The 8 best club anthems in the EFL Championship named and ranked | OneFootball

FLW has looked at the best anthems sang by supporters of current Championship sides

It has often been debated as to which fanbase in the EFL Championship is the strongest, most loyal and passionate.

No matter which 24 clubs are all fighting it out for supremacy on the pitch in the second tier of English football, this is a hot topic of discussion that never fails to dissipate at any stage of any given season.

With the Premier League often criticised for a modernised and less authentic atmosphere at many stadiums, as well as the cost of tickets, many have stated that the sense of authenticity and passion amongst crowds in the Championship is one of many reasons why so many describe it as one of, if not the most exciting and compelling division in world football as a whole.

One of the main talking points when it comes to discussing which club has the strongest backing can be the generation or adoption of a long-standing anthem that is learned by supporters at a very young age, and is kept as a strong matchday tradition no matter what.

There are certainly plenty of those in the Championship at present, and at Football League World, we've put our neck on the line and ranked the eight best club anthems there currently are in the division.

It is fair to say that Leicester City supporters have had very little to smile about in recent years, as the East Midlands club are in serious danger of suffering back-to-back relegations from the Premier League to League One amid a cloud of severe financial uncertainty, which saw them docked six points in February by the EFL.

Ironically, such feelings are the antithesis to the adopted anthem which can be heard on matchdays at the King Power Stadium and, previously, Filbert Street - 'When You're Smiling'.

The anthem has been sung by Foxes fans since the 1970s, with it being claimed that the tradition began in the Three Cranes pub on Humberstone Gate, before making its way more commonly onto the terraces in the following decade.

These days, it is played on the PA system in the seconds before kick-off.

7 ? ? Sheffield Wednesday - 'Hi Ho Sheffield Wednesday'

Jeff Beck's iconic 1967 tune of 'Hi Ho Silver Lining' has been adopted by many clubs in English football over time, but it is unarguable that the anthem is synonymous with Sheffield Wednesday.

Wednesdayites have claimed to have chanted their version of the song for the majority of its existence, and, like many others, it is played on the PA system at Hillsborough in the lead-up to kick-off, as well as being sung passionately by their away following up and down the country.

However, in 2019, it was claimed by ex-Wednesday chair and Chesterfield owner, Dave Allen, that the song was used in a battle between Owls and Sheffield United supporters in a Sheffield nightclub as to who could sing the louder out of the respective fanbases.

The anthem will now be heard in League One next season, though, after Wednesday's relegation was ironically confirmed at Bramall Lane of all places on February 22nd.

Norwich City supporters are certainly some of the most loyal in the Championship, with Carrow Road often sold out regardless of how the Canaries are performing on the pitch.

With that being said, it is fair to say that fans in this part of East Anglia have developed an intriguing reputation over the years for being 'nice' rather than intimidating. However, it cannot be argued that the anthem of 'On The Ball City' is one of the most unique in the division.

It has been claimed, though, that the chant is older than the Yellows, who were formed in 1902, and that it was likely to have been put together for Norwich Teachers FC or Caley FC, before seeing the lyrics being altered into its current version shortly after City's formation.

Unsurprisingly, the song has also been abbreviated into 'OTBC', which is referenced by supporters on social media.

West Bromwich Albion's supporters are also known for their loyalty, and that has certainly been tested this term as the Baggies are in danger of a first fall into League One since 1993.

Whilst The Hawthorns hasn't been a happy place to be on a Saturday afternoon, the Albion faithful's age-old tradition of the Bible's Psalm 23 (The Lords My Shepherd) can be particularly spine-tingling when the crowd in B71 is in full flow for an important encounter.

However, like some of the others on this list, the origins of the chant making its way onto the terraces has split opinion.

Some have claimed that it began at a rearranged FA Cup tie against Everton at Goodison Park in January 1974 due to the Miners' strike, whilst others believe it was sang in reference to Irish midfielder, Johnny Giles, who played 73 times for the club between 1975 and 1977 after joining from Leeds United.

4 ? ? Millwall FC - 'Let 'em Come'

Millwall supporters have developed a reputation for being some of the most hostile and intimidating in world football over the years, largely due to stereotypes involving hooliganism.

Whether such a reputation is fully warranted in 2026 is by the by, but the club have certainly played on the intimidation factor with their walkout song and anthem, 'Let 'em Come', which has been associated with the Lions since its release by Roy Green in 1985.

The song certainly encapsulates what it means to be a supporter of Millwall, with references to the London traditions of jellied eels and going to the pub for a pre-match pint, whilst 'No One Likes Us' is also a song you cannot miss when your team is facing off against Alex Neil's side in SE16 or at your own stadium.

3 ? ? Derby County - 'Steve Bloomer's Watching'

Making it into the top three is Derby County's pre-match anthem 'Steve Bloomer's Watching', which also cuts off on the PA system so the end segment of the song can fit in sync with the referee's whistle.

Rams supporters have certainly gone through the mill in recent times, and this anthem is a showing of unity, pride and passion in the stands at Pride Park.

The song has been Derby's pre-match anthem since Boxing Day 1997 against Newcastle United, having been dreamt up by two supporters in the form of Mark Tewson and Martyn Miller 13 months beforehand.

The idea that the club's biggest legend, who scored 332 times in over 500 appearances, is 'watching' the club's current fortunes was also brought to life, as a statue of Bloomer sits proudly next to the home dugout.

2 ? ? Sheffield United - 'Greasy Chip Butty'

In second place is Sheffield United's 'Greasy Chip Butty' anthem, which is an altered version of John Denver's hit, Annie's Song, which was released in July 1974.

Despite its synonymity to the Blades, it has been claimed that the chant was the thought of Rotherham United supporter, Terry Moran, whose lyrics were overheard by Gavin Hancock, who made the United-style version up.

Five decades later and the tradition is still going strong, with some claiming their first recollections of the chant coming en route to an away match in the 1983/84 season against Southend United.

The lyrics, again, encapsulate many traditions of a football fan in the red and white half of the Steel City, and it is sung with plenty of gusto before kick-off at the start of both halves.

1 ? ? Birmingham City - 'Keep Right On To The End Of The Road'

Taking top spot, though, is Birmingham City's anthem of 'Keep Right On', which has been sung by Bluenoses since the latter stages of their run to the FA Cup final in 1956.

With the original version penned by Scottish singer, Sir Harry Lauder, Blues' very own Scot, Alex Govan, burst into song on the team bus before the quarter-final success over Arsenal at Highbury after being encouraged by manager, Arthur Turner.

The chant can be sang in either a slow or quick version at matches, with the former being belted out passionately before kick-off as Lauder's version is heard on the PA system, as well as a rally cry during matches.

In between verses, Blues fans are often heard adding 'la, la, la' or three claps, with the older generation of supporters often hoping the former can be utilised more often than it perhaps is.