a book,
to shimmy on the break,
to skip past bullies,
to have an eye for girls and goals,
to score whenever he felt like it,
to grow into a little star.
My sister taught Peter Beardsley.
KEITH ARMSTRONG
*Keith Armstrong is poet-in-residence for the Newcastle United fanzine 'True Faith'
