Since then, nothing has quite tickled the footballing fans tastebuds, although, Fat Les’ ‘Vindaloo’ had a go in 2000 with actor Keith Allen and Blur’s Alex James. Even the Spice Girls tried to get in on the act with a song, which very quickly disappeared from trace.
It comes as no surprise that in 2016, the Football Association have decided to announce no official song to accompany the team to France for this year’s European Championships, starting tomorrow.
But that hasn’t stopped a familiar face on the music scene to send some good vibes to England squad ahead of their opening match on Saturday night with an unofficial anthem.
Shaun Ryder, of Manchester band, Happy Mondays, has enlisted the help of his other band and fellow singer, Black Grape’s Kermit, as well as Goldie and DJ Paul Oakenfold to record ‘We Are England.’
Ryder told the BBC that Oakenfold had come up with the idea. “”He emailed me and said he wanted to do a tune for the Euros, but he didn’t want it too football-y. He didn’t want it political or religious; he really wanted it to be for the heroes of this country, which is the working men and women of England. I always say, ‘whatever you’re writing about, know your subject’. So it’s good that Oakie didn’t want a football song.”
European Championship fixtures/TV:
Saturday 11 June:
Wales v Slovakia – 5pm/BBC
England v Russia – 8pm/ITV
Sunday 12 June:
Poland v Northern Ireland – 5pm/BBC
Monday 13 June:
Republic of Ireland v Sweden – 5pm/BBC
Thursday 16 June:
England v Wales – 2pm/BBC
Ukraine v Northern Ireland – 5pm/ITV
Saturday 18 June:
Belgium v Republic of Ireland – 2pm/ITV
Monday 20 June:
Russia v Wales – 8pm/ITV
Slovakia v England – 8pm/ITV
Tuesday 21 June
:Northern Ireland v Germany – 5pm/BBC
Wednesday 22 June:Italy v Republic of Ireland – 8pm/ITV
