Tom’s Football Game – Cardinal Cox
A figure stands in Walpole St. Peter’s churchyard
Raised for Tom Hickathrift, the hero of the fen
I will tell you this tale, although I am no bard
About Tom, mighty giant amongst lesser men
One Sunday when all good folk were in church to pray
A crooked figure stood outside the churchyard wall
Yelled a challenge, “Hey Tom, why don’t you come and play?”
And the twisted form stood by a mighty stone ball
Now proud Tom could not resist so joined in the game
They kicked the boulder between them for many hours
Tom knew he did not need to ask the other’s name
His opponent had a horned head and strange powers
The game ran from morning to end of evensong
When Tom won the game had lasted 12 hours long.