A poem posted on Write Out Loud about the online racist abuse suffered by England players after the Euros final penalty shoot-out has been read in front of a mural celebrating Marcus Rashford in Manchester - and then posted on the mural itself.  

Julie Callaghan’s poem ‘Disappointed, Let Down, Saddened and Dismayed’ was written after three black England players – Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka - suffered online racist abuse after missing or seeing their penalty shots saved in the final against Italy.  

Julie’s poem includes this verse:

 

“Those footballers deserve better

they did our country so proud

To spread such evil and hatred

should never, ever be allowed”

 

She also shared the poem on Twitter, where it received 300 Likes. One Twitter user offered to print it out and read it in front of the Rashford mural, where hundreds have gathered to show their support after it was defaced - and then pasted it on to the mural itself.

Julie said it was “proof that kindness can be found on Twitter.  I must admit feeling a bit emotional that through the kindness of another, my poem would go up on the wall with all the other messages.”

Julie’s poem concludes, referring to the racist online trolls:

 

“I hope these individuals

will pay for their abhorrent crime

I hope they are named and shamed

and blocked from social media, full time”

 

 

Julie subsequently visited the wall herself, and met her Twitter collaborator, recounted in another poem and picture.