Trinity Rhymes

These rhymes, which can at best be described as feeble, were a mainstay of the Trinity Programme for over 200 matches. The first rhyme would have been at the start of the 1932/33 season with the final ones around the end of 1948. They weren't done during the Second World War as the match programme was basically just advertisements and a team sheet and continued to be like this until 1948.

Here are the ones from the programmes that I have:


7	He knows how to play football does Sammy
	And you never hear him cry for his mammy
	For small tho' he may be
	He's no "kid", no not he
	The man who thinks so - "is a Nanny."	02/11/1932

9	We have a famous captain - and he's known far and wide,
	A great forward and a leader, good for any side,
	Never been a failure,
	Twice he's toured Australia,
	Very few players have "HORT-ON BILL" and he's Trinity's pride.
	The "Third-Porters" on the banks of the Humber	03/12/1932

12	He's a jolly good forward and plays the game with zest
	May not be a "star" but shines out with the rest
	He can tackle, dribble, run
	His name, well it's "Wilkinson"
	Loyal and true to the Red and Blue and always trys his best	31/12/1932

17	He's earnest, eager, energetic, and tries all a Secretary should,
	Courteous and willing to do most anything for Wakefield Trinity's good.
	Was a noted runner and won prizes,
	Four hundred or more, all shapes and sizes.
	And if to run to Wembley would win the cup, I'm sure that "J. T. Wood."	18/03/1933

18	All dressed up in "Joseph's Coat" and one of "Winstons" hats,
	With his collar full of mascots, small cups and lucky cats,
	A decorated Umbrella, penny Trumpet for to blow,
	A Handbell and a Rattle, will perhaps complete the show,
	Solomon in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these,
	But he's here to see the cup-tie, and is harmless as you please.	25/03/1933

25	The Path of the League sure is thorny and narrow,
	We must get a move up, off our visitors from Barrow.
	If our boys do their part,
	Then "Barrow" will be "in the Cart."
	If they aren't, then we'll be chilled to the marrow	09/09/1933

26	The ''Third-Porters'' on the banks of the Humber
	Have often made us dance the Rumba,
	To win's very hard,
	At the gay "Boulevard,"
	But at Belle Vue - "up should go their number."	23/09/1933

32	Six defeats in succession - ''by heck'' we shall sing
	If to-day there's a seventh - ''God Save the King,''
	In the depths now we're groping,
	But we'll give up the moping
	If from the ''Hornets'' of Rochdale we can extract the sting.	25/11/1933

33	Nah lads can we Oldham, if we can't ''eh, by gum,''
	Some of our loyal supporters will go out and drink rum,
	If they say, ''How do you do,''
	We'll reply ''clogs to you,''
	And to where they came from, we'll send 'em back glum.	09/12/1933

36	Hats off to Huddersfield, the talented side from Fartown,
	Who in the Rugby Football League have won great renown,
	But now they're down in the dumps,
	Whilst Trinity has got the mumps,
	So whichever is up to-day, the other will be further down	06/01/1934

37	We played York last week and we lost, sure that's true,
	But a different tale should be told to-day at Belle Vue,
	If we show the same pluck
	And have a little more luck,
	With goodwill and endeavour we ought to pull through.	20/01/1934

39	Heave-o my hearties, - the "cracks" are here,
	The lads of Wigan, from off the "pier,"
	So all hands on deck,
	We must play like heck,
	Or the night will be dirty - and there'll be no free beer.	10/02/1934

40	We had a rest last Saturday and let's hope it's done us good,
	For the last match or two we've played, we've been lost in the wood,
	We've been knocked in the Cup,
	In the League become unstuck,
	It's time we bucked up or we'll be washed out in the flood.	03/03/1934

44	All hail to the finalists, whose play has been fine,
	They may not be stars but they know how to shine,
	They're mostly locals it's true
	Like we were at Belle Vue
	When we won the cup in nineteen hundred and nine.	31/03/1934

45	The match with ''Hull Kingston'' is the last at Belle Vue,
	It's been a disappointing season, which to us is not new,
	We shall not regret at all
	To see the final curtain fall,
	So we bid you all farewell, and hope you've come ''smiling thro',''	07/09/1934

52	Two Finals at "Crown Flatts" and "Fartown" in all sorts of weather,
	"Trinity" and the "Leeds cracks" have been struggling together,
	And all who went and saw
	Knows "Leeds" were lucky to draw
	For the "Old Brigade" made the pace - "h-ll for leather."	03/11/1934

