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Sociologist, musician and Millwall fan Les Back is obsessed with the symphony of the spontaneous folk song of football chants. He’s on a tour of British clubs to chart the rise (and fall) of these chants and discover why they’re an important barometer of social change.

He starts at The Den, his home club of Millwall in south-east London where he meets with former player Tony Witter (’94-’98). He and Tony discuss recordings they made during the 90s to see what’s changed in terms of the relationship between players and fans.

Les travels from London to Glasgow to speak to fans, players and musicians from Norwich City, Dulwich Hamlet, AFC Wimbledon, Newcastle United, Rangers, Celtic and Hibernian. He wants to know what their club chants tell us about their hyper-local identity and whether the folk musician Martin Carthy is right. Are chants “the one surviving embodiment of an organic living folk tradition"?

With thanks to Andy Lawn, Ceylon Andi Hickman, Charlotte Robson, Dan Hancox, Davie and Joan, Louis Abbott, Martin Carthy and Tony Witter. Also to David Taylor, Mark Burman and Jonny Hurst.

Image: Dulwich Hamlet Pepper Army taken by Liam Asman.

Presented by Professor Les Back
Produced by Alexandra Quinn with Freya Hellier
Sound Mix by Jon Calver
Executive Producer: Jane Long
A Hidden Flack production for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4