So I had this thought the other day, about The Italian Job movie.

In the film the cover, for some of the gang who took part in the gold heist, was as England fans who had just been to watch them play in Turin against I assume Italy.

I then began to ponder – What about this match ? What happened in it and what was the final score ?

After the robbery a few of them bundled into Ford Thames van (dormobile) and the driver said: “Well, look happy you stupid bastards ! We won, didn’t we.” Using this line I then gathered data on those playing for England/Italy in 1969/70 and created this fictional match report:

Match Report: Italy v England Friendly (Sat 24th May 1969)

The Football Association committee accepted an invitation from Italy for a friendly match to be played at the Stadio Comunale in Turin.

The England fans invaded the northern Italian city of Torino in their droves, on the trains, in their coaches and vans, their Mini’s, Land Rovers. Any transportation they could find.

The game itself nearly didn’t take place after a power cut the night before, but the authorities managed to restore electricity within an hour.

England manager Alf Ramsey gave ’66 veteran Gordon Banks a rest and Peter Bonetti from Chelsea started in his place.

Even though his favoured spot is defensively midfield, Ramsey once again put Emlyn Hughes in the left back role. Making up the rest of the back four were Keith Newton and Bobby Moore as captain.

Included in the line-up were Everton team-mates Alan Ball and Brian Labone, but the latter was on the bench with the manager giving Terry Cooper from league champions Leeds United a run out.

Martin Peters and Alan Mullery kept their places. Also central and in the up top positions were the Manchester City trio of Mike Summerbee, Colin Bell and Francis Lee – who partnered in what was a very experimental, changed line-up.

In the match the Blackburn Rovers fullback Newton had an impressive display for the first 20 minutes but was caught in a bad tackle with the Italian midfielder Gianni Rivera and had to be stretchered off. He was replaced by Everton right fullback Tommy Wright.

The rest of the first half was played in the middle of the park but their were a couple of breaks forward from the Italian forwards Luigi Riva and Internazionale’s Roberto Boninsegna. Neither attempts on goal troubled Bonetti.

They went in all square and at the beginning of the 2nd half the signs that things were going to continue like this until Ramsey made a surprise double substitution on 55 minutes. He took off Summberbee and Bell and putting on Bobby Charlton and Geoff Hurst. With this more attacking line up England almost immediately gained the advantage, but were denied by Dino Zoff who parried a Hurst long range effort.

There were more changes from Italy with Gori, Furino and Puia brought on. Because of these stoppages the match lost it’s momentum and both sets of fans voiced their frustration at what was looking like a stalemate. But then in the 85th minute Francis Lee beat an offside trap and chipped the ball to Peters who nodded it past the Italian ‘keeper at the near post.

Italy replied by pushing further forward in search of an equalizer but even with this untested back four, the England team held out for the final whistle.

In the whole it was an unremarkable game with both sides not really testing each other that much. There was a distraction at full time when three BMC Minis, one red, one white and one blue entered the stadium. They were followed by a police car and two motorcycles who all drove around the perimeter of the pitch before exiting again. This was met with loud cheers from the England fans who appreciated this apparent tribute to their visitors.

Team line-ups:

Download audio file (The%20Italian%20Job%20-%20Getta%20Bloomin’%20Move%20On!%20(Self%20Preservation%20Society).mp3)
» The Italian Job Soundtrack -
Getta Bloomin’ Move On! (Self Preservation Society)

Download audio file (The%20Italian%20Job%20Soundtrack%20-%20It’s%20Caper%20Time.mp3)
» The Italian Job Soundtrack – It’s Caper Time

» For more on what the (real) England team are doing visit The Stiles Council

I’ve never been anywhere near Stephen Fry when he’s watching them play at Carrow Road so I’m imagining this his how he cheers his team, but I’m stereotyping him. I know that the actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter, film director and a director of Norwich Football Club isn’t your stereotypical football supporter. He’s not even typical Oxbridge. Loves a game of football. You can also find him posting tweets about the darts and snooker. Very much a man of the people. He has the common touch.
There I go again…

But he and Norwich should both be commended. They have a well run football club and so far haven’t succumbed to that second season syndrome. This is because they have one of the smartest football managers around. The previous one who jumped ship for a “bigger” club is currently heading for relegation. I hope they are able to secure their mid-table position and go on a good cup run. It would be entertaining for all of us – and of course for Stephen Fry.

