"Thursday Nights, Channel 5" is an English football chant to the tune of "Tom Hark". It is mainly sung to antagonise supporters of the other team for playing in or dropping into the UEFA Europa League which, until 2012, was shown on Channel 5.
Contents
History
Channel 5 first gained the rights to show UEFA Cup matches in 2008. Since then, the chant developed and is used to insinuate that the team it is aimed at is playing in a less prestigious competition to the UEFA Champions League. In 2012, Channel 5 did not renew the rights deal to show the Europa League, which then went to ESPN (now owned by BT Sport) and ITV4 from the 2012–13 season.
Usage
The chant has been directed at clubs such as Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur for playing in the Europa League instead of the Champions League. It has also been used by fans of German club, Bayern Munich against Manchester City because of the latter dropping out of the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League.
Before a Europa League match between Fulham and Odense, Football on 5 presenters Jim Rosenthal and Stan Collymore were broadcast singing the chant during a highlights montage. Until then, the chant was perceived as having negative connotations towards Channel 5.
In 2011, Chelsea defender Ashley Cole shouted "Thursday night, Channel 5" at Manchester City players after Manchester City were knocked out of the Champions League, which almost provoked a fight in the Stamford Bridge tunnel.
Response
The chant has also been considered an insult to opposing fans. Manchester United player, Patrice Evra was said to be embarrassed by the chant's statement of Manchester United playing in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League.