Football crowds offer something truly unique to the sporting world.
It’s rare to see tens of thousands of people come together for a joint cause, but football has the power to unite strangers across the world. Experiencing a football crowd – especially in certain grounds – can be an extraordinary and otherworldly experience.
Football fans are known for their creativity when it comes to the songs they sing in the stands, even if they’re sometimes taken a tad too far by certain supporters. However, when done tastefully, these chants serve up humour and passion in an incredible setting.
Here are the best football chants out there – excluding football songs and anthems.
Certain clubs are known for being the innovators or subject of some of the game’s best chants. Whether sung by the home supporters or the travelling fans, they are a staple of English football that would be sorely missed if they were to disappear. Well, as long as your team isn’t the butt of the joke.
“Leeds! Leeds are falling apart…again.” – Apologies to Leeds supporters.
“Same old Arsenal, always cheating.” – A sure-fire way to wind up your Gooner mates.
“One-nil, to the Arsenal. One-nil, to the Arsenal” – One that dates back to George Graham’s reign. Not so applicable these days, mind.
“Oh, when the Spurs, go marching in. Oh, when the Spurs go marching in. I want to be, in that number. Oh, when the Spurs go marching in.” – Not exclusive to Spurs, of course.
“We love you Liverpool, we do. We love you Liverpool, we do. We love you Liverpool, we do. Oh, Liverpool we love you.” – Not a particularly bold statement, this one.
“Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea!” – Sometimes simple is all that’s required. Admittedly, this may be a touch too simple.
“And it’s Everton. Everton FC. We’re by far the greatest team, the world has ever seen!” – Got to love a bit of irony.
“Glory, glory Man Utd. Glory, glory Man Utd. Glory, glory Man Utd. As the Reds go marching on, on, on!” – This one hasn’t been relevant for the last decade.
It takes hard work and a little luck to earn a chant from the home faithful. Even £80m signings have to graft before their new supporters call out their name on the terraces. However, when that trust is earned, it often leads to some hilarious chants.
“He’s big, he’s red, his feet stick out the bed. Peter Crouch, Peter Crouch!” – Liverpool fans on their wiry centre-forward in the noughties.
“He’s fast, he’s red, he talks like Father Ted. Robbie Keane, Robbie Keane!” – A copy and paste job from the Liverpool fans.
“When the ball hits your head and you’re sat in Row Z, that’s Zamora.” – Sang to the tune of That’s Amore. Poor Bobby.
“His name is a shop. His name is a shop. Lenell John-Lewis. His name is a shop.” – The former Grimsby Town, Bury and Newport County striker had a unique chant.
“He’ll shoot, he’ll score, he’ll save your labrador. Luke O’Nien. Luke O’Nien.” – Yes, Sunderland midfielder O’Nien did once save a dog from drowning. It was actually a German pointer, though.
“Come on Wilfried Bony. Score some goals for Swansea. We go wild, wild, wild. We go wild, wild wild.” – An absolute classic.
“We’ll just call you Dave, we’ll just call you Dave! Azpilicueta, we’ll just call you Dave!” – Chelsea fans struggled pronouncing Cesar Azpilicueta’s name but offered up a replacement for the Spaniard.
“Don’t blame it on Henry. Don’t blame it on injuries. Don’t blame it on the referee. Blame it on Eboue.” – Emmanuel Eboue wasn’t always a fan favourite at Arsenal.
“His name is Lucho. He came from Porto. He came to score, came to score, came to score, score, score. He’s Luis Diaz. He’s from Barrancas. And he plays for Liverpool!” – To the tune of Bella Ciao. A little more creative from the Liverpool fans this time.
“Feed the Goat. Feed the Goat. Feed the Goat and he will score. Feed the Goat and he will score.” – Shaun Goater was the gift that kept on giving for supporters.
“Jamie Vardy’s having a party, bring your vodka and your Charlie!” – Leicester City fans have always embraced Vardy’s party animal spirit.
“Will Grigg’s on fire. Your defence is terrified! Will Grigg’s on fire. Your defence is terrified.” – Little did Gala know she would become a staple of British football culture.
No matter the division, no matter the ground, no matter the team – there are some chants that are heard across the country. They are now classics utilised by every set of supporters and have been written into English football folklore.
“We lose every week. We lose every week. You’re nothing special, we lose every week!” – Nothing like the support of your own fans, eh?
“Let’s pretend, lets pretend, let’s pretend we scored a goal. Let’s pretend we scored a goal.” – Necessary when Timo Werner is leading the line.
“Is this a library? Is this a library?” – Incredibly original, we know.
“You don’t know what you’re doing. You don’t know what you’re doing.” – Applicable to managers, players and referees. Perfect.
“You’re getting sacked in the morning, sacked in the morning, sacked in the morning. Sacked in the morning!” – It’s always funny to laugh at people losing their jobs…right?
“You’re not singing, you’re not singing, you’re not singing anymore! You’re not singing anymore.” – Always an easy way to infuriate the opposition supporters.
“Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be. We’re going to Wembley. Que sera, sera.” – A proud day when you can belt this one out.