To the music:

Did you know that Norwich have the world’s oldest football song:

“On The Ball, City” (sometimes abbreviated ‘OTBC’ in writing), the Norwich City F.C. song, is described as the world’s oldest football song still in use today; the song is in fact older than the club itself having probably been penned for Norwich Teachers or Caley’s FC in the 1890s, and used by clubs such as Swifians and Norwich CEYMS before being adopted by Norwich City.

There have been lots of discussion about the song and lyrics: Sing Up The River End ! has a more in depth look.

Surprisingly though for a song that old there are not all that many version out there. If you count the last one below as a proper song then there are only three. (But if you know of any more please get in touch.)

The first and probably best is from 1959:
Download audio file (Norwich%20City%20-%20On%20The%20Ball%20City%201959%20version.mp3)
» On The Ball City – 1959 Version

Then there’s this terrible cover:
Download audio file (Johnny%20Cleveland%20-%20On%20The%20Ball%20City.mp3)
» Johnny Cleveland – On The Ball City

And finally we return to the gentleman featured above. Stephen is a tech geek and was trying out Songify. It’s an iPhone app where you record yourself just talking and it turns that talk into a song. Sort of like autotune.

Stephen Fry – On The Ball City (Songify version):
Download audio file (usersong_4e28579de78d4.mp3)

EXTRA TIME:

A repost of a different old song about Norwich City:

Download audio file (Chic%20Applin%20Sound%20-%20Norwich%20City%20Calypso.mp3)
» Chic Applin Sound – Norwich City Calypso

Read more about that and other calypso tunes here.

The power of Twitter…

A few years ago I spotted an album of songs about Sheffield Wednesday released on Cherry Red Records.

For those of you who don’t know, Cherry Red is the greatest record label every to exist. Why because they have the largest selection of football-related CD’s anywhere in the world. Have a look at the list in that link there and if the CD isn’t for sale on the Cherry Red site, do a search on Amazon UK.

I highlighted in the other post and saw on the Sheffield Wednesday CD this accompanying text:

“As Sheffield Wednesday usher in a new cosmopolitan era, a chance for their fans to pay tribute to the team. Martyn Ware (Heaven 17 & Human League) takes centre stage with 3 tracks (and the sleeve notes)…”

As I mentioned in that previous entry I am a big fan of Martyn Ware and all his works, so I’ve always wondered which three tracks these were… And then Twitter came along, found out that the man himself was on there and was able to ask directly:

@footieandmusic Steel City, If It’s Wednesday It Must Be Wembley and Oh Yes

— martynware (@martynware) November 23, 2012

Ah I love the future.

So here now for your consumption are the three songs:

Hillsboro’ Crew – Steel City (Move On Up):

Download audio file (Hillsboro_%20Crew%20Steel%20City%20(Move%20on%20up).mp3)

Released in 1986. Produced by Martyn and backing vocals from Glenn Gregory.
If the tune sounds familiar to you that’s because it’s from Artists United Against Apartheid – Sun City.

Hillsborough Crew – If It’s Wednesday It Must Be Wembley:

Download audio file (If%20It_s%20Wednesday%20It%20Must%20Be%20Wembley.mp3)

Recorded for the 1993 FA Cup Final, the lyrics mention many of the team playing at the time.
Somebody has helpfully created a visual guide to the song:

The Wednesday Kop Band – Oh Yes:

Download audio file (01%20-%20Oh%20Yes.mp3)

Released in 1997 and the CD has a Di Canio Dub Mix and a Carbone Dub Mix, which I’d love to hear if anybody wants to buy it from ebay.
- Also involved in the in these songs is actor Ian Reddington who you might have seen in Corrie and Eastenders.