55	It's a long time since we met Leigh, many years ago,
	We beat them in a Cup-tie when we won the cup you know,
	Yet though, we lost at Hul
	And we're dreary dolefully dull
	We live in hopes of seeing, the men of Leigh laid low	15/12/1934

56	The best Christmas Wishes to all ''Football Fans'' here
	All kindest greetings and the best of good cheer
	And a share of the luck
	''Leeds'' had in the Cup
	Will do us all good - in the coming ''New Year.''	25/12/1934

57	Bradford were one of the leading lights many years ago,
	Yet for quite a long time now their stock has been very low,
	But to catch opponents bending
	Money they've been lavishly spending,
	So we must play our very best because we also want more dough.	29/12/1934

62	Four victories in succession - and one a cup-tie too,
	That's something like the form of the famous Red and Blue,
	If we but keep it up
	Then we may win the Cup,
	The old town will indeed be a "Merrie Citie" - if we do.	16/02/1935

63	Well - we got through the first round in a style so proper,
	When many folks expected we would come a cropper,
	If we play the same
	To-day's should be a game,
	A thrilling first-class topper, and the "gate" should be a whopper	23/03/1935

64	Our Wembley Trip is going ahead like a house on fire
	The number of people booking is getting higher and higher
	If to-day we play good and hard
	And beat the men from the Boulevard
	We look like being "flooded out" by letter, phone and wire	09/03/1935

65	After winning two Cup-ties, in the third round we went "West"
	We hoped down "South" at Wembley we should be a Guest
	But now we must march forth
	And up the league go "North"
	For we wish to see at "Belle Vue," the Clubs that are the best.	16/03/1935

67	"By heck" - but we are getting on, this is our sixty-seventh rhyme,
	To this we mus plead guilty - this is our only crime,
	When you read them you may think
	The writer suffers from lots of drink
	And his Rhymes isn't worth a dime - he ought to be "doing time."	22/04/1935

68	Here's all that is the best to the men of "Fartown,"
	For a good many years they've had a team of renown,
	Their good health we will sup
	If they again win the cup
	But they'll have to give of their best to get Castleford down.	23/04/1935

74	Here's good luck to Ernest Pollard, a fooballer of repute,
	Who's earned many laurels, with hands, head and boot,
	May his benefit be a bumper,
	A topper, a whopper, a thumper,
	And far away the day, ere the wistle's final toot.	02/11/1935

83	Something always happens when Trinity and Leeds meet,
	Who'll ever forget "Jonty" Parkin and his scores so neat;
	The "dead ball" incident in cup-tie,
	In another a disputed try,
	And three replayed finals ere Trinity had to admit defeat.	11/03/1936

87	This season we've been twice to the ''Odsal Stadium,''
	And there we've met Bradford and at Football pladium;
	They beat us in the mud
	(Or should we say the flood?),
	But in the Rugby League Cup-tie we went and sladium.	11/04/1936

89	Another season is drawing nearer to its ending
	Soon no matches shall we be attending;
	We've not much to remember,
	But we'll turn up next September;
	Forget our woes, and hope our foes will not catch us bending.	25/04/1936

94	Here's to Trinity's popular captain, by the name of Bill Horton,
	For many years his football skill has caught on;
	By opponents he's not often passed,
	Very quickly they're seized and grasped;
	The way it's done, it's a wonder that they've ought on.	23/09/1936

95	Here's to our foes from Hunslet who to-day we meet,
	They're real tough nuts to crack and very hard to beat;
	They won all four Cups one year -
	If we're to do that there here,
	The "Yorkshire Cup" is the starting point to emulate this amazing feat.	30/09/1936

96	They call him Malpass, his Christian name is John,
	He doesn't stand still but keeps travelling on;
	Of his own he's got a way
	At Football knows how to play,
	And before opponents know he's there - he's been, and gone.	03/10/1936

107	Here we come gathering Cups in May
	On the rickerty, rockerty, wibbly, wobbly, Wembley way,
	Warrington or Trinity - which will win?
	To pick the winner use a pin,
	For the "odds are even" is all we can say.	13/03/1937

