Three Lions will keep on giving for England wherever football ends up | Nick Ames

Ian Broudie’s moment of accidental genius helped Baddiel and Skinner’s tune become an anthem that continues to resonate beyond the terraces

Rick Blaskey glanced at the document in front of him and the words he wanted leapt from the page. It was 1995 and Blaskey, an executive producer who had worked on a number of successful sports‑related songs before, was deep in conference with a number of senior FA members, trying to persuade them that English football needed its own national anthem. “What do you suggest we call it?” somebody asked.

Blaskey had not got that far and had to think quickly; an advertising agency had been pitching to the governing body that day and had left behind a presentation dossier, its cover blank save for England’s crest and the phrase that would become Euro 96’s official slogan. “Well,” he began, realising the answer might be sitting right there. “You could call it Three Lions. Or Football Comes Home.”

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