- There was an actual real Wednesday Kop band, but they stop playing in 2005.

Stream only for all these tracks because they are still available via CD and mp3 download at Amazon.

Martyn Ware has other items available to purchase including the Illustrious 10 CD boxed set.

Bonus listening/download:

In October 2012 there was a BBC 6Music documentary about the Ian Craig Marsh & Martyn Ware project B.E.F (British Electric Foundation:

When it was first released it was beaten to the top spot by the Pet Shop Boys and there’s a campaign to get it to number 1, but there’s fierce competition this year.

The good thing though is those others are a one-off, so if it doesn’t succeed this year then it will re-enter the charts again, as it has done in the past. You can never keep a good song down.

This year it is stream only. You can buy the limited edition vinyl version in your local record shop. You can also purchase/download the track via Amazon UK or Amazon USA.

Download audio file (Fairytale%20Of%20New%20York.mp3) » Lyrics It was Christmas Eve babe In the drunk tank An old man said to me, won’t see another one And then he sang a song The Rare Old Mountain Dew I turned my face away And dreamed about you Got on a lucky one Came in eighteen to one I’ve got a feeling This year’s for me and you So happy Christmas I love you baby I can see a better time When all our dreams come true They’ve got cars big as bars They’ve got rivers of gold But the wind goes right through you It’s no place for the old When you first took my hand On a cold Christmas Eve You promised me Broadway was waiting for me You were handsome You were pretty Queen of New York City When the band finished playing They howled out for more Sinatra was swinging, All the drunks they were singing We kissed on a corner Then danced through the night The boys of the NYPD choir Were singing “Galway Bay” And the bells were ringing out For Christmas day You’re a bum You’re a punk You’re an old slut on junk Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed You scumbag, you maggot You cheap lousy faggot Happy Christmas your arse I pray God it’s our last I could have been someone Well so could anyone You took my dreams from me When I first found you I kept them with me babe I put them with my own Can’t make it all alone I’ve built my dreams around you.

Additional:

I created a YouTube playlist – it has the original video plus a BBC documentary from a few years ago, in which all the members of The Pogues reunite. They also talk to the producer Steve Lilywhite – who was Kirsty’s ex-husband:

Even more:

Video not your thing ? There was also a BBC Radio 2 doc:

“Dermot O’Leary presents the multi-layered story behind the Christmas classic Fairytale of New York by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl.

The programme explores the origins and journey of this iconic song, from how it came to be written; to the recording process; the repercussions for the Irish emigrant population in New York; and its continuing testament to the talents of the late Kirsty MacColl.

Featuring interviews with members of The Pogues, Record Producer Steve Lillywhite, Kirsty McColl’s mum Jean MacColl, Irish American singer Larry Kirwan, Irish American author and historian Peter Quinn and NYPD former Homicide Detective Brian McCabe.”

It doesn’t end there…

On the 18th of December 2000 we lost a great musical talent.

A month later there was a memorial service which I attended with my wife. The BBC news report linked there has a video, but it is in Real Player video format. I have extracted that report and uploaded it to You Tube for future viewing. Obviously because it was encoded for a dial up viewing the quality is very low.

And finally…

- This is from Radio 1 Live Lounge, don’t know the year. It is Kirsty performing that song with Billy Bragg:

Download audio file (Kirsty-MacColl-and-Billy-Bragg—A-New-England%20-%20Radio%201%20Live%20Lounge.mp3) » Kirsty MacColl & Billy Bragg – A New England (BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge) - Listen/Download/embed here

Read more:

• www.kirstymaccoll.com
• www.billybragg.co.uk

The horror that is football and music has a bigger horror that even it is scared of:

Football and Christmas music.

I was actually looking at the Tags page and was surprised to discover that I had covered this subject more times than necessary. So this is definitely. Absolutely. The very last time.

You are asking what is this football/xmas music like. Is it as bad as you imagined ? Yes. It is.

