Chant Archive

Early efforts at singing at UCD games involved some of the following:

• Trinity. SHITE. Trinity. SHITE.
  This chant requires a leader who shouts the "Trinity" part with the rest of the people giving the "Shite" refrain. This is obviously part of the "Anti-Trinity" school of UCD chanting. Its popularity is due to its simplicity and versatility (equally good for colour debates). However it is not particuarly pro-UCD.
• (To the tune of Always look on the Bright Side of Life) Always look on the South Side for Shite.
  This chant was used by some Shelbourne fans in Belfield park. It was initally successful until it was countered with Always look on the South Side for Jobs. This chant uses a catchy, well known tune. It also draws upon the age old North/South Dublin divide and has deep socio-economic implications. These chants worked on several levels and evokes the best of Dublin wit.
• (To the tune of the Monkees Daydream Believer) Cheer up Trinity, Oh how can it be, to be a west British wanker, who can’t spell UCD
  Again from the "Anti-Trinity" school of UCD chanting, this is a mainstay of the UCD chanting arsenal. The roots of this gem can be traced to a certain UCDSSS commitee member. Again, the question of whether it is preferable to knock Trinity or support UCD in chants is answered with a firm option 1. The use of an old classic makes this tune memorable although it confuses other supporters who don’t see the relevence of it. But when have football chants ever had to make sense?
• Come on you boys in blue, Come on you boys in blue, Come on you boys, Come on you boys in blue.
  This is probably the most conventional UCD chant. It is accompanied with clapping and foot stamping. The tempo of the chant is variable, as is the number of repeats. It is functional and very versatile (any team in blue can use it). It is one of the purest examples of the chanting medium heard in Belfield Park. The metre of this chant puts the emphasis on "boys" and "blue" and this assonance helps to build up the rhythm.
• Alle le Bleu, Alle le Bleu, Alle le Bleu...
  A minor variation on the previous chant, we show our education by supporting the college in another language.
• (To the tune of the Marseillaise)Da da da da da da da da da da da da da
  In support of UCD legend Damian Dupey, we sing the French national anthem, in spite of not bothering to learn the words.
• (To the tune of Walking in a winter wonderland) There’s only one Eoin Bennis, in the box he’s a menace, defenders to tease, he scores with ease, walkin’ in a bennis wonderland.
  This was kindly left in the guest book by a loyal supporter of UCD’s one and only Eoin "Danger" Bennis. Now we know who that one supporter who always cheers the loudest for Eoin is. Other UCD players that have been immortalised in such chants include:
• Andy Myler. Andy, now sadly departed for Athlone Town (via Newry Town), was a fan favourite. Many a time we sang
  Andy, Andy Myler. He's worth about a fiver. He’s big, fat and Lazy. He drives us all crazy. Walking in a Myler wonderland.
  Andy is currently (1-12-2000) leading scorer in the first division. Expect soon to hear ’Bring back Andy’ chants.
• He’s fat and geriatric, he’ll never score a hat-trick, his hair is grey and we want him to stay, walking in a Swanny Wonderland.
  This chant, featured in the Irish Times on the 12-02-2001, shows our appreciation for the one and only Derek "Swanninho" Swan. I actually think he’s a good player apart from the not really being able to run.
• (To the tune of the Cadbury’s Roses ad) Thank you very much for paying for our grant/booze, thank you very much, thank you very very much.
  UCD students show their appreciation for the wage slaves that fund our idyllic lives of leisure. Ah yes the tax payers, where would we be without them?

Here is a great chant exchange between Shels and UCD fans at Tolka park.

Chant of the Match (1):

Shels fans: UCD, geek, geek, geek…UCD, geek, geek, geek
UCD fans: You’ll never beat the geeks...

Chant of the Match (2):

UCD fans: Ciaran’s ma, Ciaran’s ma, Ciaran’s ma (it’s a long story).
Shels fans: (and very quickly too, it must be said): “Ciaran’s ma is illegitimate/She can’t find her birth certificate/She’s got AIDS and can’t get rid of it/Poor old Ciaran’s ma.

Chant of the Match (3):
UCD fans pay tribute to Alan McNally: He’s got big ears and he’s scored a goal, McNally, McNally... He’s got big ears and he’s scored a goal, Alan McNally.
That would be Alan, "Can yez make a song up for me for when I come on?" McNally. Before we get into trouble, we’d like to label it a work in progress...

Chant of the Match (4):
Shels fans: College, College give us a song.
UCD fans: (shushing them first): Stand up if you hate Rovers
Shels fans (having paid the song due homage by joining in - and the entire stand at that, not just the original small band): UCD, UCD, UCD...

Chant of the Match (5):
Shels fans: Let’s all laugh at Patrick’s, Let’s all laugh at Patrick#146;s
UCD fans: They’re even worse than us, They’re even worse than us.

Chant of the Match (6):
Shels fans: Did you get your homework done? UCD fans: Did you get your Junior Cert? (which got a round of applause from the whole stand for some reason) Shels fans: We’ll see you on the welfare, see you when you get there... UCD fans: Thank you very much for paying your taxes, thank you very much, thank you very very very much...

Chant of the Match (7):
Shels fans: We are Shels, we are Shels, we are Shels.
UCD fans: Hadn’t guessed, hadn’t guessed, hadn’t guessed.”

Chant of the Match (8):
UCD fans: Thank you very much for keeping us up.
UCD fans slag Shels keeper Gareth Downey, who, with Harps last year, damaged knee ligaments celebrating Gary Doherty&146;s goal for Spurs in the Cup semi-final. As Harps had no other keepers left, they had to re-sign Gavin Cullen, who was facing manslaughter charges. His second game saw a terrible performance in a 5-1 drubbing by Bohs, and Harps’ great run was over.

Chant of the Match (9):
(And my personal favourite): Can we play you every week?

More chants will go up as soon as we get the English department to properly analyse them (and as soon as we remember the third line of the old Barry Ryan chant). At the moment they are too busy discussing the meaning of "I feel like chicken tonight, like chicken tonight". We're all on tenterhooks waiting for that one.

UPDATE: The english department have decided that the Chicken Tonight represents the deep existential dread that affects us all at 4am on a windy night. They have recieved €500,000 in funding and fifteen smart young graduate students to explore their breakthrough. Expect everyone’s quality of life to improve markedly sometime soon.