117	We started the Season in style - but what a slump in our stock,
	Halifax knocked us out of the Cup, and Hunslet ran amok;
	What to say we don't know
	About our Teams sorry show
	"Thirty-seven points" - we haven't recovered from the shock.	25/09/1937

118	Here’s welcome to "the Aussies" who come here from "down under,"
	They'll greet us with their "War Cry," full of lightning, blood and thunder;
	Arra warra bif baf bungto
	Marra yarra whif laf pungto,
	Well, same to them (with knobs on) - if they're swearing - we shouldn't wonder	09/10/1937

123	We scored thirty-three points against Hull, at Keighley we got none,
	The way our boys floundered about, it fairly took the bun;
	We do very well at home,
	But "Oh dear," when we roam
	It's a different tale altogether - and we don't know how it's done.	27/12/1937

130	Of four holiday matches, this is the first one;
	Can we win them all? Well, yes, it can be done;
	Four victories in a row
	Would make a grand show,
	And the players would all deserve an extra "hot-cross" bun.	15/04/1938

133	We've had a Happy Easter - we've done very well;
	Four victories in a row is a tale worthwhile to tell;
	The season's near ending,
	And if we hadn't been caught bending,
	In some of our early matches - all would have been "swell."	23/04/1938

134	The visit of Newcastle marks the season's ending,
	And to Belle Vue for some months we shall not be wending;
	Summer-time is here again,
	So we shall get lots of rain,
	Especially when on holiday bent, and picture postcards we are sending.	04/05/1938

138	Greetings to all Sportsmen and Sportswomen wherever you are
	In City, Town, or Village, at Home or in fields afar
	When we in throngs surround
	Our favourite sporting ground
	May we enjoy our games together - forever free from the threat of War.	08/10/1938

140	Trinity went to Headingley and caused Leeds "Cracks" lots of worry
	They rushed into the fray in a manner bold and merry
	The result was a draw
	A sort of a see-saw
	With an ay oh tackle him low - and a "Hey" down - "Hey" down derry	05/11/1938

141	We're in the "first four" now - we've got a place in the Sun
	By skilled scientific play, many Matches have been won
	Every player has done his share
	To reach a position high up there
	Let's hope they'll be higher still - before the Season's done.	19/11/1938

147	On Wednesday last we found that we had nothing much to do
	So to improve the "shining hour," - we went to the Cup-Tie at Belle Vue
	The play was even and very keen
	But better Cup-ties we have seen
	Our "lads" can play much better - and to-day should prove that true.	13/02/1939

149	The meeting of ''Halifax'' and ''Trinity'' in a ''Rugby League'' Cup-tie
	Awakens memories of strenuous tussles, in days long since gone by;
	In struggles for the ''Owd Tin Pot''
	These clubs could whack the lot
	So this game should be a scorcher - ''and fur and feathers fly.''	11/03/1939

150	Well - we're out of the Cup - and Wembley was so near
	But "are we downhearted" - no Sir - no blooming fear
	We beat ourselves, there's no denying
	Yet even so it's no use crying
	Good Sportsmen keep on smiling - and hope for better luck next year.	20/03/1939

151	Our margin of victory over "Leeds" was slender and small
	Only a lead of one point - it seemed a very close call;
	But for us - twas plain sailing
	Till bouncing back from off the railing
	"We saw the best try ever scored" - from off a blooming "dead" ball.	11/11/1939

165	We've followed Football a long time - for more years than we care to shout
	In all sorts of conditions, at Home and in Towns all about:
	In frosty, rainy, windy weather
	Snow and all the lot together
	And we've seen odd Matches postponed - but it was odd to have eight "blacked-out."	16/03/1940

167	Two fixtures out of two this Easter we've gone and lost,
	And twice tow points we've dropped - that's what lost matches cost;
	Up the League, nearly at the top -
	There we were and hoped to stop;
	And the weather was so nice, yet things "turned out a frost."	30/04/1940

169	In four matches that we've lost, it is very strange to relate,
	Against the Hull Clubs, Hunslet, and Featherstone, points we scored were eight;
	Some talk of lucky seven,
	And others of lucky eleven,
	But eight is not our lucky number - it's more a "hymn of hate."	20/04/1940

170	When you're at a football match, it's as plain as A.B.C,
	There's surely someone who has paid his L.S.D.,
	The football for to view,
	To cheer, to shout, to boo,
	And unless you're very D.E.F., you'll hear the Ref is N.B.G.	27/04/1940