After this you will not be taking part in any more seasonal celebrations.

» Starting with Newcastle United and Harry Roden asserting that Santa is a Geordie:

Download audio file (Harry%20Roden%20-%20%20Santa%20is%20a%20Geordie.mp3) » Harry Roden – Santa Is A Geordie

» But Aston Villa would beg to differ on that:

Download audio file (Father%20Christmas%20Is%20A%20Villa%20Fan.mp3) » Father Christmas Is A Villa Fan

The Harry Roden song above is a re-worded version of Jingle Bells. The re-recording of a traditional Xmas classic is an obvious choice because recognisable tune = more record sales. The Aston Villa one did dare to be different with an original composition » And this next one from a Liverpool Captain also goes with a specially written tune. Doesn’t make it any better though:

Download audio file (Emlyn%20Hughes%20with%20Suzanne%20Dando%20-%20At%20Christmas%20Time.mp3) » Emlyn Hughes with Suzanne Dando – At Christmas Time

» Back to the familiar and oh joy, another version of the Jingle Bells tune. This time from Spurs:

Download audio file (1981_82%20Tottenham%20Squad%20-%20The%20Tottenham%20Win%20Away.mp3) » Chas n’ Dave w/1981 Tottenham Squad – The Tottenham Win Away

» Enough with the that. Let’s try to rescue things with Sunderland doing the 12 Days Of Christmas:

Download audio file (Red%20and%20White%20Santas%20-%2012%20Days%20Of%20Sunderland%20(Edit).mp3) » Red & White Santas – 12 Days of Sunderland (Edit)

» That didn’t work out too well… Let’s try another carol, this time from Leyton Orient:

Download audio file (Leyton%20Orient%20FC%20-%20We%20the%20Kings%20of%20Orient%20Are.mp3) » We The Kings of Orient Are

» Beginning to feel less festive aren’t you ? Right then let’s have Chelsea in a Winter Wonderland:

Download audio file (Chelsea%20FC%20-%20Walking%20In%20A%20Chelsea%20Wonderland%20(original).mp3) » Chelsea FC – Walking In A Chelsea Wonderland

This football and seasonal music madness wasn’t exclusive to our shores you know. Bayern Munich were affected too. Just like Spurs they also had the curse of this one musical act constantly associated with them.
The artist was one Andrew White (or Weiz in Germany) who was like The Hoff – as in an American who found fame in Germany… well not all of Germany, just the Bayern region really…
These tracks, in keeping with the theme, was a Christmas one and although it says Andrew White and the Bayern team, I’m not certain how much involvement they had. Yes that’s right – double your pleasure:

Download audio file (Andew%20White%20-%20MerryChristmasTime.mp3) » Andrew White/FC Bayern – Merry Christmas Time Download audio file (Andrew%20White%20-%20StilleNacht.mp3) » Andew White/FC Bayern – Stille Nacht

As mentioned he had a number of collaboration, check the Bayern Munich tag for more.

- Next we go to Italy and a song done by a collection of footballers playing in the Italian League at the time. This as you will see was done for charidee (mate), but that doesn’t excuse them from putting out this effort.
You need to go and read the post for the full background, I’ll try to sum it up here for the lazy though:

Hallelujah (Alleluia) is a pop song for charity (in support of Caritas) released in Christmas 1986 and sung by a group of players (accompanied by a chorus of kids) from the Italian league (plus Ruud Gullit , who had played the following year), which met for the occasion under the name of Football Stars.

