With no official anthem set for this year, three Leeds lads have formed their own group and penned the cheeky and uplifting 'Mr Capello', have created their own version of how a 2010 England Victory song should sound.
Proudly claiming it as a Northern Anthem to celebrate the North’s decorated footballing history and ingrained passion for football, Mr Capello will very much be a Northern effort and has been written, recorded and produced entirely in the North.
The song is now being pitched on the Leeds music circuit as the amateur song that will take on this year’s big budget competition, going up against the likes of Terry Venables’ tune and John Barnes’s re-recorded rap.
Mentored by local charity Leeds Music Trust, the group, who have called themselves The Defenders, work on the song after their day job. Unlike other big names to release their own 2010 World Cup Anthem, Tim Bradley, Chris Charlton and Matthew “Parksey” Parkes start work in the studios after a day spent as teacher, statistician and joiner.
Mark Hubbard of Leeds Music Trust said: "I was talking to friends in the pub about this year’s songs on offer and to be honest we didn’t think much of them. So we decided to do something about it rather than moan.
"We wanted to do something with local underground musicians just to prove we could do it. As a charity we are here to promote amateur musicians. This is a superbly catchy song that comes from an indie punk background, but once it’s finished it will be a real anthem and the terraces will love it."
Part of the appeal is the band’s down to earth roots and Northern pride that I’m sure will win over the fans. Football and music are passions that we in the North take very seriously and we’ve always produced the best of both. The best bands and the biggest and oldest clubs.
Nick Hodgson of The Kaiser Chiefs said: “I really like the song. I can’t wait for the finished version. We’re very happy to support new talent and the underdog and that’s what Leeds Music Trust is all about. When we started out we didn’t expect to achieve what we have so it is really important for us to offer our best wishes and help where we can. Northern cities are breeding grounds for great song writing and this song shows that.”
Matt Bowman of the Pigeon Detectives, said: “This song is catchier than Three Lions, has more class than Vindaloo and a chorus that deserves to be shouted by every England fan on the terraces in South Africa! A football song the way football songs should be... oh, and the band's from Leeds which is a bonus.”
