Announcements

OK, it’s weekend – time for a musical interlude with a top 10 favourite songs with a sporting theme.

There are a couple of obvious ones missing – as you will spot, and Jocky (Jackie) Wilson by Dexy's has not sneaked in by default.

Nor are there any cheesy pre-FA Cup Final football anthems – but here are 10 sporting songs to mark triumph, hope, resilience, injustice and fighting back.

10. Tour de France - Kraftwerk

This song by the German pop synthesiser group was ground-breaking, sampling voices, huffing and puffing and a few mechanical noises to give a feel of cycling’s most gruelling of races, but set against an uplifting electro rhythm.

Stage four of the Tour de France. Picture: AP Photo/Christophe Eme

9. God’s Footballer - Billy Bragg

The story is about Wolves footballer Peter Knowles, who was beginning to form a productive partnership in the 60s in tandem with Derek Dougan, when he had a sea change in his life.

Whilst on a tour with his club to Kansas, Knowles (brother of Spurs player Cyril and the son of a former Wakefield and York rugby league player - also Cyril) became a Jehovah’s Witness. Subsequent managers spent the next 12 years hoping he would reconsider and return to football - but he didn’t.

His working life saw him spend time delivering milk and window cleaning – but he never had any regrets.

The Bard of Barking captures it perfectly in this 1991 song.

8. Stars of Track and Field - Belle and Sebastian

This Glaswegian band were noted the catchy soundtrack to Teachers – and have a good, loyal following. This song – is not necessarily a sports one – but continues the lyric: “You liberated a boy I never rated,

“And now he's throwing discus for Liverpool and Widnes.”

7. Joxer Goes to Stuttgart - Christy Moore

The story of a fan who travels to West Germany to watch the Republic of Ireland’s first major international tournament – Euro 88. Its centrepiece is the celebration of the Irish team beating beating England when, “Ray Houghton stuck it in the net.”

Fair bit of comedic social commentary too as well as footballing craic.

6. Who Killed Davey Moore - Bob Dylan

The delivery is as harsh as the subject matter, and it is Dylan at his angriest.

The story is about American featherweight world champion boxer Davey Moore, who fell unconscious after losing his title by TKO against Sugar Ramos in 1963 aged 29. He had suffered brain damage and did not regain consciousness and died four days later.

Dylan lets rip in the song in a format based on Who Killed Cock Robin? Not easy listening by any means, but powerful.

5. White City - The Pogues

The west London dog track – once played host to London Highfield rugby league team in the 1930s – and hosted the greyhound derby until it was demolished in 1985.

Shane McGowan in his earthy-poetic type of way commented on its demise in this song, “The torn up ticket stubs

“From a hundred thousand mugs

“Now washed away with dead dreams in the rain.”

A lively song – and on reflection it is a pity none of our local lyricists ever penned such a tribute to Park Road dog track.

4. The Hitter - Bruce Springsteen

Another gritty boxing song – this time from the Boss – and a story of a former pro who is now fighting outside the ring.

“Now the grey rain's fallin' and my ring fighting's done

“So in the work fields and alleys I take all who'll come.”

But more than anything, the fighter just wants to sit and have a lay down on his mam’s couch.

3. Butterfly - Christy Moore

A beautiful song despite the harsh storyline of alcoholism and living with it – and one dedicated by Christy Moore to Manchester United’s mesmeric footballing icon George Best. 

Definitely strong words, softly spoken.

2. Hurricane - Bob Dylan

Way, way before the film of the same name Bob Dylan was crying for justice for Rubin Carter - an American-Canadian middleweight boxer who was wrongfully convicted of murder and later released after serving almost 20 years in prison.

The song roars out from Dylan’s under-rated 1975 album Desire – with the line “but one time he could have been the champion of the world…..” left ringing in your ears.

Watch our performance at the BBC Folk Awards of King of Rome with Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band http://t.co/Rwl3psZf

— The Unthanks (@TheUnthanks) February 13, 2012

1. King of Rome - The Unthanks with the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band.

Ok, I know it’s not Three Lions, but this song is about a racing pigeon.

No ordinary bird – this one won the 1,001-mile race of champions from Rome to Derby in 1913 and the music and lyrics are a work of beauty.

Written by Dave Sudbury, folk singer June Tabor’s sang it first, but this version the harmonies of Rachel and Becky Unthank are complemented and uplifted by the sound of Yorkshire’s most celebrated of brass bands (of Floral Dance fame).

The bird, a Belgian blue cock, was owned trained by Charlie Hudson and is now preserved in Derby Museum and Art Gallery.

Feel free to pick your own sporty songs and leave in the comments section or mail them in to mike.critchley@nqnw.co.uk