Heskey’s new Euro 2024 song focuses on ending racist abuse
A NEW song for Euro 2024 launched by footballing star Emile Heskey aims to combat the “vile” racist abuse suffered by England players after the last European Championship.
It’s OUR Team, by up-andcoming stars Creezon and KE4T and producer Toddla T, calls on the England squad to “bring home the silverware and send racism packing”.
Launched by Heskey, who has 62 caps for England and played for clubs such as Liverpool and Aston Villa, the song addresses the racism suffered by Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho after England lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 final, and demands it never happens again.
Heskey said: “I am backing this song because it’s catchy, positive and the people involved want to bring the nation together and bring the trophy home.
“England is our team, all of us, no matter our race. We cannot let the vile racists win; so let us all get behind our England team. Come on England.”
Toddla T, Creezon and KE4T added: “As soon as Black Footballers Partnership brought us the song idea we jumped on it, and within 48 hours we put together this beautifully produced track It’s OUR Team.
“We all grew up in a diverse England – black, brown and white people playing footy together on beat-up pitches, jumping on each other as goals went in and suffering the misery of too many losses.
“England is our team. We hope the message of this track brings people together and helps drive the racists away from our beautiful game. Come on England.”
The song lyrics specifically name-check Rashford, Saka and Sancho and also call for more black managers in the sport.
The lyrics say: “Dear fans, we’ve got a responsibility to change the game of positivity. It’s deeper than kicking the ball, together we’re collectively writing history.”
It continues: “Dear England, three lions on the T-shirt. Gotta stand up for the ones who roar… Stay proud of the game, stay proud of the players, don’t matter about the race or score.”
Addressing racial inequality off the pitch, the lyrics add: “Dear clubs, we wanna see more black managers.
“Black managers are 41% more likely to be fired, if there ain’t a problem how come them stats ain’t adding up?”
Delroy Corinaldi, executive director of the Black Footballers Partnership, which devised the idea for the song, added that the track aims to “help deliver on Gareth Southgate’s 2020 words: this united, ethnically diverse and talented England squad leads the way in bringing people together and what happened in the 2020 final against Italy is not what our England is about”.
It’s OUR Team is out now.
THE King has accepted patronage at Gordonstoun, his former school in Scotland, to mark the first anniversary of his coronation.
Charles has become patron of the Gordonstoun Association, a role previously held by his father Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, who also attended the school.
It marks the King’s first official link with the Moray institution, which he attended from 1962 to 1967.
Charles secured five O-levels and two A-levels at the school, earning him a place to study archaeology and anthropology at Trinity College Cambridge.
During his coronation celebrations last year, he chose four pipers from the school to welcome him to St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh for the Honours of Scotland ceremony.
The Gordonstoun Pipe Band also regularly takes part in the annual Braemar Gathering in Aberdeenshire, which is attended by the King.
Charles joins the Princess Royal as an official supporter of the school, with Anne holding the role of warden at Gordonstoun.
School principal Lisa Kerr said: “We are honoured that His Majesty has accepted patronage of the Gordonstoun Association.
“As our most prominent former student, His Majesty exemplifies so many of the qualities we seek to instil in our students, notably a lifelong commitment to service.
“That His Majesty has chosen a patronage of our alumni body is a great honour both for the school and all members of the Gordonstoun Association.
“We look forward to His Majesty’s engagement and support with the association and its members in the years to come.”
Heather Woodward, chairwoman of the association, added: “The aim of the Gordonstoun Association is to promote and strengthen pupils’ links with each other and the school.
“There is no person more suited than the King to highlight the unique experience of what it means to be a former student of Gordonstoun, and I am therefore delighted that His Majesty has accepted patronage of the Gordonstoun Association.
“Although it’s almost 60 years since His Majesty attended Gordonstoun, his duty to service is an example of how the ethos and values of the school teach students to think about others rather than themselves.
“We are looking forward to engaging with the King on his views on how we can further the aims of the association.”