LIAM DOLMAN of Daventry Town: A POEM...

Ragnar Lodbrok leads Daventry into battle...

Watching Liam Dolman lead out the Daventry Town team at North Greenford recently and being mindful of the club’s badge, which appears to feature a Viking-like helmet, I was put in mind of a Viking leader and found out about one Ragnar Lodbrok, a legendary warmonger, who was reputed to be father to the following brilliantly named sons: Ivar the Boneless, Bjorn Ironside, Halfdan Ragnarsson, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eyes and Ubba. Legend has it that he was eventually cast into a pit of snakes by the Northumbrian King AElla, but was avenged by his sons.

I could see Liam Dolman in full Viking wardrobe, wielding an axe, with morsels of food nestling in a much longer beard, as he stalked onto the pitch.

He led his team to victory that day…

Ragnar's nickname was Ragnar Hairy Breeches...

(Town players, take note...)

Ragnar prepares to pillage North Greenford...

And I wrote the poem below:

Ragnar Lodbrok: aka Liam Dolman…

Sturdy, the Norseman

Fronted his troop,

Defying combatants with a terrifying frown;

Rugged, the Viking

Headed his horde,

Scowling threats and staring them down…

Mighty, the Captain

Confronted his foe,

Thwarting insurgents with a fearsome stare;

Bearded, the Invader

Inspired his tribe,

Striking fear with an irksome glare…

Pete Ray

March 2014

Ragnar rules...