Was
it the organisation?
That
was to blame
Or
profiteering retailers
Perhaps
too greedy
Pubs
and clubs to liberal?
Uninterested
in consequences
A
faulty screen was a factor
In
the ensuing conflict
But
all of the above played a part
So
technology caused the spark
And
Alcohol fuelled the flames
What
began with scuffle and skirmish
Erupted
in a volcano of hate
And
then the battle commenced
As
the angry and the drunk
Rampaged
through the city
The
police were mobilised
To
quell hostilities
But
hopelessly out numbered
The
had to withdraw
They
fell back to regroup
Pursued
by packs
Of
blue clad animals
In
the mêlée
A
lone officer, a tail ender
Already
wounded by a bottle
Stumbled
and fell before his pursuers
They
quickly surrounded him
And
kicks rained in on him
But
amidst this madness, this carnage
A
Rangers fan, an ex-army man
Hauled
the stricken officer to his feet
And
dragged him away from the fight
At
first stunned the thugs looked on bemused
Then
they charged on
Urged
on by the soldier
The
officer ran muscles burning
But
for the soldier propelling him along
The
officer would have fallen
Then
sanctuary was in sight
A
police van sat invitingly
But
they must run on
The
soldier yelled encouragement
The
officer responded
As
they reached the police van
The
officer was pushed into the back
And
a line of yellow coated police
Swarmed
onto the attacking Rangers phalanx
And
in that instant the soldier was gone
Where
did he go, the Good Samaritan
Who
was he? This saviour
The
ex-soldier whose humanity
Surpassed
his baser instincts
Will
we ever know who he was?
Or
where he came from
Should
we try to find him?
To
heap glory on him
Or
should we just thank God for him
May
14th 2008
The
events following the UEFA Cup final at the City of Manchester Stadium
