B-side Remix Label Klub Records | Format 7" single, 12" maxi | |
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.
Overview
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 the Arsenal"). 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.