» As you can see from the cover Michel Platini took lead vocals…

Download audio file (Football%20Stars%20-%20Alleluia.mp3) » Football Stars – Alleluia

Right then I see by the number of angry faces out there that I must take my leave very soon.
To soothe your very furrowed brows here’s light entertainment from the late football and music icon Frank Sidebottom:

Download audio file (Frank%20Sidebottom%20-%20Oh%20Come%20All%20Ye%20Faithful.mp3) » Frank Sidebottom – Oh Come All Ye Faithful Download audio file (Frank%20Sidebottom%20-%20I%20Wish%20It%20Could%20Be%20Christmas.mp3) » Frank Sidebottom – I Wish It Could Be Christmas Download audio file (Frank%20Sidebottom%20-%20Christmas%20Is%20Really%20Fantastic.mp3) » Frank Sidebottom – Christmas Is Really Fantastic

Wait, wait… last ones. Promise you’ll like them:

Download audio file (Half%20Man%20Half%20Biscuit%20-%20All%20I%20Want%20For%20Christmas%20Is%20A%20Dukla%20Prague%20Away%20Kit.mp3)
» Half Man Half Biscuit – All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit

Sick of all these Xmas songs now ? Well don’t forget:

Download audio file (Half%20man%20half%20biscuit%20-%20it’s%20clich%e9d%20to%20be%20cynical%20at%20christmas.mp3)
Half Man Half Biscuit – It’s Clichéd to Be Cynical at Christmas

A new podcast about another figure who loved the limelight…

I don’t know if Brian Clough did actually love it, but he knew he couldn’t avoid it. Was part of the job so he played to his audience. Which was usually the TV presenters but occasionally he parried with his fellow professionals.

This particular pod briefly covers his Derby days but is mostly about Cloughy’s time at Nottingham Forest.
Like all the F&M pods it has music and audio clips from interviews and elsewhere:

Tracklistings: FootieAndMusic Podcast – Clough:

• 1. [audio clip] “Shut up while I’m talking…”
• 2. Keith Mansfield – Young Scene (Big Match theme)
• 3. [audio clip] “I’m a professional…”
• 4. JJ Barrie – It’s Only A Game
• 5. [audio clip] Muhammed Ali
• 6. JJ Barrie – You Can’t Win Them All
• 7. [audio clip] Cloughy singing.
• 8. The Strikers – Forest Fire
• 9. Paper Lace & Nottingham Forest team – We Got The Whole World In Our Hands
• 10. [audio clip] TV report about Clough cuffing a fan.
• 11. Barmy Army – Brian Clout
• 12. The Toy Dolls – Cloughy Is A Bootboy
• 13. [audio clip] Shredded Wheat advert.
• 14. Vic Blackwell & Forest Supporters – Nottingham Forest
• 15. [audio clip] “Shut up and show some more football”
• 16. Give Us A Kiss – Sorted For Clough
• 17. [audio clip] Setanta TV tribute.
• 18. [audio clip] Forest fans: “Brian Clough’s red army”

Postscript:The Vic Blackwell & Forest Supporters song was recorded in the 1970's and "is of the time", so if you have sensitive ears you may want to skip past that part.

Download

» This is a podcast I created exclusively for the chaps over at In Bed With Maradona, but sadly it isn’t there any more. So I’m rehousing it back here…

When creating this pod I discovered there were far more songs about Armando than I anticipated. I have over 30 tracks in my collection now so deciding which to go into a podcast was a difficult one.

Most of the tracks, about 80% are decent. The crap ones you may not be surprised to read, are from English bands who went with the obvious subject with their songs. Here at F&M I have a have a no hate songs policy, so they are not included. (If you are wondering who: Bad Manners and The Business)

The pod follows the usual F&M style with songs and audio snippets inserted between tracks.

Some of these audio excerpts are from commentators describing his goals, but there’s also a couple of bits from documentaries done about El Diego – one of them was from when Gary Lineker met Maradona. The other from Maradona by Kusturica documentary.

