National Anthem "too British" for England in World Cup ?

The RFL (patron The Queen) is being urged to abandon God Save the Queen for an "English anthem" for England in the World Cup. "When England is competing seperately from the other home nations, it is wrong to use the British National Anthem," according to Liberal Democrat MP Greg Mulholland, vice-chairman of the all-party Parliamentary Rugby League Group. Mr Mulholland says that "Scotland and Wales will fly out to Australia with their own anthems". I could swear Scotland knocked Wales out in the qualifiers.

Anyway, Mr Mulholland has urged in a press release that "chief executive" Richard Lewis - I could swear Lewis is the League's executive chairman and that Nigel Wood is in fact chief executive, but maybe I'm being pedantic - to organise an online poll of fans. Let me be of assistance here. What would you like Tony Smith and the boys to sing ? Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem, There'll Always be an England, White Cliffs of Dover, An English Country Garden, It's a Long Way to Tipperary, The Floral Dance, Three Lions, I've Got a Brand New Combine Harvester ... or the National Anthem that England's football and rugby union teams haven't being bludgeoned into giving up ?

Comments

[Hereward the wake]

Why is the question, should the English have a national song of their own, even being asked?
Only anti-English bigots state that the English people don't deserve their own anthem!

[Numptyboy]

Knees Up Mother Brown ?

[Craig Gibson]

The England RL side has used Land Of Hope and Glory before. I'm sure that was whatwas used at the last world cup.

[WelshCru]

We should have the European Anthem played before all games involving European teams. This obviously being Ode to Joy. A great anthem. Have our own anthems played for our own State events.

[Gordon Whitehead]

As an Englishman there is only one song - 'We are the Champions' by Queen.

[styoowert mitchill]

my dad says we should keeps god save a queen but has the sax pistals verson instead.

i like the theme tune to worrzels gummidge thoguh.

[Frank]

Any thing but God Save the queen. I hate the national anthem and as it is just England playing there is every excuse to drop it.

I would prefer Land of Hope and Glory or Jerusalem but even three blind mice would beat GSTQ

[xxxCORRECTxxx]

Jerusalem - as it already is for the England (& wales) Cricket Team and should be for every single English team.

[John Bard]

Jerusalem.
But the last line should be changed to
"... England's green unpleasant land."

Well, have you looked around recently?...

[Hello Bobble]

I can sympathise. I once was witness to a bizarre sight somewhere in Ireland of someone projectile vomiting in the street - while running at the same time.
PS: I'd like England to sing something from Macc Lads, like gerrupoffthefloorfinishyachipsandsupsumor

[Robert POstuma]

Britain should drop the ode to Lizzie, and instead come up with an anthem that glorifies the Brits.
Lizzie is not England-it is the British population.
Why sing a song about a German descendant?

[Dana Dinosaur]

Ridiculous idea. It's like asking the French to sing along to a Johnny Hallyday song rather than La Marseillaise.
Mind you, I went to Paris once. Awful. Some chap had left some soiled undies on a cash machine. Dirty people.

[michael]

isnt GSTQ the english national anthem also?..

always thought it was originally LOHAG.. then changed..

would go for jerusalem myself.. very stirring stuff.. would have to teach the boys the song though.. maybe a good way to instill some pride in that jersey! (when it gets a RFL release, of course!)

[Windy]

Jerusalem all the way

[Star o' Rabbie Burns]

Like many Scots I've long been annoyed at England's hijacking of GSTQ as its anthem.

I would welcome the use of Jerusalem by all English teams: after all the line is about "....walk upon England's..."

Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory are more British than English, go with Jerusalem lads, the Tartan Army might even shut up and allow it to be played uninterrupted

[Ben]

considering our queen is their queen, it's a bit pointless singing god save the queen.

i prefer land of hope and glory anyway
either that or the boys are back in town!

[jack mioff]

gday cobbers so what mates we'll all be singing advance ausiie fair when we lift the trophy fair dinkum....loosers

[harry Sunderland]

EEEEEEEEE Alreeet naw then wot a d.....head t'queens salt o't earth lets be prawd o our anthem and sing art lawd gor all his facts wrong n'all
useless .....and to think he's one of them ere mp's wor a twit

[mike hunt]

What a t....r lets see your expense account

[Daniel]

I think the only real option is for the National Anthem to be replaced by 'A Song of Patriotic Prejudice', by Flanders and Swann. Follow the link below for the lyrics - I think you'll find them ideal...

http://www.btinternet.com/~brentours/ENGT16.htm

[Dan]

Three lions all the way could you imagine them singing that when playing the aussies

[Radar]

All together now, "There'll be blue birds over ..."

[Wide_to_west]

Well she is the queen of england also, me thinks, (any one know this monarchy and governance stuff in detail?), so GSTQ should still be used.

LOHAG people only ever know the first line.
Same with Jam and J.

Though I do like both, how about Dvorak’s New World Symphony, you cannot get more Northern than that for all you non-expansionist and RU lovers/knockers

[Mr Sheen]

Stick with God Save The Queen. And get Joe's cousin, John Lydon, to the grounds to sing it.

[Numptyboy]

Dum De Dum De Dum De Dum Dum De Dum De Dum Dum ... Archers theme tune for mine.