General Chat

I have not put this thread up to be contentious, so I will not talk about the actual football, which I know nothing about,but I know and appreciate that alot of you do.
My disgust is with the singing of the national anthem. It was, and very often is, a pathetic load of old pants. Hardly any of them made an attempt to sing it, even if they could, and Wayne Rooney, never opened his mouth at all. If they have no pride in singing their country's national anthem, then, in my mind, they have no pride in playing for their country, as was evident last night. OH's opinion, and he is a footballer.
Methinks it is time they spent some time with the lovely Gareth Malone.
Just my opinion.
Julia in Derbyshire

Same at athletic medal ceremonies or FI Grand Prix etc etc

Its the same at any event, from any nation. Hardly any of them know the national anthem.

The way England have been playing, they may have more sucess if they just chose random men who knew the National Anthem to play!!!

my own personal opinion is that we should have a better anthem rather than the dirge that we have. Particularly as it was England playing and not the UK, they could have sang Land of Hope and Glory whereas Scotland if they were playing could have sang Flower of Scotland etc etc etc

Oh was watching it. I was only interested in the bird that was sitting on the net lol

Is Gareth Malone the guy that did the choir? He's a sweetie lol.

I agree they should sing their hearts out and play their hearts out for their country...that lot did neither xx

Rugby players usually sing at the top of their tuneless voices, but rugby is a real game...lol

Sue x

i managed to avoid the football
for what i have heard of it
i am so glad i did

I agree with everything each person has said, particularly Muffy.
Yes Gareth Malone is the person who takes children from 'sink' estates and people from rundown communities, and turns them into choirs.
At present he has a bunch of children, some of them young offenders, and is turning them into a supporting cast for an opera to be performed at Glynbourne. We have followed all his series, and the present one is on BBC2 on a Thursday night.
Julia in Derbyshire

I didn't realise he was doing another...I'll have to watch that on iplayer.

Thanks Julia x

The National Anthem issue came to light for me last year when we went to Florida.

We got in Seaworld really early one day, as the doors opened. 10 minutes later, whilst walking over to our favourite ride, a loudspeaker announcement boomed around the park. Please stand whilst we play our national anthem.

Everyone stood still, with their hand over their heart as the music started.

It was amazing.

So many people, from all walks of life coming together for a few minutes, in proudness & respect for their country and each other.

I hold my hand up to not knowing the words to ours.

I think it should be taught in schools, even if you are not patriotic, it does bring forth a togetherness, no matter what you look like, or how much money you have, or whatever religion you are x

Well said Mildred.
I remember as a child, when the national anthem was played last thing at night when the television was closing down,(yes it did in those days), in our house, we always stood for it, and my father stood to attention and saluted.
I know those days are long gone, but come on, even if these sports people are not particularly patriotic, they are representing our country, and should, in my opinion, show it.
Julia in Derbyshire

Ours is one of the worst anthems ever ,its not about England or its people at all, but one person to save the one on the throne,!

I'd rather have Jerusalem x

Land of Hope & Glory :o)))

All children born or raised in Wales learn theirs from birth..lol and people can't remember the English one?

Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau

Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mad,
Tros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.

Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad,
Tra môr yn fur
I'r bur hoffbau,
O bydded i'r heniaith barhau.


Hen Gymru fynyddig, paradwys y bardd,
Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn, i'm golwg sydd hardd;
Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol yw si
Ei nentydd, afonydd, i mi.

Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad,
Tra môr yn fur
I'r bur hoffbau,
O bydded i'r heniaith barhau.

Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwlad dan ei droed,
Mae hen iaith y Gymry mor fyw ag erioed,
Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad,
Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad.

Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad,
Tra môr yn fur
I'r bur hoffbau,
O bydded i'r heniaith barhau.

Sue x

Very nice, SC, but its all written in foreign to me.

Bob

LOL

aw Sue thats easy haha x

There was a YouGov poll recently regarding the national anthem. Consequently at the upcoming Commonwealth games the English national anthem will be Jerusalem which polled 52%. Land of Hope and Glory polled 36% and GSTQ got 12%.
GSTQ is of course the British anthem NOT the English national anthem.
Preumably Scotland, Wales and Ulster will make their own arrangements.