The England Band

The England Band are the official supporters band of the England national football team, from Sheffield and are led by John Hemmingham. They were sponsored by Pukka Pies from 2006 until 2014.^[1]

History

The band first performed at England games in 1996 after the then England manager, Terry Venables, and head of The Football Association, David Davies, heard them playing for Sheffield Wednesday fans away at Arsenal and invited them to play at England matches just in time for Euro 96.^[2] The band say that they try to learn a song of the opposition and refuse to play anything controversial, for example not playing the Dambusters March when England are playing Germany.^[2] One of the band members is entertainer Bernie Clifton.^[3] They have been banned from playing at World Cup 2014 in Brazil by FIFA, due to strict rules on not allowing instruments into the stadiums. ^[4]

The band also planned to perform at the 2008 Summer Olympics as the "Great Britain Band in Beijing", but they were not permitted to take their instruments into the Birds Nest Stadium. Instead they performed on the streets of Beijing.^[3]

Charts

The band have also released The Great Escape theme tune as a single for the 1998 FIFA World Cup and a newer version for UEFA Euro 2000. The original peaked in the UK charts at 46 while the later version did slightly better by reaching 26.^[5]

Criticism

The band have been the subject of extensive criticism, mainly levied at them by fellow England fans. They have been referred to as "horrific" and a Twitter account was set up calling for them to be banned, which quickly gained 500 followers.^[6] They have also been considered repetitive. Comedian David Baddiel said, "I tire of endless Rule, Britannias and Great Escapes", and is "aware" of the band's refusal to play Three Lions.^[6] When the large contingent of Polish fans drowned out the band at Wembley during the final group qualifier for the 2014 World Cup, Guardian journalist Barney Ronay welcomed the fact:

"There had been a fear before kick-off that 18,000 or so Poles would out-sing and out-atmosphere the home support, albeit anything that might drown out the England band, whose parpings and whumpings tend to produce the feeling of being very slowly lulled into semi-consciousness by a dementedly patriotic stage hypnotist, is to be welcomed."

— ^[7]

After the same game, England fans were quoted as saying that the band are like "the Go Compare advert of international football fans", that "they are right up there with the vuvuzela for wanting to stab myself in the head with a fork" and that "If 18,000 Polish supporters drown out the England band, they should be invited to every game at Wembley."^[8]

At UEFA Euro 2012, the band were not permitted to perform at England's game against France in the Donbass Arena in Donetsk, Ukraine, despite having UEFA approval.^[9] The band were allowed to enter the stadium but had their instruments confiscated.^[10] However, after an appeal by the FA, the ban was overturned and they were cleared to perform at England's next group game against Sweden.^[11] FIFA has advised the English FA that the band will not be permitted to take instruments into any matches during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

There is a growing movement amongst Sheffield Wednesday supporters who would like to see the band stop playing at Hillsborough. It is felt that the band have caused a lack of creativity and spontaneity in the atmosphere at the ground, forcing many supporters away from their long standing home on the Spion Kop and into other areas of the ground.

Discography

• 1998: The Great Escape
• 2000: The Great Escape 2000

References