171	One Easter we played Huddersfield, and, my word, didn't it rain!
	It started at half-time, and it rained and rained again;
	And the field (which was so green)
	For water could not be seen -
	All we could do was get wet through, and sing, "A Life on the Raging Main."	13/05/1940

173	Under extremely difficult conditions the Football Season starts to-day
	If any success is to be achieved, all have a part to play
	The Players give of their best
	Spectators can do the rest
	For you can't run a Club without money - and they are the ones who pay.	07/09/1940

176	To be a Fottball Referree - well it isn't very funny
	He's as busy as a Bee, if he doesn't gather Honey
	Whichever side may lose
	He gets a lot of "boos"
	And he has also got to "Whistle for his Money."	19/10/1940

177	Each time we go to "Clarence Street" to play the "Minster Men"
	The wind becomes more frolicsome, as the "kick-off" draws near, and then
	On the roof-tops with a pelter,
	Down the rain comes, helter-skelter.
	And mud soon turns our boys of red and blue, as black as ink from a pen.	16/11/1940

181	We were talking to some people, and when we toldham
	That in the Yorkshire Cup Tie - Trinity played Oldham,
	They said - You must be "cranks,"
	For Oldham is in Lanc.'s,
	'Tis strange and true - yet, "like brothers in our arms, " we foldham.	15/03/1941

186	This year's Rugby League Semi-Final is very novel that's true,
	For we played Halifax away - and now again at Belle Vue;
	Though we've lost the first "leg,"
	It won't matter a "meg"
	IF the points that we score are the most in the two.	10/05/1941

188	On Saturday last, against Broughton, we started off with a win,
	But we regret to state that the "gate" was very thin;
	We know that times are rough,
	Yet fifty quid is not enough;
	Another hundred "jimmy-o-goblins" would perhaps make the Committee grin.	13/09/1941

189	Not very long ago, all that "Bradford" got were smacks,
	In nearly every match their share was mostly whacks;
	But to get them down to-day
	You've jolly well hard to play
	And if "Trinity" can do this - we shall think they're "cracks."	27/09/1941

196	When "Huddersfield" the other week got forty-three to "Trinity's" nil,
	On top of "Dewsbury's" twenty-four at "Crown Flatts" on the hill,
	Down again we looked like going
	At "Parkside" - but what a showing,
	Our victory there, after bitter defeats, has put some sugar on the pill.	21/03/1942

198	Ring up the curtain - the start of another Football Season is here,
	Though the outlook isn't rosy, and the future far from clear,
	It's lucky for you and me
	That we've a game to see,
	So it's up to all good sportsmen to come from far and near.	05/09/1942

200	All was grave and tense - "Crowd" pale and trembly,
	Not a sound was heard in that vast assembly,
	But when = "'pon my soul"
	"Billy Stott" kicked that Goal
	Off flew the Roof of the Stadium at Wembley	21/08/1948

201	Last year York made us run like "Johnny Walker,"
	"My Word" - didn't they make the pace a Corker
	But now we can relate,
	By forty-two to eight,
	York were smartly Yorked by a snorter of a Yorker	01/09/1948

202	Six times in the Final - and we lost every one
	It seemed as if the "Yorks Cup," by us could never be won
	But for two years in succession
	Of it we've had possession
	And with pluck allied to skill - the "Hat trick" can be done	11/09/1948

203	Here's "Good Luck" and "Good Health" to the Men from down below
	Where they have plenty of "Sunshine" - but not very much snow,
	May they have a grand Tour; Make good friends galore
	And go back to Australia - with bags full of "Dough."	25/09/1948

204	A jolly good welcome to "Wigan" - a Team of "Rugby League bracks"
	"Two thousand pounds " for a "forward" - very much more for "backs"
	"The Price" - would be very high; If the lot you wished to buy
	A sum very near a "King's Ransom" - piles of gold and silver in "Sacks."	02/10/1948


205	Down, down, down, ever slipping lower down the ''table'',
	this takes some explaining, because we've players both clever and able
	But they're giving points away
	Nearly every time they play
	'Count Opponents Penalty Goals'' and you'll see that it's no fable''.	16/10/1948

206	W stands for "Wakefield" and for "Workington" too
	Also for win, which they would both like to do;
	Let's hope it will be; A game grand to see
	And full of enjoyment, for both me and you	30/10/1948