Schoolchildren united as they sing city of Manchester song
8 February 2008
Children from St. Philip's CE Primary School in Hulme sang a specially adapted song to show mutual respect ahead of Sunday's derby game.
The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Glyn Evans, blew a whistle in morning assembly on Friday, 8 February, as the signal for the 230-plus children - - ten of them wearing Manchester City and Manchester United shirts - to begin the song, first written for Manchester's successful Commonwealth Games more than five years ago.
The song - written by Maurice Walsh, senior vocal tutor for Manchester Music Service - contained a specially-adapted chorus:
Manchester, Manchester UK,
Manchester, Manchester City UK, united!
Manchester, Manchester UK
Manchester - we're with you all the way!
School head John Dalby spoke to pupils during rehearsals for the song performance about the special significance of the Old Trafford derby game , where the 50th anniversary of the Munich disaster was being commemorated in a minute's silence by fans and players.
He said: "St. Philip's is situated half way between both clubs and the children have always had a mutual respect for each other and we have always had City and United represented here in Hulme. We have always talked about mutual respect and getting on with each other and working as a team, whether on the football field or in the classroom.
" The song - entitled Manchester city, UK - is sung in every Manchester school as part of a repertoire of catchy songs written by Maurice as part of Manchester Music Service's 'Singing School' initiative encouraging all primary schools to sing on a daily basis. More than 21,000 school children, plus 1,000 teachers and teaching assistants, are involved in the project.
St. Philip's was chosen for the pre-derby rendition because of its location and a reputation for good singing.
The Lord Mayor said: "This really is a time to show mutual respect and I'm happy to see this song promoting that ideal in its new adaptation. We showed the world how great a place Manchester is during the Commonwealth Games and it's good to see the song still being sung in our schools all these years later, especially now as we reflect on the 50th anniversary of the Munich disaster and an opportunity for opposing fans to stand together and show respect."
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