The Greasy Chip Butty Song

The Greasy Chip Butty Song is a football chant mainly sung by the supporters of Sheffield United football club, but has been adopted and adapted by fans of several other teams including Rotherham United and St Helens Rugby League Football Club. The originator of the song is unknown but often claimed among Rotherham United and Sheffield United supporters, however it was first sung during Sheffield United's first match of the 1985-86 season in Division 2. This was a Blades 3-1 away win at Stoke City's Victoria Ground on 17th August 1985.

To the tune of Annie's Song by John Denver:

You fill up my senses
Like a gallon of Magnet
Like packet of Woodbines
Like a good pinch of snuff
Like night out in Sheffield
Like a greasy chip butty
Like Sheffield United
Come thrill me again....
Na Na Na Naa Naa Naaaaa, ooo!

To a native of Sheffield the words are probably self explanatory; the words celebrate the many pleasures that can be had in Sheffield, culminating in the target of the fan's adoration, Sheffield United.

Magnet refers to John Smith's Magnet, a beer once widely available in Sheffield. Some people claim that the second line is really Like a gallon of maggots. Maggots are obtained from fishing tackle outlets in denominations of imperial pints and hence this version would not be unreasonable, as fishing is popular in the region and hence a gallon of maggots would mean a good day out fishing.

Woodbines refers nostalgically to a once popular brand of strong cigarette.

Snuff is ground tobacco for sniffing up the nose.

A Greasy chip butty can be purchased in any of the many local fish and chip shops. Butty is a slang word for sandwich, so a chip butty is simply a sandwich where the filling is chips, ideally greasy and sprinkled with salt and vinegar. Generally, a white sandwich bap will be used for the bread. In Sheffield, these are simply known as Breadcakes.

The song itself is a plaintive rally-cry by the fans of Sheffield United. It is usually heard on commencement of the home games played at 'beautiful' downtown Bramall Lane, the home of the club, and sporadically throughout away matches.

However Sheffield United's most bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday usually respond with the chant

"You can shove your chip butty up your a*%£" !

For obvious reasons.

In January 2007, in tribute to Sheffield United's visiting Chinese sister team, the Chengdu Blades, the Sheffield Star penned the following version - the Greasy Egg Noodle song:

You fill up my senses,

Like a gallon of soy sauce,

Like a packet of chopsticks,

Like a good crispy duck,

Like a night out in Chengdu,

Like a greasy egg noodle,

Like Chengdu'n'United,

Come thrill me again...

Burton Albion are another team who use the chant, with slightly different lyrics:

You light up my senses,

Like a gallon of Peddi,

Like a packet of Walkers,

Like a pinch of good snuff,

Like a night out in Burton,

Like a greasy chip butty,

So come Burton Albion,

Come thrill me again,

Na na na na na na na OOO!

Peddi refers to the local beer brewed in Burton-on-Trent, Marston's Pedigree. When it was first used is unknown (at least 01/02 season), however it is highly unlikely it is the original source.

Fans of the Norwegian team Strømsgodset translated the song into Norwegian and it soon became a terrace favourite.

Du fyller mine sanser,

Som et glass med St. Hallvard,

Som en pris under leppa,

Som ei halv ei med Aass,

Som ei natt ute i Drammen,

Som ei pølse på Dalen,

Åh Strømsgodset IF,

Kom fyll meg igjen,

Na na na na na na na OOO!

Fans of Radcliffe Cricket Club have ther own version of The Greasy Chip Butty Song

You fill up my senses,

Like a gallon of Carlsberg,

Like a Packet of Woodbine,

Like pinch of good snuff, snuff,snuff,snuff,snuff,snuff

Like out in Radcliffe,

Like a Greasy chip Butty,

Will the boys from the Racecourse,

Come fill me again.

The Racecourse ground is the home ground of Radcliffe Cricket Club

St Helens Rugby League Football Club have also adapted the song:

You light up my senses,

Like a gallon of Greenalls,

Like a kebab from Geno's,

Like a good sniff of glue!

Like a night out at Martine's,

Like a split fish and curry,

Oh St Helens rugby,

Come thrill me again!

Toronto FC have also adapted the song, and they sell the chip butty at matches at BMO Field.

You fill up my senses,

Like a gallon of Fifty,

Like a Tim's double-double,

And a big WALNUT CRUNCH!

Like a night out at Beeee-MO,

Like a greasy chip butty...

Like Tor-on-to F-C,

Come fill me again!

Na na na na naa Ooo!

For reference purposes...a Tim's double-double refers to two creams and two sugars in a Tim Horton's coffee from the Tim Horton's doughnut chain, and the walnut crunch is a doughnut they sell at Tim Horton's.

External links

• Google Video: The Greasy Chip Butty Song