Norwich have themselves an obscure honor

[arana peligrosa]

Another week until the next domestic fixture and not much to add to the France issue right now, but discovered an interesting claim recently that believe it or not Norwich City have ownership to the oldest recorded soccer chant not just in the UK or Europe, but indeed universally recognized. Yes this is a global honor.

Most will be aware of familiar (individual) versions such as You'll Never Walk Alone, I'm Forever Blowing etc.." but it was the horrors across the county line that actually started it all, as far back as late 19th century. (circa 1898)

The lyrics are subject to ridicule but keep in mind this was introduced over a century ago :

In the days to call, which we have left behind,
Our boyhood’s glorious game,
And our youthful vigour has declined
With its mirth and its lonesome end;
You will think of the time, the happy time,
Its memories fond recall
When in the bloom of your youthful prime
We’ve kept upon the ball
Kick off, throw in, have a little scrimmage,
Keep it low, a splendid rush, bravo, win or die;
On the ball, City, never mind the danger,
Steady on, now’s your chance,
Hurrah! We’ve scored a goal.
Let all tonight then drink with me
To the football game we love,
And wish it may successful be
As other games of old,
And in one grand united toast
Join player, game and song
And fondly pledge your pride and toast
Success to the City club.
Kick off, throw in, have a little scrimmage,
Keep it low, a splendid rush, bravo, win or die;
On the ball, City, never mind the danger,
Steady on, now’s your chance,
Hurrah! We’ve scored a goal

Feel the need to apologize so far as the team in question is concerned, but found it an interesting statistic. After all, it's their claim to fame - not ours, not anyone else's.

[Bluemike]

The most ridiculous f**king song ever.

[arana peligrosa]

The most ridiculous f**king song ever.

That covers a lot of ground, (and) what was presented in the above doesn't (in truth) enter into it. Just listened to the original version (although it's largely unchanged) from the early part of the 20th century and while it doesn't have the same recognition (or indeed poignancy) of Liverpool's You'll Never Walk Alone, it's at least tolerable. We should remember City accomplished little until the 1970's so guess it was an OK tune to be involved with for a large proportion of the last century when times were hard, or provided them with at least some level of pride or motivation. Can't abide either club but from a personal viewpoint, I'd favor it every time over say West Ham's Bubbles.

Town don't have a recognized terrace chant, at least not as in the above i.e. established for the best part of a century. There's been some memorable ones that were short lived such as the 1978 FA Cup Final song or "Singing the Blues" that has had a greater longevity in recent years, but not one that we can really call our own many would argue. Is it an issue ? Not in the true sense : as believe former chairman Mister John once said, "we don't do much singing here at Portman Road".

[derick_ipsw]

The most ridiculous f**king song ever.

That covers a lot of ground, (and) what was presented in the above doesn't (in truth) enter into it. Just listened to the original version (although it's largely unchanged) from the early part of the 20th century and while it doesn't have the same recognition (or indeed poignancy) of Liverpool's You'll Never Walk Alone, it's at least tolerable. We should remember City accomplished little until the 1970's so guess it was an OK tune to be involved with for a large proportion of the last century when times were hard, or provided them with at least some level of pride or motivation. Can't abide either club but from a personal viewpoint, I'd favor it every time over say West Ham's Bubbles.

Town don't have a recognized terrace chant, at least not as in the above i.e. established for the best part of a century. There's been some memorable ones that were short lived such as the 1978 FA Cup Final song or "Singing the Blues" that has had a greater longevity in recent years, but not one that we can really call our own many would argue. Is it an issue ? Not in the true sense : as believe former chairman Mister John once said, "we don't do much singing here at Portman Road".

Yes we do. How about 1-0 to the Tractor Boys? Know body else sings that!!

[marko69]

Not many Tractor Boys sing it either because a minute later it's 1-1.

[Floors]

The most ridiculous f**king song ever.

[Floors]

Sorry but if this was the town anthem I would refuse to sing along out of pure embarrassment. Shocking just shocking.

[The Don]

The most ridiculous f**king song ever.

Hurrah, great comment

[hallamblue]

The most ridiculous f**king song ever.

Just sums the t0$$ers up perfectly.

[verulam]

Fascinating stuff. I wonder if ANY City fan ever sang the whole version.

With regard to Town; for many years in the 1950's and 1960's (including the title winning year under Alf in 1962 and the 1968 old Division 2 promotion year) the one song that we all sang was "Keep Right on to the End of the Road". For some reason (not trendy enough?) this got dropped in the 1970's although I notice that Birmingham City supporters still belt it out on a regular basis.

