Sheffield’s World Class Football Band
Passion – Football – Art = Raw Atmosphere
For many who attend football matches all over the world, men, women & children alike, the attraction isn’t purely to just sit quietly watching a live sporting event. The vast majority of fans go to a live game for the cultural experience, for feelings of camaraderie and family, to extend a shared history, contribute to communal pride and probably most importantly to experience an atmosphere that cannot be obtained through any other experiences.
The ability to shout, sing, chant and let off emotional steam during a football match is a core attraction for many fans. For me there’s nothing quite like sitting in Hillsborough looking at three or even four sides of the ground bouncing up and down singing in joy and harmony, all having a unique & shared in the moment communal experience.
Noise rhythm and music of course are central to generating atmosphere and mass crowd experiences and non-have been better at it during the last three decades than a football band from Sheffield locally known as the Wednesday Kop Band but more worldwide known as the England Supporters Band.
How it all started: I was sitting in the lower tier away at Everton in late 1993 when towards the end of the game I heard a bugle blast out the intro to the grand march from Aida above me. It was a genius moment from band creator John Hemmingham who had smuggled a bugle into Goodison Park that afternoon. Once John had finished the intro, we all knew what to do next & sang out together loudly in mass communal untuneful harmony. That moment has become part of Wednesday’s atmosphere experience and history. They still play Aida today when Wednesday score.
The band became the official England Supporters Band in 1996 when David Davis & Glen Hoddle spotted their potential watching Wednesday play Arsenal at Highbury. The band have been a constant with the England men’s team home and away for 28 years and for several years also with the England women’s team.
The beautiful marriage: Football & a musical atmosphere go hand-in-hand. Association Football more than any other sport lends itself beautifully to this perfect marriage due to its fast-moving nature & number of controversial incidents being constantly generated within the live spectacle evolving in front of fans.
Sheffield’s Kop and England Band have certainly taken advantage of this potential sport, art & cultural combination more so than any others who have ever tried. Their contribution & impact on the atmospheres experienced within our beautiful game does need recognition. I must show my cards here. I was a band member for over 21 years so have developed a deep understanding of the magic they can generate. Now as an outsider, I can see how they fit into Sheffield’s footballing historical, cultural heritage. For now, a nod to their ongoing contribution is enough however there is so much more we could & will say about them in time. Sheffield’s football band is simply the best football supporters’ band in the world. That’s why they’ve played officially for England teams uninterrupted for now nearly 30 years. How many other institutions or individuals can stake that claim?
What makes Sheffield’s band different? The Band aims to act as an un-unprompted, unrehearsed catalyst and focus for fans emotions and noise. What’s played is only conducted by what’s happening on the pitch in front of fans and in real time. The band and the instant musical spark always coming from behind the fans from the back of the stand, band members unseen but heard. This approach is the secret to the band’s success. Not trying to lead but to simply just act as fans who just happened to have an ability to express their support & emotions using instruments.
Experiencing the band close up & first hand can be “different” and the band has had its critics. However, overwhelmingly fans do understand and know what they are capable of and what magic they can help inspire. It’s always been the majority that have supported them hence their long-term survival and impact.
When it matters, they are quite simply the best in the world at what they do. Made in Sheffield, we should celebrate them & their ongoing history.
Do you have more information about this that we could add? Are any of the facts wrong? Please get in touch if so.
Source: Steve Wood
