Post by QPR Report on Aug 13, 2009 6:44:09 GMT
How exciting! 
Telegraph - By Andy Bloxham
Southend United song wins best football chant title
The Southend United song performed to the theme tune of children's television programme The Wombles in the Shrimpers' stadium has won the title of football chant of the year.
Terry Cockell, a fan, wrote it to celebrate the combative style of Dougie Freedman, one of the League One team's strikers.
John Barnes, the former England international, and Ian McMillan, the poet, judged Mr Cockell's chant the best in the 'Get On' competition.
The chant warns opposition fans that Freedman, signed on a free from Crystal Palace, can score at any moment.
Nine fans took part in a ''chant off'' as part of the compensation after their were selected from hundreds.
After his win, Mr Cockell, a 39-year-old accountant from Southend, headed straight into the recording studios with Tranmere Rovers boss John Barnes to save his song for posterity.
Mr Cockell, who has been watching Southend for 25 years, said: ''I'm hoping this goes down well on the terraces. He's a wily old fox is Dougie and a bit of a fans' favourite. He's had his injury problems but we're all hoping he'll come good this season.
''Football fans want their chants short, fast and funny and I hope this one does the trick.''
Barnes, who enjoyed enduring musical fame after appearing on Liverpool's FA Cup Final song 'The Anfield Rap' and singing a memorable section of the England World Cup song 'World in Motion', said: ''We wanted a catchy tune that football fans could feel a part of and could get their mouth around.
''It was a difficult decision because there were lots of good chants, but this was the best one.''
Mr McMillan, Barnsley FC's poet in residence, said chants had to fill a number of criteria in order to become successful.
He explained: ''Memorability is the main thing; you've got to sing it so it helps if it's easy to remember.
''It helps if the chant is short, pithy and witty. It's got to rhyme and it is even more likely to succeed if set to an existing tune.''
McMillan cited ''Ooh, aah, Cantona'', directed at Manchester United's temperamental French midfielder, and Barnsley's ''It's just like watching Brazil!'' as his favourite chants.
He added: ''Chants are an amazing thing really. It's something that goes right back to the time of our pre-written culture, to our oral tradition. There seems to be an urge to make rhymes and rhythm.
''Chanting on the terraces must be one of the only instances where people who would never normally pick up a poetry book are singing rhymes together in their thousands.''
He said that despite the growing commercialism of the English game, chants were here to stay for the foreseeable future.
The 'Get On' scheme is part of the Government's Skills For Life strategy which is aimed at boosting literacy.
The winning chant in full is:
Underground, overground signed on a free,
He's Dougie Freedman of S.U.F.C.
Scores goals for fun, he's blue through and through,
Better watch out 'cos he'll score against you
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/leagueone/southend/6018555/Southend-United-song-wins-best-football-chant-title.html
Telegraph - By Andy Bloxham
Southend United song wins best football chant title
The Southend United song performed to the theme tune of children's television programme The Wombles in the Shrimpers' stadium has won the title of football chant of the year.
Terry Cockell, a fan, wrote it to celebrate the combative style of Dougie Freedman, one of the League One team's strikers.
John Barnes, the former England international, and Ian McMillan, the poet, judged Mr Cockell's chant the best in the 'Get On' competition.
The chant warns opposition fans that Freedman, signed on a free from Crystal Palace, can score at any moment.
Nine fans took part in a ''chant off'' as part of the compensation after their were selected from hundreds.
After his win, Mr Cockell, a 39-year-old accountant from Southend, headed straight into the recording studios with Tranmere Rovers boss John Barnes to save his song for posterity.
Mr Cockell, who has been watching Southend for 25 years, said: ''I'm hoping this goes down well on the terraces. He's a wily old fox is Dougie and a bit of a fans' favourite. He's had his injury problems but we're all hoping he'll come good this season.
''Football fans want their chants short, fast and funny and I hope this one does the trick.''
Barnes, who enjoyed enduring musical fame after appearing on Liverpool's FA Cup Final song 'The Anfield Rap' and singing a memorable section of the England World Cup song 'World in Motion', said: ''We wanted a catchy tune that football fans could feel a part of and could get their mouth around.
''It was a difficult decision because there were lots of good chants, but this was the best one.''
Mr McMillan, Barnsley FC's poet in residence, said chants had to fill a number of criteria in order to become successful.
He explained: ''Memorability is the main thing; you've got to sing it so it helps if it's easy to remember.
''It helps if the chant is short, pithy and witty. It's got to rhyme and it is even more likely to succeed if set to an existing tune.''
McMillan cited ''Ooh, aah, Cantona'', directed at Manchester United's temperamental French midfielder, and Barnsley's ''It's just like watching Brazil!'' as his favourite chants.
He added: ''Chants are an amazing thing really. It's something that goes right back to the time of our pre-written culture, to our oral tradition. There seems to be an urge to make rhymes and rhythm.
''Chanting on the terraces must be one of the only instances where people who would never normally pick up a poetry book are singing rhymes together in their thousands.''
He said that despite the growing commercialism of the English game, chants were here to stay for the foreseeable future.
The 'Get On' scheme is part of the Government's Skills For Life strategy which is aimed at boosting literacy.
The winning chant in full is:
Underground, overground signed on a free,
He's Dougie Freedman of S.U.F.C.
Scores goals for fun, he's blue through and through,
Better watch out 'cos he'll score against you
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/leagueone/southend/6018555/Southend-United-song-wins-best-football-chant-title.html