Patriotic gran, Thelma Brown of Northampton, has written a new song - “Forever England” - that she hopes will be adopted by England fans for the 2010 World Cup.

“All I want is for England fans to have their own national anthem. I was inspired to write this song by the new Wembley and I would love to have it played there. I just hope we can get it played on the radio and the England fans latch onto it.” - Thelma Brown, Northampton Chronicle & Echo.

Thelma previous wrote “Voices Strong” which can be heard here performed by the Masquerade Choir.

The Telegraph has the story.

The home fans ignored earlier pleas from the Scottish Football Association to treat “God Save the Queen” with respect. The European governing body’s spokesman William Gaillard said that while the game was outside their jurisdiction, there was nothing in their rules which could be used to punish disrespect of that nature.

In Northern Ireland the actions of the Scottish supporters has reignited the debate over the use of God Save the Queen :

Ulster Unionist Basil McCrea said it was “disappointing” that Scottish fans felt they needed to boo the national anthem, but said it was a “good idea” for Northern Ireland to claim an anthem of its own.

“Not to take away from the national anthem, but I think Northern Ireland could do with something else,” he said.

“I think it would unite the country, something everyone could get behind, no matter their differences.

“The trick is getting something that everyone would be happy with. It could raise more problems, but I think it would be a positive thing on the whole.”

He pointed to how England supporters get confused when they hear Northern Ireland fans singing the national anthem and waving a flag very similar to their own.

“My view – and this could be dangerous ground – but the people of Northern Ireland, from whatever tradition, are a race apart, they are different from our friends and colleagues in the rest of Ireland, Scotland and England.”

He said a new anthem would be a good way “to bring us together”.

In the Times Rod Liddle explains the Scot’s motives:

They object to the words of God Save the Queen because it is “too closely associated” with England. Also, there is an oblique reference somewhere to thoroughly bashing the Scotch - although only in a verse which was last sung in about 1745 but which, I reckon, we should reinstate for future sporting events, in order to keep our neighbours alert.

And in the letters pages of the Herald, Alan Hinnrichs accuses verse six of God Save the Queen of celebrating “the ethic cleansing of the Highlands”. In response Dr Alexander S Waugh believes that the third verse of God Save the Queen ought to be reinstated.

Not on this land alone,
but be God’s mercies known
from shore to shore.
Lord, make the nations see
that all should kindred be,
and form one family
the wide world o’er.

As one Englishman once remarked in song, always look on the bright side of life.

Embargo: Immediate, Tuesday 20th May 2008

Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West, has said that, after the Welsh National Anthem was played alongside God Save the Queen at Wembley at the weekend to mark the fact that Cardiff City made the final, it is time for an English anthem to mark when English teams compete internationally.

Greg has written to the Football Association to outline these views.

Commenting on the opening Greg said:

“It is rather odd that the welsh national anthem was used for a welsh team playing in the FA Cup Final, yet the English Football Association continues to ignore the obvious fact that the England football team should use an English national anthem.

“It is time this blind spot was addressed. I am all for Scotland and Wales having their own anthems and using them when appropriate, but how long must we endure England being overlooked or lazily confused with Great Britain and the UK.

“It is time English sporting associations, starting with the FA woke up to this. In 1966 England fans waved union jacks, now they proudly and correctly fly the cross of St George. “

“It is time we made the same logical step with the anthem and left God Save the Queen for its correct usage such as at the Olympics when we are competing as Great Britain or the United Kingdom”.

ENDS

BBC: Soprano Katherine Jenkins will become the first person to sing the Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, at an FA Cup final on 17 May.

There are no plans to play an English anthem. You may like to ask the FA why.

A St George’s Day celebration in London is making a stand by omitting the national anthem.

A concert at the Barbican Theatre in London will instead finish with what they think should be the English national anthem - “Jerusalem”.

The British hymn, which is based on a short poem by William Blake, is considered by many to be England’s most patriotic song.

Mark Perryman, the author of the book, Imagined Nation: England After Britain, says he thinks it’s a suitable choice.

“It’s sung by the England rugby team, it’s sung by the Women’s Institute, it’s sung by the Conservative party…the Labour party [sing it] at their conference, it’s got a universal appeal,” he said.

Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West and Vice-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Rugby League is calling for the England Rugby League team to use an English national anthem at this year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia in autumn.

Greg has written to the Chief Executive of the Rugby Football League, Richard Lewis, saying that rugby league, as a progressive sport, should lead the way on this issue and stop the situation where England teams use the British national anthem, which is particularly strange and inappropriate when England are playing the other ‘home nations’.

Greg has also suggesting that fans could be given the chance to vote for an anthem for the England team, this could be done by way of an online poll on the Rugby Football League website.

Commenting on the proposal Greg said:

“When England is competing separately from the other home nations, it is quite wrong to use the British National Anthem. The Scotland and Wales teams will fly out to Australia with their own anthems and England needs one too.”

“I am very excited about the Rugby League World Cup in October and as an Englishman, I want the England rugby league team to head off to Australia ready to sing an England national anthem. I look forward to them doing very well out there and doing England proud.”

ENDS

To support Greg’s initiative please write to the RFL in support of the plan to give the fans a say:

Richard Lewis
Chief Executive
Rugby Football League
Red Hall
Red Hall Lane
Leeds
LS17 8NB

The full letter is available in the forum.

No. ‘Jerusalem’ is not a hymn for England, still less the Little Englanders…

Yes, I can well understand why the English feel taken for granted, and that the McMafia are taking the mickey. But an English national anthem will not help. We already have a national anthem — one that celebrates the monarchy, one of the few institutions that still binds us together as a nation. Yes, it is official in so far as we call it our ‘national anthem’, but there’s no law that enshrines its status. It’s part of the wonderful jumble of unwritten customs and traditions that make our constitution. Give England an official anthem, recognised by Parliament, and before long we will begin to unstitch another seam of our not-so-green and pleasant land. You can be English and you can be angry. But if we surrender ‘Jerusalem’ to the Little Englanders, those who believe in the United Kingdom would truly cease from mental fight.

In the absence of an English Sports Minister to call for an English anthem, common sense comes in the form of Cardiff City supporter Gwyn Davies:

“There’s no prouder Welshman than me but this is not the time and the place.

“It’s not Wales v England, it’s two teams in the English FA Cup final”.

Presumably both sets of fans will join together in singing Abide with Me.