[Shed on tour]

Had the Yarmouth Yellows on our flight back from Alicante this morning.
Plenty of banter flying about and I said that's another thing they can say they participated in.

[marko69]

The Yarmouth Yellows? Hope that's not a Norfolk hooligan outfit, Shed? Bad name!

[Shed on tour]

The Yarmouth Yellows? Hope that's not a Norfolk hooligan outfit, Shed? Bad name!

Marko
Well they had some strange outfits on but I just put that down to them being from Norfolk.
At least this time it was only a short flight we had to share with them as once they were on the same plane back from Israel as us.

[number 9]

I find it hard to believe that anything originated out of support for the SCUM. I'm sure they've just claimed it. What's your source, Jude? They're not exactly the oldest club, so how can they claim the first chant? Load of rubbish!

[herforder]

I'm afraid it's a No from me, Simon! Obviously written by an illiterate, tone deaf dwarf who owns an incontinent cat!

[arana peligrosa]

I find it hard to believe that anything originated out of support for the SCUM. I'm sure they've just claimed it. What's your source, Jude? They're not exactly the oldest club, so how can they claim the first chant? Load of rubbish!

Tried to reply, something went wrong, lost signal, and all the work put in. No sense in profanities, it won't help the cause

Tried to say : Believe Notts County are the oldest recognized club in the UK but guess Norwich came up with the idea of a terrace chant long before they did. (If County even have a club song)

Here is a piece from Wikipedia providing more information :

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. It is sung pre-match at Carrow Road and throughout the games that Norwich City play, home and away. Although the first use of the tune and song is disputed, it had been adopted by 1902 and it remains in use today in part if not the whole. Today, the original words of the first line of the section still sung by fans, is generally modified by the insertion of the word "it", following "kick" and "throw"

If were to be truly pedantic about it, then NCFC were not necessarily the first team to introduce soccer chants to the world (they merely adopted the same song a year or two later) but who is going to recognize the other clubs listed ? Bottom line, it's the oldest soccer theme in the world today and been in use at Carrow Road for over a century now : long before all other teams took up the idea. Below is a clip that is still largely unchanged from earliest use.

[marko69]

You can sing that pish to the tune of "My Way" by Sinatra. Try it; it works. Shocking words though.

[marko69]

Marko
Well they had some strange outfits on but I just put that down to them being from Norfolk.
At least this time it was only a short flight we had to share with them as once they were on the same plane back from Israel as us.

Would that have been the Great Yarmouth Non league Sunday morning team in some Euro competition in Israel? Can't think of another Norfolk club who could've been in Europe?!

[marko69]

Aw sh*t......, I hope Judy still has me blocked........, we really do not want to see Yarmouth Yellows v Bayern Munich YouTube videos.

[hallamblue]

Some 6 fingered inbred has probably doctored Wikipedia as it's often been found to be infiltrated for various other topics. So I'd say not a reliable source at all.

Scum have no history. Have won nothing of note, are followed by the Country's oddballs, and have the largest single family season ticket in the English game! #ncfc#theparticipants#1fuckall

[Bluemike]

I'm afraid it's a No from me, Simon! Obviously written by an illiterate, tone deaf dwarf who owns an incontinent cat!

And that's the brains of the whole outfit.

[marko69]

#1fuckall !!

LMAO!! I really liked that Hallam.

[derick_ipsw]

I find it hard to believe that anything originated out of support for the SCUM. I'm sure they've just claimed it. What's your source, Jude? They're not exactly the oldest club, so how can they claim the first chant? Load of rubbish!

Tried to reply, something went wrong, lost signal, and all the work put in. No sense in profanities, it won't help the cause

Tried to say : Believe Notts County are the oldest recognized club in the UK but guess Norwich came up with the idea of a terrace chant long before they did. (If County even have a club song)

Here is a piece from Wikipedia providing more information :

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. It is sung pre-match at Carrow Road and throughout the games that Norwich City play, home and away. Although the first use of the tune and song is disputed, it had been adopted by 1902 and it remains in use today in part if not the whole. Today, the original words of the first line of the section still sung by fans, is generally modified by the insertion of the word "it", following "kick" and "throw"

If were to be truly pedantic about it, then NCFC were not necessarily the first team to introduce soccer chants to the world (they merely adopted the same song a year or two later) but who is going to recognize the other clubs listed ? Bottom line, it's the oldest soccer theme in the world today and been in use at Carrow Road for over a century now : long before all other teams took up the idea. Below is a clip that is still largely unchanged from earliest use.

What I find disturbing is....why the f**k would you be on Wikipedia looking at the "SCUM"? I put "SCUM" in and found WikipidiaFILE!!