Ode To Pooler

Pooler were in a dark, dark place,

Relegation and losing a high court case.

Mounting debts and no help in sight,

How they needed a gallant white knight.

To the rescue rode the Jeffreys clan,

To restore former glory was their plan.

Building for the future had just begun,

But avoiding relegation was number one.

It was tough at first, matches going astray,

But soon emerged the Pooler way.

Relegation avoided but only just,

Strengthening the squad an absolute must.

 

No ring-fencing the following year,

But too early for Pooler that was clear.

Ebbw Vale were comfortably the best

And easily passed the promotion test.

Pooler finished fourth and looked much stronger,

Thanks to the Jeffreys they struggled no longer.

 

But yet again ring-fencing was here,

And Swansea were now a team to fear.

Fifth for Pooler a good stepping stone,

How the squad’s self-belief had grown.

 

’15-’16 and ring fencing is done,

Four teams go up, can Pooler be one?

Sadly, for Pooler it just wasn’t to be,

The bounce of the ball let in RGC.

 

That damned ring-fencing came back again,

Two years of frustration, oh what a pain!

Pooler were brilliant and lost just one match,

Premiership quality, please open that hatch!

 

’18-'19 and it’s a different story,

Four teams come down, then a play off for glory.

Pooler go undefeated, impossible to beat,

In the play-off it’s Llanelli that they meet.

Llanelli boosted by Scarlets proved too strong,

Most think Pooler had suffered a wrong.

 

 What next can thwart Pooler’s dream?

A pandemic knocks us all off beam.

No meaningful rugby for the best of reasons,

Pooler kept waiting for three long seasons.

 

It’s ‘22-’23 and we’re off again,

Two teams go up, we’ve a chance that’s plain,

A strong league, Pooler must be at their best,

If they’re to pip Bargoed, Neath, and all the rest.

As expected, this was really hard graft,

Pooler had to use every bit of their craft.

Some games were easy, some were tough,

But Pooler’s team spirit was more than enough.

They didn’t lose a match, oh what a team!

Promotion as champions, it’s more than a dream.

They won the cup too for jolly good measure,

The season had brought unbridled pleasure.

 

Despite obstacles and setbacks along the way,

Pontypool at last had their hard-earned day.

Back in the Premiership where they belong,

They really have been away too long.

So congratulations to all the Pooler crew.

Now let’s show the Premiership what we can do!