Football and Music

This could become a marquee game for a couple of veterans in the Pompey team.

Some footie pundits are saying that this is the best season old Calamity James has ever had. Plus it could be a swansong for Sol Campbell who is eyeing one last big payday with a possible move to Villareal afterwards.

Both of them will want to be noticed and as well for the team who, like Cardiff will see this as the best opportunity to win the cup, because who knows if they will get back there.

I’m hoping, as well as the Beeb I’m sure, that this will be a good old fashioned end-to-end stuff FA Cup Final.

But I also hope that after their pisspoor performance in the last couple of game of the season, somebody will give the Pompey players a shot of Expresso before they run out onto the Wembley pitch.

As for some cup final music from them, sadly no trip into the studio.

But this didn’t stop a local radio station running an online competition to find the best track to be a sort of unofficial FA Cup Final song for Pompey:

107.4 The Quay’s Rich and Hayley have the “Top Of The Pompey Pops” where you can listen to a number of tracks and click to add your comment/vote on your favourite song. There’s 8 to choose from in total, with some professional artists lined up alongside some fan produced productions.

From there I’ve chosen the most recognisable recordings that everyone would know, plus they are in my opinion the best of the bunch.

The first one I had almost forgotten about until hearing it again. It’s from the bloke who set Richard Branson off on his Virgin Records adventure… (and we’ll draw a veil over the Blue Peter/with Simon Groom thing.).

» Mike Oldfield - Portsmouth

- plus a thumping remix:

» Portsmouth (Remix)

..and the best of the lot in my opinion. Done by the late lamented great wordsmith. This track from his final album isn’t about old Hurryup.. as far as I know anyway. The song is in because it includes Wembley chant:

» Ian Dury and the Blockheads - Mash It Up Harry

Please don't go searching for that video. Just... just don't.

I’m glad to report that the F.A. Cup Final song is alive and well.

Well at least with Cardiff.

As you may have seen in the press they’ve found a semi-famous singer who decided to knock one out for them.

Snippet of an article via IcWales:

Cardiff City record FA Cup song

Apr 8 2008 By Simon Kendal-Williams, Media Wales

MOVE over Chas n Dave, Baddiel & Skinner and Englandneworder - Cardiff City are set to make an assault on the singles chart with their first-ever FA Cup record.

Broadway musical star James Fox has written and recorded the track, entitled ‘Bluebirds Flying High’, ahead of the FA Cup final against Portsmouth on May 17.

The lifelong City fan, who hails from Bargoed and is a season-ticket holder, decided to pen the song after Cardiff made it to the semi-final.

“It did cross my mind at Chasetown in the third round that we might need the traditional FA Cup song if we went all the way to Wembley,” said 32-year-old Fox, who represented the UK in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest.

“But as soon as we beat Middlesbrough in the last eight, I decided to write and record it…

» Full article

For your listening pleasure, a lower quality stream below.   No download because this is a current single still for sale.

James Fox and Cardiff FC - Bluebirds Flying High:

Links:
- James Fox MySpace page
- Buy the single

There’s also an unofficial song done by Stephen Light, an unsigned artist from Caerleon in Wales. Have a listen below and again no download because this is a current song still for sale online.

Stephen Light - The Bluebirds Stomp:

Links:
- Stephen Light MySpace page
- Buy the song

I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, pound of bananas, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, alright how’s your Pauline ? , I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, knees up Mother Brown, I’m a Cockney,Got to my mickey, found me way up the apples, put on me whistle and the bloody dog went. It was me trouble telling me to fetch the teapots. I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, she’s alright - how’s your Pauline ?

I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, two pound a pair, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, What a load of old Pony, pukka, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m forever blowing bubbles, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, our Arthur, her indoors, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney. I was going for a ruby down the frog in the jar when the bone went. Cor blimey if it weren’t the trouble. I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney,She’d had her barnet done and bought a new tit for tat now her plates were giving her jib. I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney, I’m a Cockney Geezer.

