MCFC & Viking Theme

It's been sung at Eastlands for a few years now.

A song that has the lyrics, something like:

"City, City The Greatest Football Fans In All The World"

Or something similar.

Is it 'sung' to the tune of the Vikings Theme? [from the film, which many of us will know as NO's 'entrance music']

Or, is my hearing going? Only ever heard it on TV.

Anyways, Rob would have been proud if it is!

One last thing, anyone know anything about a huge flag at Pompey with NO written on it? A mate reckons he saw it, I think he may need to visit Specsavers.

Gary?

This one?

Yeah, it is that one. My 'lyrics' were at bit off. I'm pretty sure that's the Viking's Theme now. It has to be 'by' City fans who were 'active' at gigs in the 80's [can't remember when it was last used? Not at any gigs since the 'comeback' that I've been to]. Or, City Fans who were big fan's of the film.

Anyone know if there are any decent 'boots' of this captured on tape? I used to love that roar of anticipation when this came on!

Mentioned briefly here, but no mention of a New Order connection.

Whatever, you've certainly got me thinking!

There's a massive banner outside Eastlands local pub Mary D's that says "the fastest service in all the land and all the world"

Is this now the most obscure 'must-see' on any serious NO fan's walking tour of Manchester?

I know Utd have that bloke who thinks these sort of songs up.

I mean the Giggs/LWTUA one is fairly 'singable' as the song is widely known.

This one is a bit more esoteric innit?

I don't know if the 'provenance' of these things are

'traceable'?

Cheers for your efforts anyway Pablo.

There's got to be quite a few City fans on here though?

Pablo Bastardo wrote: There's a massive banner outside Eastlands local pub Mary D's that says "the fastest service in all the land and all the world"

Is this now the most obscure 'must-see' on any serious NO fan's walking tour of Manchester?

Now that is obscure! Somebody will be having that 'away' to add to their FAC collection surely. It's a pity that Rob isn't still with us, he could have approved a FAC number.

I'm sure the Barmy Army have been singing a version of LWTUA AT the Test matches over in Oz.

Pablo Bastardo wrote: There's a massive banner outside Eastlands local pub Mary D's that says "the fastest service in all the land and all the world"

Fast service needed..... and lots of it!

Elegia wrote:

Pablo Bastardo wrote: There's a massive banner outside Eastlands local pub Mary D's that says "the fastest service in all the land and all the world"

Is this now the most obscure 'must-see' on any serious NO fan's walking tour of Manchester?

Now that is obscure! Somebody will be having that 'away' to add to their FAC collection surely. It's a pity that Rob isn't still with us, he could have approved a FAC number.

You know what - that post has made me think that the song MAY (I don't know) be old enough that Rob decided on the Vikings theme as walk on music because of the City tune.

Someone who knows what they're on about should maybe take it from here though...

Pablo Bastardo wrote:

Elegia wrote:

Pablo Bastardo wrote: There's a massive banner outside Eastlands local pub Mary D's that says "the fastest service in all the land and all the world"

Is this now the most obscure 'must-see' on any serious NO fan's walking tour of Manchester?

Now that is obscure! Somebody will be having that 'away' to add to their FAC collection surely. It's a pity that Rob isn't still with us, he could have approved a FAC number.

You know what - that post has made me think that the song MAY (I don't know) be old enough that Rob decided on the Vikings theme as walk on music because of the City tune.

Someone who knows what they're on about should maybe take it from here though...

Well there's a thought, never considered that. To be honest though, I've seen City at Maine Road and on the TV lots of times over the years and honestly can't remember hearing this song until approximately 5 years ago. I suppose it's possible that it is a very old song at City, considering the film is from 1958 and it's been revived.

Where's that Pure Shaw chap when you need him, he's a blue isn't he? I know Mr El Jarvo is very knowledgeable on the NO/Footie 'axis' as well. Nobody's confirmed/denied the existence of a massive Pompey flag with NO on it from my original post either. You just 'can't get the staff' on here these days.

You may be right about it being originated by the city fans first. Just found this:

Viking Theme

It's a topic on a City forum about Maine Rd characters.

The Pink Panther [7th post down] says:

'The bloke with the french horn who played "the Vikings" tune.'

It's looking increasingly likely that Rob heard this at Maine Road and 'suggested' it for their entrance music.I wonder if he told them it was a City song, with Hooky and Bernard being Reds?

Ha ha someone's doing some proper digging now!

They sound like norty boys on that BM thread. I was sat far above all of that carry on the kids' wall of the Kippax.

Eeeh them were the days...

Not been on that forum in ages - check out the Roughest Pub thread on there tonight. Brought back a few memories, that has.

Pablo Bastardo wrote: Not been on that forum in ages - check out the Roughest Pub thread on there tonight. Brought back a few memories, that has.

Ha Ha. Just got to page 23 of that topic [city characters]. Rob's mentioned a couple of times. One post says he 'was a legend', a few posts later somebody says, 'you didn't have to skin up for him every ten minutes' or something to that effect.

I knew Rob, vaguely. I'm best mates with his nephew - that vaguely. I used to see him at his family parties and chat with him, but he wouldn't recognise me when I saw him in the Hac or wherever. The last time I saw him was after a match, walking through Rusholme with, I think, Pickering and a couple of others who I recognised. His chest was about three foot in front of the rest of him - City shirt straining as he swaggered. I shouted "ROB" and he gave me a big thumbs up and a massive grin. We'd won that day. Daft as it sounds, I treasure that memory.

There you go

Watch this one, you might get your answer.

Top thread, anyway. I certainly will feel an extra tingle next time I make it to a game.

No-one over there is having it that the Viking Theme was NO walk on music.

Does anyone still have that remix that appeared about '06?

Didt see the pompey N.O flag tuesday night against burnley, mind didt see much else,, now i know what it feels like to be a city supporter

can you hear me calling you

Pablo Bastardo wrote: I knew Rob, vaguely. I'm best mates with his nephew - that vaguely. I used to see him at his family parties and chat with him, but he wouldn't recognise me when I saw him in the Hac or wherever. The last time I saw him was after a match, walking through Rusholme with, I think, Pickering and a couple of others who I recognised. His chest was about three foot in front of the rest of him - City shirt straining as he swaggered. I shouted "ROB" and he gave me a big thumbs up and a massive grin. We'd won that day. Daft as it sounds, I treasure that memory.

Ha, I saw your post on that Blue Moon forum saying that. My cousin was a NO roadie back in the day and told some fantastic stories about Rob. Both are now gone so I suppose the 'answer' is gonna be 'second hand' at best!

Pablo Bastardo wrote: No-one over there is having it that the Viking Theme was NO walk on music.

Does anyone still have that remix that appeared about '06?

Well, I'm sorry but they are quite simply wrong! I heard it many times in the 80's. I mean I thought that was where the name: 'The Vikings' sort of originated [apart from the Roger Lyons quote obviously]. I'll have to monitor that thread you started on Blue Moon to see if anybody has a 'better' answer.

here's my timeline on things: jan '53 rob gretton born '58 'the vikings' film comes out, gretton and a million other kids see it on a saturday morning . 60's onward city fans sing the theme tune (thanks to the lady who sits next to me for that ) but so do most other teams. 80's NO use theme tune as intro viking fandom ensues.

probably just a good tune he remembers from being a kid.

here's another one for you. after Gretton died, they kept renewing his season ticket at Maine Road,as a kind of tribute to him. right up to moving to Eastlands I was told. any truth in this tale?