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The Match Day Hot Dog Seller

When close to the ground…you could always tell.
You were suddenly greeted by that Hot Dog smell!
On every corner, there was a mobile Hot Dog stand.
A seller at the ready, with a bread roll in his hand!

Walking to The Kop, it was my teen pre match treat.
Back then, food hygiene standards took a back seat!
In fact, I don’t think they even had a ‘seat’ at all.
Not when you judge the state of that Hot Dog stall!

The sellers wore long white coats, just like Lab men.
Coats, not been washed since I don’t know when!
Venders puffed on their ciggies, with a smokers cough.
But even that wasn’t enough to put people off!

On the stall, grubby old bottles of mustard and sauce.
And the sellers never had the right change of course!
Trays of onions, swimming deep in last week’s fat.
Can’t imagine todays match goers, putting up with that!

Oh, but that beautiful aroma, was simply one of a kind.
But today at Anfield, that aroma is impossible to find!
Personally, years of eating Hot Dogs, never took its toll.
As my immune system got used to that sausage and roll!

Now sadly disappeared, has the Hog Dog vendors voice.
It’s all different now, ‘customers’ demand a fancy choice!
But back then, most footy fans were a different breed.
As an expensive in-house Stadium menu…we didn’t need!

The sellers should now make a comeback on match day.
With their current food hygiene certificates on display!
And give them nearby toilet facilities, with soap and sink.
So, come on Liverpool City Council…what do you think?

◄ Wat Phra Singh Runcorn

The Grandstand Teleprinter ►

Comments

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Greg Freeman

Fri 11th Oct 2024 17:47

Another great poem of matchday memories, Mike. As Steve says, you can still find this type of footie catering if you know where to look ...

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Mike Bartram

Fri 11th Oct 2024 09:56

Thank you for the reading and the great sentimental comments!
!

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Stephen Gospage

Tue 1st Oct 2024 08:50

Lovely, Mike. I think they may still be around in non-league football, complete with a sugar bowl with its one shared spoon to stir in your tea! (May be the pandemic put an end to that!)

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M.C. Newberry

Mon 30th Sep 2024 17:48

Ha...this takes me back to my old job, nicking the street traders
offering this sort of thing illegally in Oxford Street, London W1.
Anyone seeing one of those disreputable characters wiping his
nose on a grubby overall sleeve would surely think twice about
buying his offerings. Health and Safety??? Do me a favour, guv!😝 !!!!

Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Mon 30th Sep 2024 15:03

I used to aim for one of those stalls coming out of the "Palais de Danse" (now a hole in the ground) after a night on the ale, drinking rum'n black chasers. Never did me any harm, in fact I'd say my immunity got a booster.
The vile crap they're selling in supermarkets now, full of preservatives, with "Not For Sale in the EU" notices on (cheers, Brexit!), is probably no better.

"...nearby toilet facilities, with soap and sink." There's something similar in our local BnQ car pk.

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