The new poet laureate of Derbyshire, Helen Mort, has become poet-in-residence at Chesterfield football club. According to the football club’s website, Mort, who was raised in Chesterfield, recently attended her first game at the Proact stadium, and came away full of ideas.

She said:  “I really can see so many opportunities to identify with a new audience and enable fans to enjoy writing that brings to life their favourite sport. It's early days yet but I hope to get my first football piece out before Christmas and I really hope supporters will be able to relate to my work."

Mort, whose first collection, Division Street, has been shortlisted for the TS Eliot prize, added that  "for many people poetry seems abstract and difficult to relate to. I'd like to help to break those barriers down and being involved with my home town football club may just help."

Before her latest stint at Chesterfield – who are known as the Spireites – Mort was previously poet in residence at the Wordsworth Trust at Grasmere in 2010. 

PHOTOGRAPH: DAVID ANDEW /  WRITE OUT LOUD