Which fans have the best chants? Finalists revealed
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Which fans have the best chants? Finalists revealed
Which football club has the most creative singers? The government-run Get On campaign has revealed a shortlist of nine finalists in this season's search for the nation's favourite chant.
Liverpool legend John Barnes and Barnsley FC's poet-in-residence Ian McMillan whittled down more than 300 entries from fans up and down the country to select the most creative entries – and the finalists are fans of Bolton, Cheltenham, Fulham, Liverpool (with two finalists - Reds fans also provided the most entries), Southampton, Southend, Sunderland and Tottenham.
The finalists will now meet the judges at the start of next season and compete in a Grand Final Chant-Off. The overall winner will win the opportunity to record their chant in the studio with Barnes – famed for his rap on Englandneworder's Italia 90 single World In Motion – and receive a signed England shirt courtesy of the FA.
"Chants are a great way of getting behind your team and can make a real difference to players on the pitch," said Barnes. "I was really impressed by the level of skill and imagination that came through in the entries."
The competition was launched in February this year to tap into the writing talents of the nation's football fans, as part of the campaign to encourage adults to recognise the ability they have with words in their day-to-day life and use this to inspire them to improve their English skills and gain a qualification.
More information about the competition is available at http://www.direct.gov.uk/geton