“Two flies are playing football in a saucer. One says, ‘Play better. Tomorrow, we’re in the cup!’”
Soccer (“football” in the UK) has its World Cup tournament.
“Two flies were playing a game of football on a saucer., One called across to the other: George, he said. we’ll have to do better than this if we hope to be picked for the Cup” was printed in the Liverpool (UK) Echo on April 27, 1964. “TWO flies enjoying themselves circling around a saucer hit head on with a mighty bump. Said one fly to the other: ‘We must do better than this next week - we’re playing in the Cup!’” was printed in The English Digest in 1964. Authorship of the joke—now a classic—is unknown.
British Newspaper Archive
27 April 1964, Liverpool (UK) Echo, pg. 8:
Two flies were playing a game of football on a saucer., One called across to the other: George, he said. we’ll have to do better than this if we hope to be picked for the Cup.
Google Books
The English Digest
Volumes 76-77
1964
Pg. 86:
TWO flies enjoying themselves circling around a saucer hit head on with a mighty bump. Said one fly to the other: “We must do better than this next week - we’re playing in the Cup!”
Google Books
Good Talk 2:
An Anthology from BBC Radio
BY Derwent May
New York, NY: Taplinger
1970
Pg. 179:
Two flies were playing football in a saucer. One said to the other: ’ You’ll have to play better than that; don’t forget we’re in the cup next week.
Google Books
A Mingled Yarn
By Alan Gibson
London, UK: Collins
1976
Pg. 141:
It happened in 1960. There was at that time a vogue for stories about flies. Thus:
Two flies are playing football in a saucer. One says to the other, ‘Practise hard, now. Next week we’ll be in the cup.’
Twitter
Malcolm G Patten
@FLPTeam
Two flies in a saucer playing football: “Don’t tire yourself out, one said, we’re playing in the cup tomorrow…
2:16 PM · May 6, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Graham Sibley
@grahamsibley
Replying to @MatofKilburnia
@kilburnmat two flies playing football in a saucer, one says to the other “save something for next week lad- we’re in the cup”
4:45 PM · May 7, 2010·Echofon
Twitter
brian laing
@laingsign
Two flies playing footie in the saucer,one says to the other,You’ll have to play better next week George, we’re playing in the cup!! 8-]
11:02 PM · May 29, 2010·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Claire_Fuller
@Claire_Fuller
Two flies are having a game of football in a saucer. ‘Our game had better improve soon’, says one. ‘Next week we’re playing in the cup!’
1:09 PM · Jun 25, 2010·Twitter Web Client
Google Books
Welcome to Just a Minute!:
A Celebration of Britain’s Best-Loved Radio Comedy
By Nicholas Parsons
London, UK: Canongate
2014
Pg. ?:
My favourite joke: Two flies are playing football in a saucer. One says to the other, ‘Practice!’ He says, ‘Why?’ ‘Because next week we are in the cup!’ (Paul Merton, 9 March 2009)
Twitter
Comedy in B’stoke
@Laughterhse
Two flies are playing football in a saucer. One says to the other, “Make an effort, we’re playing in the cup tomorrow.”
~Tommy Tiernan
12:02 PM · Dec 9, 2015·TweetDeck
Twitter
Bargain Hunter
@bargainhunter92
Two flies are playing football in a saucer. One says to the other, “Make an effort, we’re playing in the cup tomorrow.”
Credit - Tommy Tiernan
7:16 AM · Apr 17, 2018·Twitter for Android
Twitter
Andy Lea
@AndyL1964
Two flies are playing football in a saucer.
One turns to the other.
“Make an effort we’re playing in the cup tomorrow”.
4:35 AM · Jul 14, 2020·Twitter Web App
Reddit—Dadjokes
Posted by u/tiger7971 October 8, 2020
Two flies playing football on saucer. One says to the other…..
I am playing in the cup tommorow.