" You'll never walk alone "

[matthew]

Thought Dortmund sung it first

 

[Brovion]

It was Liverpool, 100%. Liverpool always used to play the chart hits of the day and the fans used to sing along. (I've seen film of this and one of my oldest friends who grew up in Liverpool in the 50s and 60s confirmed it). When Gerry and the Pacemakers (a Liverpool group) released their version in 1963 it struck a chord and it became the unofficial Liverpool anthem. Like a lot of clubs (us included) Celtic then copied Liverpool. And think about it logically, Celtic's version couldn't pre-date the Gerry and the Pacemakers release, if for no other reason than there is NO WAY a load of Glaswegian working class men would suddenly spontaneously start singing a female ballad from a twee Rogers and Hammerstein musical.

EDIT: Until I read this thread I wasn't even aware that Celtic claimed they were first.

 

[Vegas Seagull]

I dont remember hearing it sung by anybody before Gerry and The Pacemakers recorded it and it was adopted by Liverpool in fact I cannot remember many actual songs sung by fans other than Blaydon Rcaes by Newcastle and Keep Right on to the end of the Road by Birmingham before the 60s.

'Sussex By The Sea' since around WW1

 

[grubbyhands]

Always thought it a powerful song but carries even more meaning now as it was sung by 250 people at a mates funeral last week.....awesome.

 

[BensGrandad]

'Sussex By The Sea' since around WW1

The band version was played but I never heard a vocal version at an Albion match in the 50s that I can remember. I remember Worthing entered the field to The Post Horn Gallop when I was a lad and Spurs to McNamara's Band.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Thought Dortmund sung it first

Didn't they steal it from Palace first

 

[Brovion]

Thought Dortmund sung it first

St Pauli sang it Germany before Dortmund - and they got it from Celtic!

 

[Brovion]

The band version was played but I never heard a vocal version at an Albion match in the 50s that I can remember. I remember Worthing entered the field to The Post Horn Gallop when I was a lad and Spurs to McNamara's Band.

I think you're right. Talking to people older than me the general consensus is that prior to the 1960s fans didn't really sing 'songs' en-masse as such in much the same way that American sports fans (non-soccer) don't sing songs. Chants, yes; but popular songs weren't adapted and adopted as terrace anthems until Liverpool started doing it.

One could argue that we've actually returned to those pre-1960s days. Certainly at Brighton we don't really sing songs any more; when I first started going in the 1960s we used to sing Knees up Mother Brown, Daisy, You'll never walk alone, f*** 'em all, Cock o'the walk, Distant Drums, etc.

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

It's a great song and also used to be sung at the Goldstone and it's one I want played at my fueral too.