Former professional footballer and singer Cliff Portwood talks to World Cup Gold about his single with the class of 1966.
Skysports.com's Steve Pass talks to former professional footballer and singer Cliff Portwood about his World Cup single with the class of 1966.
Former professional footballer and singer Cliff Portwood is hoping to cheer England to World Cup glory this summer - 28 years late.
For the 72-year-old former Preston, Port Vale, Grimsby and Portsmouth player recorded a song with seven members of the 1966 World Cup winning squad in 1982.
Accompanied by Martin Peters, Gordon Banks, Sir Geoff Hurst, Roger Hunt, Ray Wilson and the late Bobby Moore and Alan Ball on chorus, the song, called "Up There O' England", was due to be released to coincide with that year's World Cup in Spain.
But, following a press launch at Wembley Stadium, the song's B-side then had to be slightly amended and by the time it had been altered, England had suffered an early exit and the track never got released.
That could have been the end of the story but Cliff's son Andrew and son-in-law Corin Pegden heard it and thought it should be brought out and - after being re-mastered - the track will now be officially re-released on 31st May in time for this year's World Cup.
With no official England song for this year's finals, Cliff hopes it will be adopted by the Three Lions faithful.
"It sounds good because it's a good supporters' song, the sort of tune people can get hold of quite easily and it stays in your head. It's a very catchy verse," he told
skysports.com.
"It is a good song and it's done well and the boys sang very well and it's the only one that they did together."
He vividly remembers the late Alan Ball singing his heart out in the studio for the song and being extremely enthusiastic, as well as how the others quickly picked up the chorus and sang together in harmony!
"It was fantastic - they did a great job, they really did. They were full of enthusiasm, especially Alan Ball, who became a friend of mine after that because he was down Southampton at the time.
"His voice came right above all the others kind of thing, we had to tone him down a little bit!"
England youth
As a youngster, Cliff grew up in Manchester, with a talent for both football and singing. He played in the same side as Sir Bobby Charlton in the Manchester County FA team and then represented England youth aged 16 years old.
He was then signed for Preston North End, where he became Tom Finney's understudy, and went on to have spells at Port Vale, where he was a top goal scorer, and Grimsby, with whom he won promotion to the old Division One.
Cliff, who started out as a winger but finished playing inside forward, then switched to Portsmouth where he was teammates and great friends with the legendary Jimmy Dickinson, during the period 1963-1970.
He then went to play for Durban United in South Africa, and whilst there, he entered a talent contest on national radio, which he won.
The first prize was a recording contract and two first class tickets to Australia. Having recorded his debut album in South Africa, Cliff sailed Down Under, staying with his friend Athol Guy, who was the bass player with the famous group "The Seekers".
He pursued his lifelong ambition to be a professional singer and was soon able to move his young family to Melbourne to join him. A big success, he became a regular on the prime time Saturday night show called the "Penthouse Club" and soon earned the nickname "sexy legs" throughout the state of Victoria, with four of his albums going gold.
Whilst in Australia, he had the good fortune to work with stars such as Des O'Conner and even had a drinking session with The Who's legendary Keith Moon!
Returning to England about 1980 for family reasons, he ran a pub in Alton for a period called the 'Gentleman Jim' after his friend Jimmy Dickinson.
He also kept up his singing career, singing at the London Palladium in the final of a national TV talent contest and worked alongside many famous acts, including Tommy Cooper, Dick Emery and Lenny Henry.
With the World Cup looming in early 1982, Cliff contacted Mike Brady, his friend and producer in Australia, who had written and recorded an Aussie rules football anthem in the late seventies, which had been a hit record down under.
Mike gave Cliff permission to use his song, called "Up There Cazaly" and alter the lyrics to "Up there O' England" and release it as a single in the UK.
But it has never been heard widely in this country - until now. Cliff, who unfortunately had to stop singing a couple of years ago after contracting an incurable respiratory illness, admits 'it would be lovely at my age now' if the song did catch on and get to Number One, and he would even give Top of the Pops a go...
Charmed life
"Sure yeah, if the lads would, they look great. I saw them just the other day, last Wednesday in Southend, and they would look great, fabulous!" he said.
If Cliff could get to Number One, it would cap off an eventful professional life which he has lived to the full on both the football pitch and singing stage.
He said: "I've been very, very lucky, I've loved both of them. I loved my football life, but there again as you know it's only a short one.
"I loved every minute of it, the camaraderie with the players and the club and supporters, it was fabulous, I've had a wonderful life, I can't complain.
"The entertainment side was like another uplift because I fought hard to get on it, I worked hard and it happened.
"It was a great thrill to get the gold albums at the time and have a good ten years in Australia."
As for Fabio Capello's side, Cliff believes they will claim glory in South Africa this summer.
He said: "I think we're going to win it and I think its going to be fabulous for us.
"It's going to be a real lift, with everything that's happening at the moment, with politics and everything, we need a good lift and I think this will be it."
The single will be available to buy from itunes, Amazon, Play and all good digital record stores from 31st May.