» The 1975 West Ham FA Cup Final Squad - I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles

» I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles (singalong version)

» The Mighty Boosh - The Hitcher

I was going to post something else and save this next one until the 5th round, but Jez posted a request in the comments and I saw who they are playing on Sunday so...

Spurs are cursed. Evidence of a curse is to the right, the musical act that’s closely associated with them. But it’s not just them who have brought this upon the club. Look at their history and you’ll see ex-players and managers who may at the time been successful at White Hart Lane, but afterwards they all seemed to have broken in mirror in the changing room or stood on a black cat.

Terry Venables for example. Had a moment in the sun after Spurs when he managed England, but ever since then he’s had some dodgy business dealings and his skills at managing teams diminished so much that he ended up wearing a tracksuit (not a pretty sight) as an assistant to the wally with the brolly.

More famously though there was young Gazza, who before the 1991 FA Cup Final was signed to play for Lazio the next season. Then in that final he put a horror tackle on Gary Charles (which pretty much ruined his life), followed by a very cursed 3 years in Italy. After recovering from a broken leg he was sold to Rangers and had a bit of an eventful time there too.

Lineker - One goal short of the record thanks to Turnip head. Then after Spurs he went to Japan to play for Grampus Eight, but his time there was injury plagued. Now he has to sit on the sofa and look at Shearer’s shiny forehead every week.

Who else…? Oh of course Hoddle. Goes without saying. Karma came back and bit him in the arse. Music and football wise everything after Tottenham turned to shit.

For Osvaldo Ardiles it was a similar time, management wise, that Hoddle experienced. His Spurs side played attractive attacking football, which every fan wanted to see, but this style ended up as “score more than you conceed.” Ever since then he’s never reached the giddy heights.

But for this post we are going back to his playing days and the beginning of the musical curse when two loyal fans volunteered to write and sing some tunes to celebrate their appearance in the 1981 FA Cup Final:

» Tottenham 1981 Squad with Chas ‘n Dave - Ossie’s Dream (Spurs Are On Their Way To Wembley

…and the B Side :

» 1981 Tottenham Squad - Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur

Going for the hattrick with another final in 1991 but they couldn’t get rid of the “rockney” duo. In this one for the benefit of those unfamiliar with the club, they sing the history of the club:

» Tottenham Hotspur with Chas and Dave - When The Year Ends In 1

But it doesn’t end there ! On last Wednesday’s win against THEIR RESERVES ! Spurs scored 5, so two more in extra time from the scruffy beards:

» Chas ‘n Dave - Gertcha

(Spurs get a mention in this one)

» Chas and Dave - Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit…

Although this year doesn’t end in 1, best of luck to Tottenham in the Mickey Mouse League Cup Final.

I was going to post this no matter what the outcome of the Ipswich/Pompey match.

Originally I was going to, as I did with the Coventry post, talk about their one and only FA Cup win.

Then that one moment happen which changed it and I was going to focus on how Ipswich were playing against 12 men. But in the end it wasn’t the ref that lost the game for them, it was a slip up in the defence and a well taken goal by David Nugent which became that one moment.

Ipswich before the sending off could have forced a replay, but from what I saw I don’t think would have progressed any further. They didn’t really create that many opportunities up front and they need to invest in the January sales.

So after all that I’ll go back to the original plan - The 1978 FA Cup Final with the all conquering (at that time) Ipswich Town with their manager - the legend that is Bobby Robson and of course his team:

You never see football players with moustaches any more.

Mick Mills and the film star John Wark were a couple of notables ones playing for the same team which also included George Burley, Kevin Beattie, Paul Mariner and the scorer of the only goal that day - Roger Osborne.

Osborne was so overcome with the emotion of that moment that he feinted and was immediately subbed. Can you imagine the special needs kid doing that.

Thankfully for us the team ventured into the studio before the final and recorded the following for posterity:

Ipswich Town 1978 FA Cup Squad - Ipswich Ipswich (Get That Goal)

At least they didn’t use “blues” in the lyrics or title. I’ll give them that.