Ranked – The Best Football Chants

While it’s widely accepted that the coronavirus pandemic directly impacted revenues at the best betting sites, it also caused many live sporting events to be contested behind closed doors. This was particularly noticeable in the English Premier League, where matches are renowned for producing an incredible atmosphere.

2020 also saw a significant reduction in home field advantage across Europe’s biggest leagues, declining from 43.8% with fans to 41.2% without. One of the key contributing elements to the atmosphere in the Premier League and similar football competitions is the chanting, which can be used to either cheer the home side on or deride the opposition.

• The Origin of Football Chants – Where Did They Start?
• Our Take on the Top Football Chants
• Glory, Glory Man United
• You’ll Never Walk Alone
• Blue is the Color

The Origin of Football Chants – Where Did They Start?

While it’s hard to accurately track the history of football chants, Norwich City’s “On the Ball, City” is widely considered to be the oldest example still in use. This was first sung during the 1890s, initially by clubs like Swifians and Norwich CEYMS before being adopted by Norwich City FC. The chant was penned by Albert T. Smith, who subsequently became a director at Norwich in 1905.

Widespread football chanting started in earnest in the early 1960s, with the fans of Plymouth Argyle among the loudest and most vociferous. By the late 60s, a core gathering of fans at most clubs would engage in constant chanting on the terraces, while it was around this time that Liverpool supporters started to sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” before and during games.

This remains one of the top football chants, of course, but it’s now one of thousands sung by supporters at grounds across the length and breadth of the country. In fact, chanting is now considered to be a seminal part of any matchday experience, especially in leagues such as the EPL, Bundesliga and Serie A.

Our Take on the Top football Chants

Famous football chants can vary in nature, from those that are funny and derogatory to others that have been penned to help motivate a struggling team. Some are also focused on star players who have established themselves as fan favorites. So, let’s take a closer look at the best football chants and what sets them apart, along with their origins and why they mean so much to the fans who sing them!

Glory, Glory Man United

While Manchester United may have fallen on hard times as a football club and not won the Premier League title for 11 years, they remain one of the two most successful teams in English football history. Their fans have also produced one of the simplest and most iconic football chants, in the form of the memorable ‘Glory, Glory Man United’.

This quintessential song is undoubtedly one of the best football chants, while it has proved to be a powerful battle cry for the Red Devils down the years. It was originally composed by Frank Renshaw and released officially before United’s appearance in the 1983 FA Cup final, making the journey from the terraces to the pitch and the billboard charts in the process.

It’s a chant that was synonymous with United’s period of domination during the 1990s and noughties, with the Red Devils winning 13 EPL titles between 1993 and 2013. They also won two UEFA Champions League titles during this period, with manager Sir Alex Ferguson going on to become the most decorated coach of all time.

You’ll Never Walk Alone

Next up is the aforementioned Liverpool chant “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, which is arguably unparalleled as a matchday anthem and often contributes to a spine-tingling pre-game atmosphere at the iconic Anfield. It’s also a song with a rich history, having been initially penned by Oscar Hammerstein II and composed by Richard Rodgers for the musical Carousel in 1945.

However, it didn’t become a part of Liverpool folklore until the 1960s, when local band Gerry and the Pacemakers covered the song and made it an anthem for the city. LFC fans subsequently embraced the tune as their own, with the song’s rousing melodies and powerful lyrics contributing to an emotionally charged relationship between the club and their supporters.

Although other clubs have adopted this song as their anthem (namely Borussia Dortmund, Feyenoord and Celtic), it remains synonymous with the Reds and many of their incredible achievements during the 1970s and 80s. It’s also commonly associated with the red-hot atmosphere produced at Anfield on European matchdays, which has overcome many visiting teams down the years.

Blue Moon

As United have declined, local rivals Manchester City have emerged as the Premier League’s dominant force. This has buoyed their fans and led to the popularization of several City chants, including the now iconic ‘Blue Moon’. This is Man City’s official anthem and has been ever since the late 1980s.

This chant was originally a hit song for the Marcels, but its melodic nature and obvious links to the club’s core colors saw it embraced by City supporters during the 1989/90 campaign. In fact, it seems to have taken hold after a surprise away win at Aston Villa, which proved crucial in City’s attempts to avoid relegation from the English top flight.

From that moment on, Blue Moon became a true fan anthem and one that would boom throughout Maine Road (Man City’s old stadium) on matchday. It’s still sung by fans home and away, although it’s now synonymous with success and a club that has won five Premier League titles in the previous six seasons.

I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles

“I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” is one of the most legendary and best football chants, and one that’s synonymous with West Ham United. This is also one of the most recognizable and popular football chants, and one that has regularly echoed throughout the fearsome Upton Park and the London Stadium (the Hammers’ new home ground).

This chant actually originated during the 1920s, having been initially penned by Cornelius Beal. He was the Headmaster of Park School and a close friend to then-West Ham manager Charlie Paynter, so Beal personalized the lyrics to celebrate the club’s best players of the time. Despite the catchy and unique nature of the song, Beal could not have imagined that it would become one of football’s most timeless anthems.

One of the world’s top football chants, “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” is always sung with intense passion by Hammers’ fans and is now widely considered to be West Ham’s official anthem. The song is played and belted out before every single home game, and it contributes to an often ferocious and hostile atmosphere at the London Stadium.

Blue is the Color

This football chant certainly boasts an infectious melody and rousing lyrics, and it’s no surprise that it has become a genuine anthem for Chelsea FC. Interestingly, it was first penned and performed ahead of Chelsea’s appearance in the 1972 League Cup final, making the unusual journey from the studio and UK charts to the terraces.

It was actually a major hit, as it soared up the UK charts and quickly became a fan favorite (both at Stamford Bridge and among away fans). It’s now a truly iconic anthem, and one that’s played prior to the start of every Chelsea home game. So, while the club may have changed markedly during the previous 50 years, this chant remains a unifying force that helps to galvanize players.

The chant also evokes memories of legendary Chelsea players from the early 70s, when Alan Hudson, Peter Osgood and Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris plied their trade for a successful Blues’ outfit. These players performed during one of Chelsea’s most successful ever eras, while they remain true icons in the eyes of old and young fans alike.

The Bottom Line

While football chanting may have only become prevalent during the terrace era of the late 1960s and early 70s, it’s now a seminal part of the sport in countries across the globe. However, the best and most humorous chanting is most synonymous with major leagues in England, Germany and Italy, where some of the biggest clubs ply their trade.

Other popular chants include “One-Nil to the Arsenal”, which originated during the late 80s during the tenure of George Graham. At this time, Graham built a defensively well organized and compact side that would regularly keep clean sheets, with “One-Nil to the Arsenal” becoming a tongue-in-cheek chant to poke fun at Arsenal’s perception as a negative team.

Of course, new chants continue to be written every year, as clubs evolve and new players make their mark. What sets the chants in this blog post apart is that they’re truly iconic and have been sung for decades, meaning that they’ve survived numerous peaks and troughs in a particular club’s history.