A recollection of a halcyon day in 2017 and referencing the iconic and talismanic Frank Worthington who died today.  A cowboy both on and off the pitch.

 

We praised the God of Yorkshire that October afternoon

It’s not a day we’ll be forgetting sometime very soon;

The scoreboard told the story – it had ended 2 to 1

We sang songs to their glory – the Terriers had won!

They blamed the pitch; they blamed the ref. Oh, how United squealed!

They might have beat Benfica…

                        …but they lost to Huddersfield!

 

We set the years of hurt to right; our tears were tears of joy;

Aristocrats from Manchester just knelt to hoi polloi;

To raggy-taggy artisans in shirts of blue and white

Who showed that heart is all you need and spirit for the fight.

They came here full of swagger but we made the braggarts yield

They’d won this year’s Europa League…

                        …but lost to Huddersfield.

 

I felt the goosebumps of the past and, honestly, I swore

I saw the ghosts of Worthington and rueful Denis Law;

But now it’s time to trade those years of former pride; instead

It’s to the future now we gaze, to better times ahead.

In twenty season’s time from now their pain will not have healed;

Twenty times the Champions…

                        … but lost to Huddersfield.

 

So pass on this new legacy to daughters and to sons

The day Red Devils lost their tails and turned back west to run;

And etch this in your memory – October, 21^st

The best of days for Huddersfield, for Manchester the worst;

They met their match that Saturday; oh, how the Red Rose reeled!

They may be kings beyond those hills…

                        … but lost to Huddersfield.