List Of UK Hit Singles By Footballers
From the 1970s onwards, it became a tradition for the two teams which had reached the final of the FA Cup to each release a single as part of the build-up to the match, and several of these reached the top 10. The songs were often adapted from existing well-known recordings, such as Middlesbrough's 1997 hit "Let's Dance", which added new lyrics to a 1987 song by Chris Rea, and were characterised by their "rowdy, altogether-now" style. Several different teams recorded songs written by Ivor Novello Award-winning songwriter Tony Hiller. The first FA Cup final single to reach number one was "Come on You Reds", released in 1994 by Manchester United. The single, adapted from the song "Burning Bridges" by Status Quo, who also performed on the recording, topped the charts on the weekend of United's victory over Chelsea in the final, but has been described as "so bad it's good". Although cup final singles have fallen out of fashion in recent years, Cardiff City collaborated with singer James Fox on a single to mark their appearance in the FA Cup final in 2008. Other clubs, such as Lincoln City, have released singles to raise money in times of financial difficulties.
In addition to the hits scored by teams singing en masse, individual professional players have also made appearances in the charts. Paul Gascoigne, then of Tottenham Hotspur, achieved the biggest hit by an individual player when he reached Number 2 with the single "Fog on the Tyne (Revisited)" in 1990. Two other Tottenham players, Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle, reached Number 12 in 1987 with the song "Diamond Lights", although the single is now mostly remembered for the dated fashions sported by the duo when they performed the song on Top of the Pops. Only a very small number of UK hit singles have been recorded by sportsmen other than footballers, including top 20 hits for the England national rugby union team in 1991 and the England national cricket team in 2005.
Hits
The list contains every single recorded by a professional football team or individual player which spent at least one week in the UK top 75. It does not contain singles recorded in tribute to football teams by existing bands or groups of fans such as the 1975 hit "Viva El Fulham" by Tony Rees and the Cottagers, or other hits with a general football theme such as the four-time number one hit "Three Lions" by David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and The Lightning Seeds. Where two titles are shown for the same single, this represents a double A-side.
Hits recorded by teams
A. ^ Chas & Dave performed on this single but were not credited.
B. ^ Status Quo performed on this single but were not credited.
Hits recorded by individual players
| Year | Team | Co-credited performer(s) | Single | Chart peak | Weeks in top 75 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Kevin Keegan | — | "Head over Heels in Love" | 31 | 6 | |
| 1987 | Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle (billed as "Glenn & Chris") |
— | "Diamond Lights" | 12 | 8 | |
| 1990 | Paul Gascoigne (billed as "Gazza") |
Lindisfarne | "Fog on the Tyne (Revisited)" | 2 | 9 | |
| 1990 | Paul Gascoigne (billed as "Gazza") |
— | "Geordie Boys (Gazza Rap)" | 31 | 5 | |
| 1993 | Ian Wright | — | "Do the Right Thing" | 43 | 2 | |
| 1999 | Andy Cole | — | "Outstanding" | 68 | 1 |
References
- General
- Roberts, David (2005). Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th ed.). Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.
- Specific
- ^ Davies, Hunter (17 May 1999). "That crappy old Cup Final song could be worth a packet". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ Roberts, p.662
- ^ Roberts, p.443
- ^ "The best footie songs : England and New Order: World In Motion". Virgin Media. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
- ^ Varley, Nick (12 May 1996). "Sing a song of soccer ... but try not to be naff". The Independent. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
- ^ Roberts, p.335
- ^ "The best footie songs : Tottenham Hotspur FC and Chas & Dave: Ossie's Dream". Virgin Media. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
- ^ "The Charts". Tony Hiller. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
- ^ Roberts, p.694
- ^ "The best footie songs : Manchester United FC and Status Quo: Come On You Reds". Virgin Media. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
- ^ "James Fox & Cardiff City FC". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ Roberts, p.357
- ^ Roberts, p.208
- ^ "Top Ten Footballers' Anthems". The Daily Telegraph. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
- ^ "Ten nightmare football songs". Daily Record. 8 October 2008. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
- ^ Roberts, p.175
- ^ "Keedie/England cricket team". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ Roberts, p.35
- ^ Roberts, p.291
- ^ Roberts, p.102
- ^ Roberts, p.543
- ^ Roberts, p.319
- ^ Roberts, p.301
- ^ Roberts, p.367
- ^ Roberts, p.514
- ^ Roberts, p.81
- ^ Roberts, p.180
- ^ Roberts, p.123
- ^ Roberts, p.127
- ^ "Everton FC". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ Roberts, p.412
- ^ Roberts, p.299
- ^ Roberts, p.558
- ^ Roberts, p.338
- ^ "Bristol City & the Wurzels". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
- ^ "Marching on together into the Top 10!". Leeds United A.F.C. 23 May 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
- ^ Roberts, p.274
- ^ Roberts, p.213
- ^ Roberts, p.555
- ^ Roberts, p.114
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