An interesting question was asked today

What happens if England play N Ireland in the Euro's (although not much chance of that) will they play the national anthem twice ?, I say just the once for both teams surely.

 

Last time they played in a World Cup Qualifying match it was played once.

 

Once will do for me ... providing it is universally understood that it is being played for two separate FAs, not for one country. Queen's Park of Glasgow once had to forfeit an FA Cup semi final simply because they couldn't afford to travel to the south of England to play in it. So Royal Engineers went to the Final on a bye! It was vital to the infant game that the four parts of the UK formed separate FAs, separate competitions, and separate international teams. Scotland v England was the birth of all international football - a crucial step forward. A single UK is one thing, but the absolute necessity of four separate FAs should never be forgotten. Without that, some of the great founding clubs of this game would have gone to the wall - and perhaps international football with them.

 

I was at Windsor Park in Belfast 2005 when they beat us 1-0 & they only played it once.

 

England, N. Ireland, Scotland and Wales share the same constitutional monarch, so what do we need two Anthems for? - I agree with that. The point I was making is that one FIFA President (Havelande?) wanted the four British FAs merging and Britain to have one team. And that's a fundamental misunderstanding of how the game developed and how international football came about. One rendition of the political anthem should not be used as an excuse to obliterate the basic creation of international football. That's what I'm getting at..

 

Once is more than enough of that dull anthem.

 

agree, we need something more upbeat...ideas??

 

Preferably nothing about an ancient family.

Britania is always a favourite in these debates. But although its better, its to false.

 

I know when we played Liechtenstein the anthem was played twice....same music different words...so I guess that's understanderable

 

As The Big Yin said many years ago, this lively tune would be perfect . . . . instead of the current, rather dull/boring, one

I don't know about words, mind

 

In the early 80s England played Liectenstein at Wembley and the band played our national anthem twice.

We all thought the band was pissed , but apparently their national anthem has the same tune as ours , but different words.

So the band played it twice.

 

I like Jerusalem, good tune, change the title to Sunderland and there you go, it would do fine

 

land of hope and glory
But Cameron is a ****
tries to shaft us analy
but he was born a ****

send us to do his bidding
but hides his cash abroad
makes muslims high and mighty
but locals are mistood.

Wasn't god who gave him power
but us we were **** on
when it comes to elllllection
but we know he cant go on

write your own line now