SINGER Rachel Holbrook studies at the Royal Academy of Music.
But she achieved a lifetime’s ambition in the music world – by helping to record a World Cup song at the famous Abbey Road studios.
She did so as a Huddersfield Town fan, as these behind “We’re England Underneath” roped in fans from every Premiership, Championship and League 1 and 2 clubs.
The song is the brainchild of classical tenor Thomas Spencer-Wortley but is aimed very much at the pop market.
He led the recording session and was joined by former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton as well as fans from all the soccer clubs.
The record is being released later this month and it is hoped it will raise thousands of pounds for Kick4Life, a charity which uses the power of football and sport to transform the lives of some of the world’s most disadvantaged young people.
The charity’s work has already been given support by Prince Harry, Fabio Capello and David Beckham to name but a few.
England manager Capello has already ruled there will be no official World Cup song this time around, but others are expected to be released before the South Africa tournament in June.
Rachel, 26, of Heckmondwike, was delighted to be involved.
She said: “I’m from a great family of Town fans. My dad Paul and brother Neil are fanatics, and there is also my uncle Alan Gale and his son Andrew, who is the new Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale.
“In fact it was Andrew’s shirt I was wearing as I’m down in London and didn’t have one of my own with me, but I was able to get hold of Andrew’s.
“I’m studying music at the Royal Academy but it was a wonderful thrill to go along to Abbey Road and join in.
“It was brilliant. The recording itself was great fun, with more than 90 people all with headphones. The chorus is a bit of crowd chanting and I’d love to see it be a big success.
“I was able to talk to some of the people from the charity and they are doing some great work.”
Tenor Spencer-Wortley led the singing. He has performed with the greats including Katherine Jenkins and Beverley Knight, while artists such as All Angels and Camilla Kerslake are amongst his guests who have performed in his stunning concerts.
Performances have been made in such diverse arenas as concert halls to London Fashion Week to singing the national anthem live on BBC’s ‘Match Of The Day’.
In addition to his concert performances he is also Derby County Football Club’s official tenor and regularly sings at home games in front of crowds of 33,000.
The single is released on April 24, but initially the song is only available through the football club shops.
From Monday, May 3, the single will be available to download.
A spokesman for the organisers said: “We want it to have as much publicity as possible to increase the amount of money we can raise for such a wonderful charity.
“It’s a song by the fans, for the fans, for one England.”
The all-time best England World Cup songs
1. England World Cup Squad – Back Home (1970)
Rousing tune that stayed at the top of the charts for three weeks. “Cos we’ll give all we’ve got to give ...”
2. England and New Order – World in Motion (1990)
John Barnes making a reasonable effort as MC in New Order’s electro-pop classic, co-written by Keith Allen.
3. Lonnie Donnegan – World Cup Willie (1966)
The 1966 World Cup was the first to sample marketing with the introduction of the tournament mascot, World Cup Willie, a footballing cartoon lion. The country’s favourite skiffler, Lonnie Donnegan, released a song of the same name and thus had the first officially recognised World Cup song. It was for the World Cup as a whole though, not an England song.
4. Baddiel and Skinner/The Lightning Seeds – Three Lions 98 (1998)
The 1996 Euro championships tune was rolled out again for the ’98 World Cup campaign. For the misty-eyed.
5. England World Cup Squad – This time (we’ll get it right) (1982)
Or not. An ambitious England squad promised much but failed to deliver. Hmmm, that’s a familiar tale...
6. Fat Les – Vindaloo (1998)
Keith Allen again in either an inspired, subversive parody of the football chant genre or a hooligan’s anthem.
7. England United – (How does it feel to be) on top of the world (1998)
The future Mrs Beckham, and Spice Girl bandmates plus Echo and the Bunnymen and the Lightning Seeds, Lost to Fat Les.
8. Rider feat. Terry Venables – England Crazy (2002)
El Tel recorded a double A-side with band, Rider, with one terrace-friendly chant version and another Frank Sinatra-style swing version.
9. Ant and Dec – We’re on the Ball (2002)
The perky Geordie duo re-worked the old Arsenal anthem to sing the team on their way to Japan and Korea. Other tunes of the summer included Martin Bell and Jonathan Spurling’s ‘Sven, Sven, Sven’.
10. Embrace – World at your Feet (2006)
Brighouse rock band, Embrace, with a thoughtful melody that never quite gripped the terraces.
