Commonwealth Games England have announced the results of their online poll to choose a national anthem for the English team in this year’s Commonwealth Games.
After a month of voting, Jerusalem was overwhelmingly chosen by members of the public as England’s national anthem. It beat the British national anthem, God Save the Queen, and the British royal anthem, Land of Hope and Glory with over half of the vote:
Jerusalem: 52.5%
Land of Hope and Glory: 32.5%
God Save The Queen: 12%
English Commonwealth gold medalist, Dean Macey, says “Jerusalem’s awesome for getting you pumped before competing. Couple this with the huge pride that comes in wearing the red lion and you’ve got the perfect anthem for England’s Commonwealth Games’.
The question has got to be asked: we have a flag, we have a national anthem, we have history, a national identity and culture so why are we denied self-government?
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Congratulations on everyone who worked so hard to achieve this! I think Jerusalem was the best possible outcome, it shows England as very inclusive and progressive. A friend of mine pointed out that Jerusalem is based on an old Welsh myth that the Welsh were converted by Christ in what would a thousand years later become England. An impressive pedigree for an inclusive anthem.
May 30th, 2010 at 1:07 pmIt is interesting that God Save the Queen only received 12%. Maybe the English FA etc. could follow suit and leave GStQ for British events?
May 30th, 2010 at 4:27 pmThe lobbying must continue. Attention must now be focused upon the FA, RFU and ECB etc…
The door is open, it just needs a bit more of a push. Mark those words from the England Commonwealth Games PR guy: ‘The decision follows a month-long public vote, which saw Jerusalem coming out as a runaway favourite’
‘Runaway Favourite!!!
Let’s get lobbying!
May 30th, 2010 at 4:44 pmAlfred the Ok, I agree, which is why I had already sent a letter to The FA at their new base of Wembley, Roger Burden, is now sole Chairman it seems. I sent letter to him.
May 31st, 2010 at 12:14 pmI would like something totelly new with a bit more bang but if this the winning vote then so be it…
June 1st, 2010 at 10:46 amUpdate on my letter to the Chairman of the FA. He got a Tracey Bates of Customer Relations to write to me with a load of rubbish- that Flower of Scotland and Land of my Fathers were Hymns, which they are not and that the FA has “done research on this subject and the overwhelming majority of fans on a web forum wanted to retain God Save The Queen”.
I certainly don’t remember this forum, is there anyone else out there that does? Time for our Organisation to start pressing!
I have written back to the Chairman of the FA with an irate reply, will let fellow patriots on these pages know results.
June 15th, 2010 at 6:30 amWell done Stuart. GSTQ is the British anthem and should only be played at British events. It’s not only insulting to the English but to Scotland, Wales and NI also.
June 15th, 2010 at 9:33 amStuart: When I spoke to the FA about 4 years ago, they told me they had a fan vote via tinternet and GStheQ was the most popular choice ‘by far’, apparently.
I asked exactly when this vote happened and this stroppy bint told me it was in 2004. I know a couple of people who are in the England Supporters Club – and they told me they had never even heard of the vote…
When I asked what other songs had been considered in the vote – ie there must by definition have been more than one choice, she couldn’t tell me. I also asked whether it was a proper vote – like administered by a third party, she couldn’t tell me that either.
In the end, she basically gave me the red card…
It was then that I decided to start having a go at the English Commonwealth Games Organisation…
June 15th, 2010 at 10:50 amThank you Alfred the OK,
Even though I wrote to the Chairmen the letter I received back was from Tracey Bates, Customer Relations! Sad, I thought we were supporters!
Maybe it’s time to push them from all angles, think I’ll ask them for the result under the Freedom of Information if we are allowed to,to such an organisation, any advice anyone?
June 15th, 2010 at 1:03 pmUnfortunately it doesn’t help that fans sing Rule Britannia and God Save Our Queen/Team at England matches.
June 15th, 2010 at 7:39 pmHaving said that, they don’t sing British songs at England Rugby Union matches but GStQ is still England’s anthem.
Role on England becoming independent.