McNamara's Band: Irish Ode to Tottenham Hotspur

Danny Blanchflower lifting the FA Cup

Back in the glory years of the 1950's and 1960's as Tottenham Hotspur won 3 FA Cups, 2 League titles and a European Cup Winners Cup, the team would enter the White Hart Lane pitch to the tune of the Irish jingle McNamara's Band.

The upbeat song seemed to rhyme with Tottenham's stylistic approach: push and run, high tempo, passionate, skillful and tough. 

But why McMamara's Band? What was it's association with Tottenham Hotspur?

The composer of the song John Stamford was the manager of the Alhambra Theatre in Belfast and legend has it he composed the lyrics while living close by Tottenham in Barnet. 

Another theory is that it was adopted by Spurs fans when Northern Ireland's Danny Blanchflower joined the club in 1954. While the presence of the immortal Blanchflower propelled Tottenham to greatness the song was part of Tottenham folklore long before 1954. 

It has been suggested by older generation Spurs supporters, that it was inspired by Spurs Manager, Peter McWilliam (1912–27 & 1938–42) and that this is the reason McNamaras Band (Macs band) was adopted. 

Whatever the origin many fans will remember the excitement when the music started to play as the captain appeared at the steps of the old West Stand, and the team of Blanchflower, Mackay, Greaves, Jennings, Dyson, White et al entered the White Hart Lane pitch. 

And of course nowadays the song lives on and is played as Spurs enter the field for the 2nd half of all home games.

https://youtu.be/DQkSkMkMccM