Ally's Tartan Army
Encyclopedia
Ally's Tartan Army was a novelty record released by Scottish
comedian Andy Cameron
on the Klub Records (KRL) label to mark the Scottish football team
's qualification for the 1978 World Cup
in Argentina
. The "Tartan Army
" are Scotland's
fans; "Ally" was team manager Ally MacLeod
. The single sold over 360,000 copies and reached #6 in the charts.
The tune of the chorus
was based on God Save Ireland
, an Irish rebel song which had been adopted as a football chant
by Celtic F.C.
fans, which was in turn adopted from the American Civil War
song Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!
. The tune has since been recycled by fans of many teams, altering the lyric "We're on the march wi' Ally's Army" as appropriate (for example, "We all follow Man United"). It became "We're all part of Jackie's
army" in Put 'Em Under Pressure
, a Republic of Ireland
song for the 1990 World Cup
.
The B-side of Cameron's original record was "Ah want tae be a Punk Rocker", a satire of the then-current punk rock
movement written by Peter Nardini.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
comedian Andy Cameron
Andy Cameron
Andy Cameron is a Scottish comedian, television and radio broadcaster. He was born in London while his father, Hugh Cameron, was serving in the Army during World War II. Cameron was raised by his grandmother, Isabella 'Bella' Cameron, in the Royal Burgh of Rutherglen, south east of Glasgow,...
on the Klub Records (KRL) label to mark the Scottish football team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
's qualification for the 1978 World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. The "Tartan Army
Tartan Army
The Tartan Army is a name given to fans of the Scotland national football team. They have won awards from several organisations for their friendly behaviour and charitable work...
" are Scotland's
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
fans; "Ally" was team manager Ally MacLeod
Ally MacLeod
Alistair Reid MacLeod was a Scottish professional football player. He is perhaps better known for his time as a football manager, which included being in charge of Scotland at the 1978 FIFA World Cup....
. The single sold over 360,000 copies and reached #6 in the charts.
The tune of the chorus
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
was based on God Save Ireland
God Save Ireland
"God Save Ireland" is an Irish rebel song. It served as an unofficial Irish national anthem for Irish nationalists from the 1870s to the 1910s. During the Parnellite split it was the anthem of the anti-Parnellite Irish National Federation....
, an Irish rebel song which had been adopted as a football chant
Football chant
A football chant or terrace chant, is a song or chant sung at association football matches. They can be historic, dating back to the formation of the club, adaptations of popular songs, or spontaneous reactions to events on the pitch. They are one of the last remaining sources of an oral folk song...
by Celtic F.C.
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
fans, which was in turn adopted from the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
song Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!
Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!
"Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! " was one of the most popular songs of the American Civil War. George F. Root wrote both the words and music and published it in 1864 to give hope to the Union prisoners of war. The song is written from the prisoner's point of view...
. The tune has since been recycled by fans of many teams, altering the lyric "We're on the march wi' Ally's Army" as appropriate (for example, "We all follow Man United"). It became "We're all part of Jackie's
Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
army" in Put 'Em Under Pressure
Put 'Em Under Pressure
"Put 'Em Under Pressure" was the official song to the Ireland national football team's 1990 FIFA World Cup campaign in Italy . It is regarded as "an all-time classic that the entire country knows every single word to, even the spoken words of wisdom from Jack Charlton, it's place in the hearts of...
, a Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
song for the 1990 World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
.
The B-side of Cameron's original record was "Ah want tae be a Punk Rocker", a satire of the then-current punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
movement written by Peter Nardini.