To commemorate the unveiling of a plaque at Colin Veitch’s former home at 1 Stratford Villas, Heaton, local poet, Keith Armstrong, has written this poem:
VEITCH
(in memory of Colin Campbell McKechnie Veitch, 1881-1938)
‘One man that has a mind and knows it can always beat ten men who haven’t and don’t.’
George Bernard Shaw
Football brain,
you thought with your feet,
treading the boards
in a dynamic theatre
of passing action.
A winning way,
love of the glorious day
and a sense of history
from Heaton Park
to socialism.
Your story,
from the pulsing Tyne
to the Geordie trophy room,
keeps us hoping
on Gallowgate,
alive with dignity
and strong respect for the ideal of community
and the black and white love
of fairness.
Battling away,
in a skilled midfield
and in the stinking trenches,
you fought
for your troubled lilting city
and all of those
who ever kicked a ball
in its intimate soulful avenues.
Colin Veitch made a total of 322 appearances for Newcastle United, scoring 49 goals. He captained the United side which won League Championships in 1905, 1907 and 1909, the FA Cup in 1910 and were FA Cup finalists in 1905, 1906, 1908 and 1911, and also represented England on 6 occasions.
He was also an actor, musician, composer, political activist, soldier and much more besides.
Read about Colin Veitch’s busy Christmas 1906.
On Wednesday 25 September 2013, Chris Goulding will give a talk about Colin Veitch at The Corner House, Heaton. Priority will be given to ticket holders. Find out more and how to reserve a ticket.
On Wednesday 23 October 2013, Keith Armstrong will give a talk about the writer Jack Common at Chillingham Road School, Heaton. Jack was born in Heaton and wrote brilliantly about growing up there. Find out more and how to reserve a ticket.
Veitch deserves a lot better than this ‘ poem’
as a devoted novocastrian and long term newcastle united supporter it’s certainly heartfelt and it’s as much a song as a poem – but you are welocme to your subjective opinion – of course.
folk can read more of my football poetry here: http://www.footballpoets.org/p.asp?Id=30855
just a thought but if anybody would like to have a crack at a poem on colin veitch which might improve on my own, please give it a go!