Now as mentioned over 30 songs in my collection so which to select… In the end I couldn’t find a way to slim it down to the usual around 30 minute episodes, so I created a pod of two halves:

Tracklistings: FootieAndMusic – In Bed With Maradona – 1st Half:

• 1. Ennio Morricone Orchestra – World Cup Argentina (1978)
• 2. Mano Negra (Manu Chau) – Santa Maradona
• 3. Luca Sepe & Antonio Manganiello – Maradona NO
• 4. Jovine – O Reggae e Maradona
• 5. [audio clip] Corazon (Napoli fans)
• 7. The 1986 ITV World Cup Theme Tune
• 8. [audio clip] Maradona & the Argentina team – Vamos Argentina.
• 9. [audio clip] Commentary from the 1st goal v England (English commentary)
• 10. [audio clip] Maradona talking to Lineker about the “Hand of God” goal.
• 11. Cat Malojian – Hand Of God
• 12. Manu Chao – La Vida Tombola
• 13. [audio clip] Maradona’s 2nd goal v England (Spanish/Argentinian comm ?)
• 14. [audio clip] Barry Davies – Maradona’s 2nd goal
• 15. Fucking House Group – Diego Armando Maradona

1st half:

Tracklistings: FootieAndMusic – In Bed With Maradona – 2nd Half:

• 1. [audio clip] Argentina World Cup Champions (1986)
• 2. (Artist Unknown) Maradona – Napoli Hero
• 3. Andres Calamaro – Maradona
• 4. Mr Jak – Maradona 80s Choon
• 5. [audio clip] From the Gary Lineker meets Maradona documentary.
• 6. Paolo Petti – DAM 1990
• 7. Club Gong – Maradona
• 8. [audio clip] Maradona by Kusturica documentary.
• 9. DJ Aco Rolando Martinez – Que La Chupen [Maradona] (Latin Remix)
• 10. [audio clip] Maradona’s goal v Greece – World Cup USA 1994
• 11. Pinkberry – Maradona
• 12. Becks Pistol – Maradona
• 13. [audio clip] Napoli fans – Ole, Ole
• 14. The Dirty 9′s – Ballad of El Diego

2nd Half:

A few years back I posted a biography/history of Raith Rovers F.C and at the time of posting I mentioned that they were in 2nd spot of the Scotia Division 1, things were looking up.

But sadly they didn’t. Raith are still stuck in the same division and last season they were battling relegation. The manager John McGlynn, who in previous seasons got them oh so close jumped ship over to Hearts and the defender Grant Murray was made player/manager for the new season.

Updated/quick bio done. Now to the music.

Back in 2009 there was only one musical act I could find that sang anything related to Raith, they were the band Crooked Jack.

Now it would be nice to find other bands but I don’t mind it being just them because they are loyal Raith Rovers supporters. They deserve some recognition for their work.

This featured song today is a very nice tune, called “Blues Run The Game” :

Download audio file (Crooked%20Jack%20-%20Blues%20Run%20The%20Game.mp3)
Crooked Jack – Blues Run The Game

Additional…

I discovered that in August of last year (2011) the Raith Rovers Supporters recorded a single with proceeds going to charity. The song is a traditional one associated with the club, called “Geordie Munro” – Have a listen via Spotify (if you have it) below, and buy/download the song via Amazon or iTunes.

Additional to the additional…

Also discovered this video on YouTube, which I’m sure is amusing to JC and other Raith Rovers supporters:

And finally…

In tribute to The Vinyl Villain without whom, etc… here’s a song I rediscovered because of the blog: It is from the Edinburgh born Paul Haig, he of Postcard Records, Josef K and all that. This track for me is the perfect storm, of the music and the lyrics matching so perfectly:

Download audio file (Paul%20Haig%20-%20Something%20Good.mp3) » Paul Haig – Something Good

Why this wasn’t a big hit I’ll never know. Timeless.

Thanks JC.

After their poor showing at the last World Cup the public have awakened to the fact that some players are no more than overpaid self-interested prima donnas. This has also affected the England-song-for-a major-tournament ratio. Two years ago (thanks to the sweet F.A. deciding their would be no official anthem) I was inundated with emails from budding amateur artists with their songs for England.

With a month to go until Euro 2012 this time there nowt * And I’m actually glad about that.
* Actually I'm lying there are a few but I'm denying their existence.
You’d think I’d be grumbling because it’s my stock-in-trade. Without these football songs I’d be nothing.
But if you had to sit and listen through what I had two years ago…

The less is the better.
It is quality you should have and not quantity.

