Football Crazy

"Football Crazy" is a song written by James Curran, originally titled as "The Dooley Fitba' Club", in the 1880s. The song is the earliest-known song that references association football, and it later became a minor hit in the 1960s for Scottish folk music duo Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor.

For other uses, see Football Crazy (disambiguation).

Background

"Football Crazy" is derived from a humorous song written by a songwriter from Glasgow, James Curran (sometimes spelt as 'Currin') who died in 1900. He originally wrote the song as "The Dooley Fitba' Club" and it was sung by J.C. M'Donald.[1] The song is the earliest known song which refers specifically to football.

It was later adapted into the comedic "Fitba' Crazy" with many lyrical changes.[2] Ewan MacColl included a version of "Fitba' Crazy" in a collection of songs called Scotland sings published in 1953,[1] and Personal choice by Ewan MacColl of Scottish folksongs and ballads in 1954.[3] He also recorded the song for his album Scots Street Songs in 1956.[4]

In 1959, the Scots folk music duo Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor released a single based on the MacColl version. It then became a minor novelty hit in Britain in the early 1960s, largely as a result of television exposure on the BBC's Tonight programme.[5][6]

The song has been covered by various other singers, including Rolf Harris who released a single in 1966 to coincide with the World Cup held in England,[7] and Adam McNaughtan on his 1988 album Words Words Words.[8]

The phrase "football crazy" came into popular use during the 1960s, following the song's success, and was extended into the common phrase it is today, often paraphrased. Amongst other things, it has been the title of:

An instrumental tune written by Barry Stoller with influence from "Football Crazy" was used as the theme tune to BBC TV's "Match of the Day".

References
  1. "Broadside ballad entitled 'The Dooley Fitba' Club'". The Word on the Street. National Library of Scotland.
  2. Nannestad, Ian (8 January 2016). "'Bubbles', 'Abe my boy' and 'the Fowler war cry': singing at the Vetch Field in the 1920s". In Anthony Bateman (ed.). Sport, Music, Identities. Routledge. pp. 30–31. ISBN 9781315763149.
  3. "Scottish folksongs and ballads". Working Class Movement Library.
  4. "Football Crazy by Ewan MacColl". SecondHandSongs.
  5. Kingsley, Hilary (1989). Box of Delights: the Golden Years of Television. Papermac. p. 275. ISBN 0333499409.
  6. Traditional Scottish Songs. Accessed 29 December 2012
  7. "Rolf Harris". 45Football.
  8. "The Balladeers: Words Words Words, Adam McNaughtan. Accessed 29 December 2012". Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
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