Coming up to this tournament though and there’s no sign of either of these. So who to turn to..? Where do we go for our terrible tunes ? And the answer: To the celebrities of course !

And coincidently both “home” countries have gone with the cheezy…

ENGLAND:

Starting with the current king of all footballing catchphrases: Chris Kamara.

He’s teamed up with a band to record a sing with profits going to the Marie Curie Cancer Care:

Chris, an Ambassador for Marie Curie Cancer Care, is donating 100% of his proceeds from his Euro 2012 Single ‘Sing 4 England’ to the charity, in memory of his mum Irene who was looked after by Marie Curie Nurses at home before she passed away.

Late breaking news: The Football Association have chosen it to be the official England/Euro 2012 song .

Yes so… err… because it is for charidee I will hold my tongue. All for a good cause and that…

UPDATE: The video producers very kindly emailed and here is the official video:

+ Thanks to a YouTube user who recorded an interview with Kammy on a local news programme:

» You can preview/pre-order the single via iTunes
» More about the song: www.sing4england.net
» Facebook: facebook.com/KammyKampaign
- or if you really can’t stand the song and just want to donate to Marie Curie Cancer Care …

Republic of Ireland:

Until now I never knew how bad Ireland’s debt problem was. I heard about their austerity measures but never realised it went as far as just using the one pop act to cover all major events.

Singing (and of course, for charity) for the Republic of Ireland is… Jedward:

….not content with supporting the Boys In Green our two boys have decided that this track should also support the brilliant work of their favourite charity The ISPCC, so all proceeds from this one are going directly to help the ISPCC continue their fantastic work for Ireland’s children.

Still Not Enough?

Well, how’s this? Ever the inventive pair John & Edward want to get all their fans (and indeed all of Ireland) wearing their special Green Capes in a show of support for Trap’s Green Army as they head to Poland so they’ve arranged that the GreenCapes can be bought at all Elvery Stores nationwide for €5.00 each, again with all the proceeds going to The ISPCC. Oh and in these recessionary times to keep the cost of the capes down they got the gang at BestQuote.ie insurance to sponsor the capes and thus make sure all the money goes directly to The ISPCC.

And There’s More!!!!

Oh yeah, we nearly forgot! Joining the boys in this their first cartoon video are a host of their showbiz pals including Mrs. Brown, Louis Walsh, Miriam O’Callaghan, Kathryn Thomas, Dustin, Judge, Zig & Zag, Bosco, Bill O’Herlihy, Keith Duffy, Jay Duffy, Bernard Dunne, Paul McGrath, Colm Hayes, Rachel Allen, Glenda Gilsen, Martin King, Larry Gogan and PJ Gallagher.

» Buy the song via iTunes (Ireland).
» or donate to the ISPCC (don’t have to be in Ireland to donate).

BUT…

The above single isn’t the official single for the Republic of Ireland squad. The FAI, unlike their English counterparts pulled their finger out and got something sorted in plenty of time:

‘The Rocky Road to Poland’ has been recorded by Damien Dempsey, Danny O’Reilly (Coronas), Bressie and The Dubliners (John Sheehan, Barney McKenna, Eamonn Campbell and Patsy Watchhorn), and was written by the Today FM Show’s listeners. Also, all proceeds are going to the John Giles Foundation and Today FM’s Shave or Dye campaign for the Irish Cancer Society.

The Irish Euro 2012 Squad and Ray D’Arcy Show listeners also feature on the track which was produced by the legendary John Reynolds.

As you will see and hear from the video they have a much more sensible traditional Irish sound and yes… they have the entire squad singing (or more like chanting) on the song.

» Purchase the tune via iTunes (Ireland)
» or donate to the Irish Cancer Society
» and the John Giles Foundation

Probably far less than you thought. Below are a good number I’ve collected and this is still the tip of the iceberg. There are still more out there.

Before we begin though, one more Man City version – this to celebrate the FA Cup win last year:

...and now the rest:

Please note: If any of these cause offence to your copyright then let me know via the Contact link above.